Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary

The Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary — not to be confused with the Kedarnath temple further up the valley — is one of the largest protected areas in Uttarakhand, spanning alpine meadows, dense forest, and high-altitude terrain across the Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts.

What Makes This Sanctuary Distinct

Unlike lowland reserves such as Rajaji or Corbett, Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary sits at significant altitude, ranging from around 1,160 to over 7,000 metres. This altitude range supports species rarely seen in Uttarakhand's other reserves — musk deer, Himalayan tahr, and, at the very top of the food chain, snow leopards in the higher reaches, alongside more commonly sighted Himalayan black bear and serow.

The Valley of Flowers Connection

The sanctuary encompasses the Valley of Flowers National Park within its boundaries, meaning the same broad protected area covers both dramatic wildlife habitat and one of India's most celebrated alpine flower meadows — see our dedicated Valley of Flowers guide for trekking details.

Visiting the Sanctuary

Access is largely trek-based rather than jeep-safari style, given the terrain — most visitors experience the sanctuary as part of a guided trek rather than a short excursion. Given the altitude and remoteness, this is a more demanding, advance-planned trip than Uttarakhand's lower-altitude wildlife destinations, best suited to travellers already comfortable with multi-day Himalayan trekking.

Best Time to Visit

May to October is the practical window, avoiding both winter snow closure and the most intense monsoon rainfall — though the Valley of Flowers section specifically is best visited July to September, when the meadows are in full bloom.