>BrownHairedGirl at 19:35, 26 May 2021

2021-05-26T19:35:44Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2017}}{{More citations needed|date=March 2007}}{{Infobox protected area
| name = Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary
| iucn_category = IV
| photo = Binsar Oak Forests.JPG
| photo_caption = Oaks on a mountain slope in Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary
| location = [[Uttarakhand]], [[India]]
| nearest_city = [[Almora]]
| coordinates = {{coords|29|37|56|N|79|20|15|E|display=inline, title}}
| area = 45.59 km<sup>2</sup>
| established = 1988
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = Department of Forest Uttarakhand
}}
'''Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary''' is an Indian [[wildlife sanctuary]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/70180/10-epic-safaris-to-try-in-2020|title=10 Epic Safaris To Try In 2020|last=|first=|date=|website=www.outlookindia.com|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-02-02}}</ref>

Binsar was the summer capital of the [[Chand Kings]], who ruled over [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] from the 11th to 18th centuries AD. Binsar was established in 1988 for the conservation and protection of the shrinking broad leaf oak (''[[Quercus]]'') forests of the Central Himalayan region, and it has over 200 bird species.

==Geography==

It sits on top of the Jhandi Dhar hills in the [[Himalayas]], about 33 km north of [[Almora]] town in [[Uttarakhand]]. The sanctuary spreads over 45.59 km<sup>2</sup>. Its altitude varies from 900 to 2500 metres with an average height of 2412 metres. The temperature of this area is about 20 °C.

From a place called Zero Point the Himalayan peaks [[Kedarnath (mountain)|Kedarnath Peak]], [[Shivling (Garhwal Himalaya)|Shivling]], [[Trisul]] and [[Nanda Devi]] are visible.

== Flora and fauna ==
[[File:Binsar.JPG|200px|thumb|Binsar flora]]

Binsar has a museum about the [[flora]] and [[fauna]] of the region. The sanctuary hosts 25 types of trees, 24 types of bushes and 7 varieties of grasses. The higher altitudes are covered with [[oak]] and [[Rhododendron|rhododendron trees]]. In March and April, flowers, especially ruby red rhododendron, are in full bloom.

Mammals include [[leopard]] (''Panthera pardus''), [[Himalayan goral]] (''Naemorhedus goral''), [[chital]] (''Axis axis''), [[musk deer]] (''Moschus'' spp.), [[Sumatran serow]] (''Capricornis sumatraensis''), [[jungle cat]] (''Felis chaus''), [[wild boar]] (''Sus scrofa''), [[pine marten]] (''Martes martes''), [[red fox]] (''[[Vulpes vulpes]]''), [[gray langur]] (''Presbytis entellus''), [[rhesus macaque]] (''Macaca mulatta''), [[red giant flying squirrel]] (''Petaurista petaurista''), and [[Indian muntjac]] (''Muntiacus muntjak''). In the past [[Asiatic black bear|black bear]] (''Ursus thibetanus'') had been recorded.

Binsar hosts over 200 species of birds including [[tit (bird)|tit]]s, [[forktail]], [[nuthatches]], [[common blackbird|blackbirds]], [[parakeets]], [[laughingthrush]], [[magpies]], kalij pheasant (''[[Lophura]] leucomelana''), [[monal]], [[koklass pheasant]], [[eagles]], [[woodpeckers]], and [[Eurasian jay]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.binsarforestretreat.com/birds-of-binsar/|title=Birds of Binsar}}</ref>

Binsar is home to many reptiles and butterflies.

==History==
[[File:Binsar, a view of Kumaon Himalayas.jpg|right|300px|thumb|A view of Kumaun Himalayas from Binsar]]

=== Grand Oak Manor ===
The Grand Oak Manor is the erstwhile home of Sir Henry Ramsay who used it as his summer home and administrative centre as Commissioner of Kumaon. The property later became a heritage hotel.

=== Khali estate===
The Khali estate was once owned by [[Sir Henry Ramsay]], who was the commissioner of Kumaun from 1856 to 1884 and called by British authors the King of [[Kumaon Kingdom|Kumaun]]. He built a bungalow at Binsar. Vijay Laxmi Pandit, the sister of [[Jawahar Lal Nehru]], also lived there.

Other prominent people who have been guests/owners of this estate include Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, [[Indira Gandhi]] and [[Mahatma Gandhi]].

===Mary Budden estate===
The Mary Budden estate located at 8000 feet is a restored colonial home and a temple to Shiva.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.marybuddenestate.in/history.html|title=Mary Budden Estate. Binsar. Luxury boutique homestay in the Himalayas 2011. www.marybuddenestate.in. Binsar Hotel, Binsar Guest house, Binsar Eco-friendly hotel, Binsar Wild Life Sanctuary hotel, Binsar forest guest house, Binsar retreat, Binsar resort|website=www.marybuddenestate.in}}</ref>

==Binsar Forest Retreat==
Binsar Forest Retreat is an eco-friendly homestay situated at an altitude of 7,600 ft on the southwest flank of Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. The Retreat is surrounded by the Binsar forest, with views of the higher Himalayas to the north and the valleys and hills to the south and west.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.binsarforestretreat.com/|title=Binsar Forest Retreat | An eco-friendly homestay in Uttarakhand Himalaya|website=Binsar Forest Retreat}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Quercus species]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.binsarwildlifesanctuary.com/ Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary]
* {{Wikivoyage-inline}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Almora district]]
[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries in Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:1988 establishments in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1988]]

Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary - Revision history

>BrownHairedGirl at 19:35, 26 May 2021