Simbalbara

Simbalbara National Park, also called Col. Sher Jung National Park, lies in the Kiyarda Dun valley of Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh, along the Haryana border^[1]. It covers about 27.88 km²^[1].

Mammals include nilgai, sambar, chital, wild boar, porcupine, goral, barking deer and rhesus macaque, and birds include Indian roller, kingfishers and three hornbill species, with crested serpent eagle and long-billed vulture among the raptors^[1]. A 2023 camera trap photographed an adult tiger^[2].

The park is covered by dense sal forest with grassy glades; sal (Shorea robusta) and Terminalia elliptica form the canopy, and eucalyptus, jamun and Senna siamea grow along the stream^[1].

The park lies in the Shivalik foothills, in a dun valley crossed by a perennial stream^[1].

The foothill climate is subtropical, with hot summers and a monsoon season. October and November are given as good months to visit^[1].

The nearest village is Palhori, opposite the park^[1].

The area was created as Simbalbara Wildlife Sanctuary in 1958, covering 19.03 km². In 2010, 8.88 km² were added and it became a national park^[1].

The draw is its sal forest and wildlife viewing, and a forest rest house reached from Puruwala looks over the valley^[1].

The nearest airport is Chandigarh, 87 km from Nahan, and the nearest railhead is Ambala Cantt, 63 km from Nahan^[1]. Paonta Sahib is the nearest large town.

The park adjoins Haryana's Kalesar National Park, forming a wildlife link between the two states. Its upgrade to national park in 2010 was made under a Himachal Pradesh Forest Department notification^[1].