Askot Musk Deer sanctuary is nestled along the Kumaon Himalayas in Uttarakhand. It is situated close to the Indo-Nepal border that is naturally formed by the River Kali. The sanctuary was setup in the year 1987 and is also popularly referred to as Askot Wildlife Sanctuary. River Gori Ganga passes through the sanctuary. The sanctuary because of its scenic locations is also called as ‘Miniature Kashmir’.

Flora
Forest covers: sub-alpine forest together with alpine moist scrub and alpine moist pastures.
Plant and tree species: Fir, Blue Pine Deodar, Chirpine, Teak, Spruce and Eucalyptus.

Fauna
Flagship species: Himalayan Musk deer
Other species: Snow leopard, Red fox, Bengal fox, Serow, Fulvous Fruit Bat,Bison, Himalayan Bear, Goral,
Barking dears, Vipers, Turtles, King Cobra, etc.

Avian Fauna
Darters, Snow Cock, Pheasants, Black Eagles, Little Cormorants and others.

Getting There
The nearest railway station is at Tanakpur (nearly 204 km). Naina Sani (approximately 60 km), located in Pithoragarh, is the nearby airport to Askot Musk Deer sanctuary. By road the sanctuary can be accessed from Almora (about 150 km away) and Pithoragarh (about 55 km away).

Tourist Information
Accommodation options inside the sanctuary are scanty. The tourists can find different budget resorts and hotels in Askot.
Inside the sanctuary there are no facilities for eating and drinking. Hence, the visitors are advised to carry their own water and food. Winters are quite cold. Hence, carry proper warm clothes while visiting the forest during the winter months.

Additional information
Location: Askot Musk Deer sanctuary, Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand
Area: about 600 sq km
Elevation: approximately 5412 ft above sea level
Best time to visit: April to September
Timings: 6 am to 5 pm (daily) subject to chang
© Arked