Simbalwara Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Paonta Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It is nestled along the lower elevations of the famed Shivalik Mountain Range. Originally the sanctuary used to be a hunting reserve of the Maharaja of Sirmaur. It was first notified as a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1958, then again in 1974. It was later re-established as a wildlife reserve in 1974. The sanctuary is in the proximity of the Haryanas Kalesar National Park.

Flora
Sal, deodhar, pine and patches of grasslands.

Fauna
Leopard, goral, rhesus macaque, spotted deer, chittal, Himalayan black bear, Indian muntjac, sambar, crested porcupine, wild boar, common langur, cobra, krait, python, etc.

Avian Fauna
Red jungle fowl, partridges, peafowl, bulbul and others.

Getting there
Nahan is the nearest transport centre. Simbalwara Wildlife Sanctuary is situated 12km away from the main Paonta Sahib-Nahan road. The closest railway stations are at Ambala, Kalka and Chandigarh. The closest airports to the sanctuary are at Chandigarh and Dehradun.

Tourist Information
Rest houses situated at Majra and Simbalwara offer quality accommodation facilities to the visitors. Trekking, nature trails and bird watching are primary tourist recreational activities here.
For information or any permission one can get in touch with the DFO Wildlife, stationed at Shimla. Wear comfortable clothes that blend naturally with the forest background and always carry a binocular while going for wildlife or bird spotting.

Additional Information
Location: Simbalbara Wildlife Sanctuary, Sirmour District, Himachal Pradesh
Area: roughly 27.88 sq km
Best visiting time:  November to March
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