Simbalbara National Park, Paonta Sahib: History, highlights and visitor guide

History and context

The story behind Simbalbara National Park

Simbalbara was notified as a wildlife sanctuary in 1958 with about 19 square kilometres of forest. In 2010 about 9 square kilometres were added and it became a national park, now around 28 square kilometres, and carries the name Col. Sher Jung National Park.

Useful facts

Simbalbara National Park facts at a glance

Location

Kiyarda Dun, Sirmaur district, on the Haryana border

Experience type

Forest walk and wildlife watching

Known for

Sal forest with tiger, goral, sambar and chital

Architect/Built

Sanctuary 1958; national park 2010

Time or schedule

Fees and hours are not published; confirm with forest office

Area

About 28 sq km

Why it matters

Why Simbalbara National Park is worth your time

Simbalbara began as a wildlife sanctuary in 1958 and was upgraded to a national park in 2010, when extra forest was added. It is also known as Col. Sher Jung National Park. It protects a corner of the Shivalik foothills in the Kiyarda Dun valley, a stretch of sal forest that links with Haryana's Kalesar National Park and, across the Yamuna, the forests of Uttarakhand.

That connection is the real value of the place. Animals such as tiger, sambar and chital move across these adjoining forests, and a small park like Simbalbara forms part of the corridor. For a visitor, it is a gentle introduction to Shivalik habitat, quieter and less visited than Kalesar, and a useful contrast to a trip spent mostly in shrines.

Highlights

What not to miss

1. 01

   Sal forest and glades

   Tall sal trees with open grassy clearings make this one of the quieter Shivalik forests to walk, especially after sunrise.

2. 02

   Birdlife

   Hornbills, rollers, dollarbirds, kingfishers and crested serpent eagles are among the birds recorded, so bring binoculars if you have them.

3. 03

   The forest rest house

   The Simbalbara Forest Rest House, reached from Puruwala, overlooks the valley and is the only place to stay on-site, subject to booking.

Plan your visit

How to experience it

Plan this as a half-day from Paonta Sahib, or as a stop on the road to or from Nahan. Hire a car and driver, and ask locally for the current approach, since the park is reached from the Puruwala side and nearby villages such as Palhori. Confirm that the gate is open and whether a guide or vehicle permit is needed.

The park covers roughly 28 square kilometres of sal forest, with grassy glades and a perennial stream, so it feels more like a woodland walk than a safari. Go in the first hours after sunrise, keep voices low and walk slowly on the forest tracks. Expect birds and langurs and macaques most easily. The park holds tiger, goral, sambar and chital, but sightings are uncommon and should be treated as a bonus.

There are no restaurants inside, so carry water, snacks and a hat. If you want a longer visit, enquire about a stay at the forest rest house, which overlooks the valley. Combine the trip with Nahan or Kalesar, but do not try to see both parks in one day.

Know before you go

Timing, access and comfort

Area

Kiyarda Dun, Sirmaur, about 40 km from Paonta Sahib (distance varies by route)

Time needed

3–5 hours including travel

Best time

October to March, in the first hours after sunrise; the forest is hot and humid in summer and wet in the monsoon

Walking level

Moderate

Senior comfort

Terrain is mostly flat or gently rolling forest, but there are few benches and no tea stalls inside. Driving in is easy; walks on forest tracks are uneven and best taken slowly, with water and a hat.

Tickets and access

Entry fees, vehicle rules and any guide requirements are not published in sources checked; confirm with the Himachal Pradesh forest department or the Paonta Sahib range office before you go. The Simbalbara Forest Rest House is a forest-department property, so stays need advance booking.

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