Flora and Fauna of Himachal Pradesh
Himachal is a land of jade forests and fresh air. As much as 68% of the land area is covered with jungles. While the foothills and valleys are a refreshing green, the areas above the snow line are almost bare.
Himachal is the fruit bowl of the country with orchards
scattered all over the place. Meadows and pastures are often
seen clinging to the dangerously steep slopes. After the
winter snow thaws, the hillsides and orchards bloom with
wild flowers, while gladiolas, carnations, marigolds, roses,
chrysanthemums, tulips, lilies and other flowers are
carefully cultivated. 
The state government is gearing up to
make Himachal the flower basket of the world.
From thick sub-tropical forests to the dry alpine vegetation, Himachal home to a wide variety of animals. This includes the leopard, which is the most widely distributed mammal in the entire state, the snow leopard, ghoral (goat-like stout animal), musk deer which is the state animal and monal (a pretty bird in nine iridescent colours), the state bird. HP has 11 major national parks and sanctuaries – the largest number in the Himalayan region. The Great Himalayan National Park in Kullu – the first in the state – was created to conserve the flora and fauna of the main Himalayan range, while the Pin Valley National Park to conserve the flora and fauna of the cold desert.
At present there are 32 Sanctuaries, 2 National Parks and 3 Games Reserves.
