Overa Wildlife Sanctuary

Location : 76-km From Srinagar, Near Pahalgam, Kashmir Region, J&K
Area Coverage : 32.27-sq-kms
Main Attraction : Pheasant
Best Time To Visit : Mammal Viewing - September To March; Bird Viewing - March To May

Sanctuary Overview
Overa Wildlife Sanctuary is located at a distance of 76 km from Srinagar, near Pahalgam, it has an area of 32.27 sq km, and is famed for its many species of pheasants. The area is home to a number of rare, threatened and protected species of birds and mammals. It sustains 13 species of mammals and over 80 species of birds. The best time to visit the sanctuary for mammal viewing is September to April and for bird viewing from March to August.

Arriving At Overa Wildlife Sanctuary
By Flight : Nearest Airport is Srinagar (87-km).
By Trackways : Nearest railhead is Jammu (280-km).
By Roadways : Regular buses ply from Pahalgam (11-km), Anantanag (40-km), and Srinagar (76-km) to the sanctuary.

The Park Ecosystem
The Animal Beings
This area houses a variety of mammals most of which are faced with the serious threat of extinction. They are the Hangul, Musk Deer, Serow, Rhesus Macaque, Langur, Leopard, Leopard Cat, etc.

The Vegetation
The Overa Wildlife Sanctuary is richly covered with a variety of floral complexes, which comprise mainly of conifers; the principal species being Pinus Griffithii, Abies Pindrow, Aesculus Indica, Morus Alba, Juglans Regia, etc. Major shrub associates are Indigofera Heterantha, Desmodium Tiliaefolium, etc, while the main ground layer is dominated by Dicotlydonous herbs comprising of Taraxacum Officinale, Artemisia Vulgaris, etc.

The Winged Beings
The sanctuary area as distinct from the other wildlife reserves of the valley holds a rich assemblage of pheasants like the Chukar, Koklas, Monal and Himalayan Snow Cock. Other avifaunas include the jungle Crow, red billed Chough, griffon Vulture, bearded Vulture, Himalayan Whistling Thrush, Rufous-backed Shrike, Indian Mynah, etc.