Shimla Water Catchment Wildlife Sanctuary

Water Catchment Sanctuary is spread over an area of 10.25 sq km and there is no zoning done in this sanctuary. The latitude and longitude of the sanctuary is 31º 05´12″ to 31º07´11″N and 77º 12´54″ to 77º 16´04″E respectively. The altitude of the sanctuary ranges from 1900-2620 m and the range of temperature is -5.4° and the maximum temperature is about 23º C. This sanctuary receives rainfall of 1600 mm annually. The water Catchment Sanctuary Shimla is situated on the northern side of Kufri and is about 8 km away on the east of Shimla Town. From the Shimla City, the sanctuary is only 20 minutes drive and travelers have to pass through Sanjauli-Dhalli Tunnel. This sanctuary also has connection to the Chail Sanctuary through a forest corridor. Chail Santuary is located on the south of the water catchment sanctuary. There is a steep catchment in this sanctuary that is the main water source for Shimla , the capital of Himachal Pradesh. The sanctuary has 9 perennial streams flowing through it and the most important ones are the God Ki Nala and Churat Nala. This sanctuary surrounds the Charabara Village on three sides. A large tank was built more than 100 years ago to store stream water during rains so that it could be used to supply water to the city. The water used to be supplied through steam pumps, a very unique arrangement during that time.