Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary Wildlife Reserve

Address: Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary, Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand, India

Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary is a protected area in Uttarakhand, India, established to conserve the Himalayan musk deer and associated Himalayan fauna and habitats. The sanctuary encompasses mixed forest and alpine terrain in the Kumaon Himalaya.

Field visits to the sanctuary focus on wildlife observation, habitat study and trekking in remote forested valleys and ridgelines. The area provides important habitat for species adapted to subalpine and alpine conditions.

The sanctuary was designated to protect musk deer populations and to preserve contiguous habitat corridors in the high mountains; management prioritises anti-poaching, habitat protection and limited eco-tourism.

It is located in the Pithoragarh/Champawat region of Uttarakhand in northern India, in the western ranges of the Kumaon Himalaya.

• Musk deer conservation: The sanctuary conserves habitat for the Himalayan musk deer and other high-elevation species within a network of protected forest and alpine zones.

Askot Sanctuary is accessed via the Pithoragarh district. The nearest sizable town is Pithoragarh; from there, local roads and mountain tracks lead toward Askot village and the sanctuary entrance. Travel in the region often requires a 4WD and local guides.

• Hire an experienced local guide when trekking in the sanctuary; trails can be steep and remote.
• Check with Uttarakhand forest authorities for permits and up-to-date access information.