Renuka ji wildlife sanctuary
![]() |
The Renuka Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Sirmour District in Himachal Pradesh. The nearest town from the sanctuary Dadahu is about 2 kms. From Renuka. The Sanctuary is well connected by the network of roads. The total area of the sanctuary is 402.80 hectare. The entire Renuka Wildlife Sanctuary is comprised of only Renuka Reserve Forest and has been declared as “Abhayaranya” with no rights recognized in this area. Moreover, an area of 300 hectare that lies outside the sanctuary but is contiguous with its boundary has been declared as a buffer belt.
![]() |
View of renuka lake |
The Area is commonly recognized by its religious and cultural value. Renuka is an abode of temples of mother and son duo of Renukaji and Lord Parshuram. Mythology has it that Renukaji, an incarnation of Goddess Durga, was the wife of Rishi Yamdagini. Parshuram believed to be the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, was the youngest of the five sons of the couple. Once to obey the order of his father, parshuram had to serve, the head of his mother. After killing his mother, however, he begged his father to perjure life in his mother, for which the Rishi agreed. Renukaji was extremely beautiful. Sahastarvahu, the emperor wanted to marry her and once when Parshuram was away, he killed Rishi Yamdagini and his four sons to marry Renukaji. To escape the clutches of the emperor and unable to bear the grief of the death of her husband and four sons, Renukaji jumped into small pond known by the name of the Ramsarover at that time, and disappeared into it. Ever since the lake is worshiped as Renukaji Lake.
Flora & Fauna
The area of the Sanctuary falls in the bio-geographical zone IV and bio-geographical province IV as per the classification done by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). According to forest types classification by Champion and Seth, Renuka forest fall under group 5B/C2 i.e. dry mixed deciduous forest and group 5/051 i.e. dry Sal forest. The area forms northern limit of natural Sal forest forest which itself is limited to Badaun Dhar.
The forest of the area mixed crop of Anogeissus, Lucinea, Terminalia, Khair, Shisham, Carrie, Cordia and a variety of climbers in moist depressions.The fauna of the area including the birds are Lepopard, Samber, Spotted Deer, Barking deer Jackal, Hare, Jungle cat, Plam Civet, Porcupine, Blue jay, Black Partridge, Drongos, Hill Crow, Scarlet Minivet, Bulbul, Common Cooots, Greenm Pigeons.