Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 2025, in India. Perched high in the trans-Himalayan region of northern India, the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve spans across the stark landscapes of Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul–Spiti district. With altitudes from 3,300 to 6,600 m, it encompasses Pin Valley National Park and the Kibber and Chandratal Wildlife Sanctuaries. Glacial valleys, alpine lakes, rugged high-altitude deserts, and windswept plateaus make it one of the coldest and driest ecosystems in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves.