The Simbalbara National Park is a protected natural area located in the Paonta Valley of the Sirmour District in Himachal Pradesh, situated along the state's border with Haryana. It is also known as Col. Sher Jung National Park. The park was originally established as a wildlife reserve in 1958, and later re-established as the Simbalbara Wildlife Sanctuary in 1974. Historically, the area served as a hunting ground for the Maharajas of Sirmour.
The sanctuary was upgraded and declared a National Park in 2010, with an area of approximately 27.88 square kilometers. This change, which involved adding 8.88 square kilometers to the original area of 19.03 square kilometers, aimed to minimize human impact and enhance protection for the region's biodiversity. The park is characterized by dense Sal forests (Shorea robusta) with lush, grassy glades, and features a perennial stream.
As a National Park, its mechanism for protection is governed by the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which provides the highest level of legal protection for wildlife habitats. The park is managed by the Department of Forests, Himachal Pradesh government. It was primarily created to protect the habitat of the Goral, a goat-like animal, and is also home to species like Sambar, Spotted Deer, Himalayan black bear, and Chittal. Simbalbara National Park is ecologically connected to the Kalesar National Park in Haryana, forming a larger interstate conservation unit in the Shivalik hills. The final notification for its National Park status under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, was issued in 2013.