The Sanctuary has been converted to a National Park and temporarily closed for visitors on environmental considerations. It has an average altitude exceeding 4500 mts. and is surrounded by as many as seventy lofty peaks, the Nandadevi (7817 mts.) being the highest. It is in the form of cup with lush green meadows, chuting white waterfalls, and rich wild flora and fauna. Sir Edmund Hillary described the Sanctuary as a god-gifted wilderness - India's training ground for adventure - and truly so Eric Shipton wrote, amongst many superlatives for the Sanctuary, "All around us was mountain architecture more magnificent even than the great southern battlements of Everest ".