Home to a variety of species including snow leopards, Himalayan black bears, snow cocks, bharals, chirs, koklas, pheasants, chukors and musk deer, the beautiful sanctuary of Askot lies 54 km away from Pithoragarh. The sanctuary is nestled at an altitude of 5,412 ft above sea level and invites nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts in large numbers. The serene sanctuary is dotted with various temples that make for great spots to catch a view of the surrounding Himalayas. The sanctuary is popularly recognised as the Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary since it was set up with the sole aim of protecting the musk deer in the year 1986. Prone to heavy rainfall and extreme climatic conditions, the sanctuary experiences sub-arctic like weather during most parts of the year.