Explore Natural Beauty of India: Singalila National Park, Darjeeling

Singalila National Park, Darjeeling – The National Park

This national park is situated on the Singalila Ridge at an elevation of about 2500 metres to 3650 metres above sea level with an area of 78.6 square kilometers. It is part of the Eastern Himalayas and falls in the Indo-Malaya Eco-Zone. The park derives its name from the Singalila Ridge, which runs through the park descending from Mount Kanchenjunga in the north and running south to the northern fringe of the Gangetic Plains. The national park shares a natural boundary with Nepal in the west and Sikkim in the north. The Singalila Ridge runs roughly north to south and separates Himalayan West Bengal from the other Eastern Himalayan ranges to the west of it.

This national park is one of the last remaining natural habitats of the endangered Red Panda. Rammam and Srikhola are the two rivers flows through the park. The two highest peaks of West Bengal, Sandakphu (3636 m) and Phalut (3600 m), are located on the ridge and inside the park. The famous trek route to Sandakphu and Phalut runs through the national park, making it a popular destination among adventure seekers and trekkers. The Sandakphu mountain peak offers magnificent views of the eastern Himalayas, including four of the five highest peaks in the world namely Mount Everest, Khangchendzonga, Lhotse, and Makalu.

The name Sandakphu is a word of Nepalese origin. It means the mountain of poisonous plants (Sanda means poison plant, and Kphu means mountain peak). The name was probably derived from the abundance of Himalayan Cobra Lilies (Arisaema) in its forests. The park has no significant history of human settlement. However, small settlements have grown up along the trekking route to Sandakphu and Phalut. There is a reasonably large village at Kala Pokhri, around the lake of the same name.

The park offers some spectacular treks through the alpine meadow and rhododendron forests. The park is one of the most popular family camping destinations in the Eastern Himalayas. The park is one of the most popular birding spots in the Eastern Himalayas, since it attracts a large number of birds due to its seasonal blooms. Blooming seasons are the best times to see birds. The national park remains closed during monsoon (from June 15 to September 15). The best time to visit this park are from March to May (Spring Season) and from mid-September to early December (Post Monsoon).

Visitors are required to take a permit either from the forest department office at Maneybhanjang or at the entrance of the National Park about 1 km from Tumling. Foreigners need to show their identity proof at the Maneybhanjang check post. Guides are mandatory for trekking and are available at any of the entrance point of Singalila. Accommodation facilities are available at Sailung Tea House at Meghma, Maneybhanjang, Tonglu, Gairibans, Sandakphu, Phalut, Kala Pokhri etc. The preferred way to visit the park is to stay in Darjeeling and camp inside the national park.