Singalila National Park, Darjeeling – Flora

Singalila National Park, Darjeeling – Flora

The national park comprises of three separate biomes ranging from subalpine to subtropical, and three corresponding ecoregions namely Eastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests ecoregion, of the temperate coniferous forests biome, Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests ecoregion, of the temperate broadleaf and mixed forests biome and Himalayan subtropical pine forests ecoregion, of the subtropical coniferous forest biome. The subtropical biome roughly exists in the elevation range of 1800 to 3000 m, and the temperate biome exists in the elevation range of 3000 m to 4500 m.

Thick bamboo, oak, magnolia, and rhododendron forest between 2000 and 3600 m cover the Singalila Ridge. Some of the other trees found here are Pine Hemlock, Silver Fir, Juniper, Mailing Bamboo, Buk, Kawla, Bhujpatra etc. There are two seasons of wildflower bloom. One in spring (March and April) when the rhododendrons bloom, and another in the post-monsoon season (around October), when the lower forests bloom (Primula, Geranium, Saxifraga, Bistort, Senecio, Cotoneaster and numerous orchids).

Sandakphu is known as the mountain of poisonous plants due to the large concentration of Himalayan cobra lilies (Arisaema) which grow there. Of the 25 species of rhododendron discovered by Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker in the Himalayas, 18 can be found in Singalila National Park. More than 600 species of orchids bloom during the autumn season in Singalila. It is the largest concentration of orchids in any single geographical area in the world. The orchidarium of Lloyd Botanical Garden at Darjeeling houses as many as 2,500 orchids, which include 50 rare varieties. Most of these have been brought here from Singalila National Park.

Singalila National Park, Darjeeling, West Bengal

Singalila National Park, Darjeeling, West Bengal

Singalila National Park is a national park located in the Darjeeling District of West Bengal, India. 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 bordered on the north by the state of Sikkim and on the west by the country of Nepal. This national park is one of the last remaining natural habitats of the endangered Red Panda. It is well known for trekking to Sandakphu, highest peak of West Bengal.

History

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://explore-natural-beauty-of-india.blogspot.com/2026/02/singalila-national-park-darjeeling-history.html

The National Park

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://explore-natural-beauty-of-india.blogspot.com/2026/02/singalila-national-park-darjeeling-national-park.html

Fees

Entry Fees:

·      ₹ 120 for Indians & ₹ 500 for Foreigners

·      ₹ 400 for Vehicles

·      ₹ 100 for camera

Vehicle Cost:

·      Land Rover Fare ₹6000 for a round trip from Manebhanjan to Sandakphu

·      Jeep Safari Cost ₹ Rs. 5,500 per day

Accommodation Cost:

·      ₹1000-2500 per person per night inside the national park

Trekkers must hire a guide and porters at Maneybhanjang at extra cost.

Connectivity

Maneybhanjang (2150m) is a small Himalayan hamlet, is the gateway to the national park. Maneybhanjang is located at about 19 Kms from Ghoom, 19 Kms from Ghoom Railway Station, 25 Kms from Darjeeling, 29 Kms from Mirik, 37 Kms from Bijanbari, 48 Kms from Rimbik, 75 Kms from Siliguri, 83 Kms from Bagdogra Airport, 86 Kms from New Jalpaiguri Junction Railway Station, Maneybhanjang can be reached from New Jalpaiguri Junction and Bagdogra Airport via Mirik. It is also well connected with Darjeeling via Ghoom.

Tourists need to reach Maneybhanjang early since car entry inside the national park is only allowed between 07.00 AM to 02.00 PM. Tourists can start trekking the mountain trails or hire a vintage British Land Rover to reach the national park from Maneybhanjang. It is approx. 13 Kms from Maneybhanjang to Tumling. The entrance of the national park is about 1 km away from Tumling. Tourists can hire a British Land Rover to reach Sandakphu from Maneybhanjang. The park can also be accessed from Rimbik, where many trekkers finish up, or from Bijanbari, with one extra day's walking.

Location 

Dipor Bil Bird Sanctuary, Guwahati – The Bird Sanctuary

Dipor Bil Bird Sanctuary, Guwahati – The Bird Sanctuary

Deepor Beel is a permanent freshwater lake, which is the erstwhile water channel of River Brahmaputra. It has a perennial water spread area of about 10.1 km2, which extends up to 40.1 km2 during floods. However, an area of 414 ha has been declared as Deepor Beel Bird Sanctuary by the Government of Assam. It is categorized as representative of the wetland type under the Burma monsoon forest biogeographic region. It acts as a natural stormwater reservoir during the monsoon season for the Guwahati city.

The depth of the lake is varied from 1 m to 4 m. The main sources of water of this lake are the Basistha and Kalamoni rivers, and local monsoon run-off between May and September. The beel drains into the Brahmaputra river through the Khonajan channel. The beel is a source of livelihood for 14 indigenous villages around it whose fishermen depend on it. Freshwater fish is a vital protein and source of income for these communities. About half of the Beel dries out during the winter and the exposed shores are converted into paddy fields.

The beel is bounded by the steep highlands on the north and south, and the valley formed has a broad U-shape with the Rani and Garbhanga hills forming the backdrop. The southern side of the lake is contiguous with Rani Reserve Forest. The climate is humid and tropical monsoon, with a prolonged monsoon season from May to September, and a relatively cool, winter. The best time to visit this sanctuary is between the months of October and March. A watch tower has been erected on the bank of the beel for bird watching and security purpose.

Flora:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://explore-natural-beauty-of-india.blogspot.com/2026/02/dipor-bil-bird-sanctuary-guwahati-flora.html

Fauna:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://explore-natural-beauty-of-india.blogspot.com/2026/02/dipor-bil-bird-sanctuary-guwahati-fauna.html

Dipor Bil Bird Sanctuary, Guwahati – Fauna

Dipor Bil Bird Sanctuary, Guwahati – Fauna

The sanctuary is home to more than 219 species of birds including more than 70 migratory species. The largest congregations of aquatic birds can be seen, particularly in winter, with a reported recorded count of 19,000 water birds in a day. The Bheel is a staging site on migratory flyways and some of the largest concentrations of aquatic birds in Assam can be seen, especially in winter. Migratory water-fowl, residential water-fowl and terrestrial avifauna are common in paddy field areas, dry grassland areas and scattered forest areas.

Some of the birds found in the sanctuary are spot-billed pelican, lesser adjutant stork, white-cheeked hill partridge, oriental white-rumped vulture, long-billed vulture, Eurasian griffon vulture, Himalayan griffon vulture, Ferruginous duck, Baer's pochard, Pallas's sea eagle, greater adjutant stork, Siberian crane, and pheasant tailed jacana. The sanctuary is home to more than 20 species of amphibians, 12 species of lizards, 18 species of snakes and 6 species of turtles and tortoises.

The sanctuary is also home to more than 50 commercially viable species of fish, belonging to 19 families. Mammals such as Asian Elephant, Hoolock Gibbon, Assamese Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Capped Langur, Slow Loris, Leopard, Jungle Cat, Leopard Cat, Large Indian Civet, Small Indian Civet, and Palm Civet, Mongoose, Sambar, Barking Deer, and Chinese Pangolin can be seen in the nearby Rani Reserve Forest and other forested areas. Herds of Asian Elephant visit this Dipor Bil for water frequently.

Dipor Bil Bird Sanctuary, Guwahati – Flora

Dipor Bil Bird Sanctuary, Guwahati – Flora

The sanctuary comprises of a large variety of aquatic flora of tropical wetland and its adjoining areas. Aquatic vegetation like Giant Water Lily, water hyacinth, aquatic grasses, water lilies and other submerged, emergent, and floating vegetation are found during the summer season. Aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation are seen in the dry areas during winter. Emergent vegetation, water hyacinth patches, net-grass land patches are seen in deep open water area, marshy lands, and mud flats.

A total of 18 genera of phytoplankton are reported from the core area of the Bheel ecosystem out of which species of Oscillatoria and Microcystis are dominant. Some of the aquatic plants found in the sanctuary are Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, Ottelia alismoides, Lemna minor, Potamogeton crispus, Vallisneria spiralis, Hydrilla verticillata, Ipomoea aquatica (syn. I. reptans), Azolla pinnata, Spirodela polyrhiza, Eleocharis plantaginea, Nymphaea alba, Nymphaea rubra and Sagittaria sagittifolia.

Euryale ferox, a giant water lily with edible seeds, are leased to earn revenue for the government. Some of the vegetation found on the lake shore are Eupatorium adoratum, Achyranthes aspera, Cyperus esculentus, Phragmites karka, Vitex trifolia, Accium basilium, Saccharum spontaneum and Imperata arundinacea. The dominant tree species in the nearby deciduous forests in the bheel basin are common teak, baheda, banyan, sal and Malabar silk cotton. Aquarium plants, medicinal plant and orchids of commercial value are reported in the surrounding forest areas.

Dipor Bil Bird Sanctuary, Guwahati, Assam

Dipor Bil Bird Sanctuary, Guwahati, Assam

Dipor Bil Bird Sanctuary is a bird sanctuary located to the south-west of Guwahati City in Kamrup Metropolitan District of Assam, India. It is situated on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River. Dipor Bil is called as Deepor Beel (Bil or Bheel means lake in the local Assamese language). Dipor Bil is considered one of the largest bheels in the Brahmaputra valley of Lower Assam. It is a large natural wetland having great biological and environmental importance besides being the only major storm water storage basin for the Guwahati city.

History

The bird sanctuary was established in 1989 by the Assam government. It is listed as a wetland under the Ramsar Convention which designated the lake as a Ramsar Site in November 2002. The BirdLife International has declared Deepor Beel as an Important Bird Area (IBA) with high priority for conservation.

The Bird Sanctuary

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://explore-natural-beauty-of-india.blogspot.com/2026/02/dipor-bil-bird-sanctuary-guwahati-bird-sanctuary.html

Connectivity

The sanctuary is located at about 8 Kms from Azara Railway Station, 9 Kms from Guwahati Rupnath Brahma Inter-State Bus Terminal, 11 Kms from Guwahati Airport, 17 Kms from Guwahati Railway Station. The sanctuary is situated on the Guwahati Rupnath Brahma Inter-State Bus Terminal to Guwahati Airport via Azara Railway Station.

Location 

Borail Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam

Borail Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam

Borail Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located in Cachar District of Assam, India. It is located in the North Cachar Reserve Forest and Borail Reserve Forest. It is one of the largest sanctuaries in Assam. The forest of this sanctuary is located on the highest altitude among all the forests of Assam.

History

Borail Wildlife Sanctuary comprises of Borail Reserve Forest and North Cachar Reserve Forest. It was established in June 2004. The Borail Wildlife Sanctuary is under the administrative control of the Southern Assam Forest Circle, Silchar, and consists of Borail Reserve Forest, which is part of the Cachar Forest Division (East Block) and North Cachar Reserve Forest, part of the Karimgunj Forest Division (West Block).

The Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary consists of the North Cachar Reserved Forest and Borail Reserved Forest. The sanctuary covers an area of about 326.24 km2. The sanctuary is characterized by undulating hills having altitudinal range of less than 30 to more than 1867 meters. The major rivers flowing through the sanctuary are Jatinga, Daloo, Kayong, Gumra and Boleswar. The best time to visit this sanctuary is between the months of October and March. The sanctuary is also a good destination for trekkers.

Flora:

The sanctuary comprises of moist tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. The sanctuary is home to more than 112 species of trees and 23 species of lianas. Trees, shrubs, and lianas species form a thick vegetation of the sanctuary. The forest floor is enriched by many herbaceous species. The main secondary landscape elements are grasslands, cultivated flatland, extensive bamboo brakes, tree plantations (Teak and Sal), secondary and disturbed forest (betel-vine plantation), and village gardens including Areca nut plantations.

The sanctuary is also home to various species of orchids due to the ideal climate condition and suitable geographical location. The sanctuary is home to few unique species of flora endemic to north east India. They are Ornithochilus cacharensis (an epiphytic orchid species), Larsenianthus assamensis (a terrestrial zingiber species), Diospyros cacharensis (a small deciduous tree belonging to the family Ebenaceae) and Alseodaphne keenanii (a large tree belonging to the family Lauraceae).

Fauna:

The mammals found in the sanctuary are Chinese pangolin, slow loris, hoolock gibbon, capped langur, Assamese macaque, pig-tailed macaque, stump-tailed macaque, rhesus monkey, Himalayan black bear, Malayan sun bear, flying fox, fishing cat, marbled cat, leopard cat, jungle cat, golden cat, clouded leopard, barking deer, sambar, hog badger, yellow throated marten, giant squirrel, porcupine, red serow and wild pig. The reptiles found in the sanctuary are Burmese rock python, Brown hill tortoise, Asian leaf turtle, Red snake, Green Pit viper, Monitor Lizard and King cobra. The sanctuary is home to more than 300 species of birds.

The birds found in the sanctuary are Blue-throated Barbet, Bay Woodpecker, Pale-headed Woodpecker, Pied Falconet, Maroon Oriole, Slender-billed Oriole, Short-billed Minivet, Black-winged Cuckooshrike, Grey Treepie, Yellow-vented Warbler, White-naped Yuhina, Brown-capped Laughingthrush, Striped Laughingthrush, Beautiful Sibia, Grey Sibia, Lesser adjutant stork, White-backed vulture, Slender-billed vulture, Mountain bamboo partridge, Rufous-throated hill partridge, White-cheeked hill partridge, Grey peacock pheasant, Khaleej pheasant, Great pied hornbill, Swamp Francolin, Oriental pied hornbill, Rufous-necked hornbill, Wreathed hornbill, White-winged duck, and Austen's brown hornbill.

Barak River Safari

This river safari is one of the unique activities to be done by the tourists visiting this sanctuary. The safari takes tourists on a boat ride along the Barak River. The boat ride offers breathtaking views of the lush green forest and diverse wildlife of the sanctuary. The safari includes a guided nature walk through the dense forests of the sanctuary. The safari also includes a picnic lunch along the riverbank.

Contact

D. F. O., Karimganj Division

Phone: +91 3843 273 455

Range Forest Officer, Kalain

Phone: +91 3845 283 535

D. F.O., Cachar Division

Phone: +91 3842 226 2647 / 224 5648

Range Forest Officer, Udharband

Phone: +91 3842 228 1472

Connectivity

The sanctuary is located at about 23 Kms from Moinarband Railway Station, 26 Kms from Silchar Airport, 29 Kms from Silchar Railway Station, 33 Kms from Silchar, 85 Kms from Karimganj, and 274 Kms from Imphal. The sanctuary is situated at about 33 Kms to the north of Silchar on the Karimganj to Imphal route.

Location