Singalila National Park 2024: Home To The Red Pandas And West Bengal’s Highest Peak!

The jungles in the east are treasure houses to the most precious and strange flora and fauna. One such treasure in the east is Singalila National Park in West Bengal. Established in 1986, the park is one of the few places on earth where you will come across Red Panda.

The incandescent view of Kanchenjunga Massif adorns the clear blue skies above the park. Each and every turn unfurls a pleasant surprise of wilderness and scenic beauty. Located in the Eastern Himalayas, you get the virgin views of the mountains spanning from Nepal to Bhutan. You may get tired of clicking photos from your DSLR, but the park won’t stop bombarding you with beautiful vistas and wonders of nature. It is a heaven for wildlife photographers, nature lovers, and adventure enthusiasts. Here is all the information you need to know about Singalila National Park, India

History Of Singalila National Park

The forest of Singalila was bought by the British government from the King of Sikkim. Some years after the independence, in 1992, the forest was converted into National park. The area was earlier used as a hiking trail. And it was used by the first mountaineering team that was heading for Mount Kanchenjunga. The park has also been a part of a film scene!

Singalila National Park: Facts & Information

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Address: Singalila ridge, Darjeeling, West Bengal – 734201
Altitude: above 7,000 m
Latitude | Longitude: 27.089767 | 88.070532
Area: 78.6 km square
Geography: Singalila National Park is located on Singalila Ridge in the Eastern Himalayan region. Sandakphu and Phalut, the two of the highest peaks in West Bengal, are located right inside the park. There are two rivers flowing through the park; River Rammam and River Sirikhola.

Singalila National Park: Entry Fee And Permit

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For Indians, the entry fee is INR 100
For foreigners, it is INR 200. They will also have to produce an ID proof

All are required to obtain a permit before entering the core are of the park. The permit can be obtained from Forest Department office at Manebhanjan or at the entrance to the National Park about 1 km from Tumling.

There is a separate fee for cameras to capture photos and videos inside the park. For still camera, it is INR 100 and INR 400 for Video Camera.

Singalila National Park: Best Time To Visit

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There are two seasons to visit Singalila National Park.

Spring season (March until May): It is during this season when the flora and fauna of the Singalila National Park region is at its peak. The whole forest is blooming with rhododendrons and orchids of various kinds.

Autumn-Winter(October until December): This is the time when all your focus will be on the snow white peaks adorning the clear sky of the park.

Park is closed during monsoons i.e. from June until September due to heavy downpour.

Singalila National Park: Things To Do

Here is a list of the best things to do in Singalila national park that will give you a unqiue experience of holidaying there!

1. Singalila National Park Tour

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Spot exotic wildlife and flora while you take a tour through the park. Play peek-a-boo with rare and exotic Red Panda, which are the precious residents of the national park. In Singalila national park, animals that you will find are Himalayan Black Bear, Yellow throat-ed Marten, and Clouded Leopard. Apart from that, it is home to 120 species of Himalayan and Indo-Burma birds.

There is a gravel road that goes through the park. You can only roam around the park in a jeep safari as it can be too dangerous to go inside the wild forests.

A jeep safari or a Land Rover can be rented from Manebhanjan, a small town on the Singalila Ridge or you can ask any of the tour operators in the region to organise safari for you.

Entry Fee: INR 100
Permit Required: Yes. you can obtain the permit from the Forest Department before entering the park. Foreigners need to show their ID proof.
Estimated Cost: For Land Rover INR 4,800 + night halt charge

2. Trek To Sandakphu And Phalut

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When you are in Singalila National Park, trek to Sandakphu and Phalut is a must. The trail of Singalila National Park anyway goes all the way to Sandakphu, the highest peak in West Bengal. The panoramic views of the gigantic Himalayas you get from uptop are unlike anything. The views of sunrise and sunset from this point are breathtaking.

You can either go there by jeep or if you want to enjoy nature at a slower pace, you can go for a 3-day trek from Manebhanjan to Manebhanjan. There are many local operators who organize this trek. You can contact them for costing and arrangements.

3. Birdwatching

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Singalila National Park, Darjeeling is a home to 120 different species of birds because of its high altitude and unique ecosystem. You will find birds like satyr tragopans, blood pheasants, Himalayan griffons, fire-tailed myzornis and many others.

Permit: No special permit is required. However, you need permission from Forest Officials to walk on the non-designated trails.

Singalila National Park: Where To Stay

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In Singalila National Park, hotels are hard to find because of the remoteness of the region. GTA (Gorkhaland Territorial Administration) provides comfortable beds and lodges for the tourists. You can book a bed/room by visiting any of their offices.

Tourist Information Center
Address: Silver Fir Building, Bhanu Sarani, Darjeeling – 734101
Phone: (0354) 2254879 / 2255351

You will also find many lodges and trekkers huts on the route which will provide you with a comfortable stay for a minimal price.

Tariff: INR 100

Singalila National Park Maps

Here is the route map of the park:

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Singalila National Park: Ideal Duration

If you are planning to range through the forests by jeep, 2N/3D are enough to explore the whole region. Trekking to Sandakphu-Phalut will consume at least 4-5 days.

Tips For Visiting Singalila National Park

1. Take proper precautions before heading for the journey to the park.

2. Keep food and water with you during the trek.

3. Take a guide with you.

4. Do not forget to carry your camera along.

Singalila National Park: How to Reach

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The nearest town to Singalila National Park is Manebhanjan. It is well-connected with motorable roads with all the cities in West Bengal.

By Air

The nearest airport is Bagdogra International Airport. It is a 4 hour drive to Singalila National Park, West Bengal from Airport. You can hire a private taxi from airport to reach here.

By Train

The nearest railway station is Ghum. It is 13 km from Tonglu (starting point of the park). There may not be direct trains to Ghum from New Delhi and other cities except West Bengal. You can take a train till NJP and then get a transfer from here.

By Road

Singalila National Park, West Bengal is well connected with motorable roads to all the major cities in West Bengal. The route from DElhi goes through NH 27.

Further Read: Tadoba National Park: A Detailed Guide To The Home Of The Royal Bengal Tigers

Singalila National Park ought to be on your list if you want to get closer to nature and the Himalayas. If you are planning a trip already, get customized North East Vacation with TravelTriangle.

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Dhaarna

If some people enjoy window-shopping, Dhaarna takes pleasure in day-dreaming about solo trips when she’s not working. A gypsy at heart, she likes to spend her money on vacations, plants, and all things boho.