Singalila National Park: Discover Nature's Masterpiece

This park is well-known for its magnificent natural surroundings, variety of animals, and beautiful Himalayan views. Singalila National Park has a large range of plant and animal species, which contributes to its reputation for high biodiversity. A variety of rhododendron, orchid, and other alpine plant species are accessible safely within the park. Red pandas, pangolins, Himalayan black bears, leopards, barking deer, and other bird species, such as eagles and pheasants, may all be present there. Trekking is one of the most well-liked activities in Singalila National Park. The most well-known of the park’s many hiking trails is the Singalila Ridge trek, which follows the boundary between India and Nepal. Kanchenjunga and Mount Everest, two of the world’s tallest mountains, are among the journey’s spectacular vistas. The highest peak in West Bengal, Sandakphu, is located inside the park’s boundaries. To witness the spellbinding sunrise over the Himalayan Alps, many adventurers and hikers journey to Sandakphu. Generally speaking, visitors can access the park from September to May. The best times to visit are from April to May and from October to November, respectively. The temperature is pleasant during these months, and the skies are clearer, providing excellent views of the mountains.

Attraction

Singalila National Park is full of beautiful views of nature. One can enjoy the breathtaking views of the Himalayan Mountains and the panorama of four of the world’s highest peaks here. They are: Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu. The main attraction of this park is trekking. Singalila Ridge Trek is the most popular among tourists. In this park, one can enjoy the beauty of wild animals like red pandas, clouded leopards, pangolins, rare birds, etc. The garden is also attractive for rhododendron forests which look amazing during Spring. Sandakphu is the highest peak in West Bengal which is a popular trekking destination of this park. All of these fantastic wild beauties make this park attractive to tourists from all over the World.

History

The forest of Singalila was purchased by the British government from the King of Sikkim in 1882. The forest was notified as a reserve forest under the Indian Forest Act of 1878. Some years after the independence, in 1992, the forest was converted into a National park and officially opened up for tourism. The area was earlier used as a hiking trail. And it was used by the first mountaineering team that was heading for Mount Kanchenjunga. In the mid-19th century, Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, the famous British botanist, and explorer, visited the forest and published the book “Himalayan Journals“.

Inside/Outside Views

Inside the park, one can enjoy the wildlife and natural beauty. The most popular snow-capped peaks like Kanchenjunga can be seen from the park. There are dense forests, rhododendron gardens, and green meadows which give joy to the tourists. Moreover, there are different trekking trails inside the park which are so adventurous. The park is full of different plant species and various animals. There are a few guest houses for visitors inside the park.

From the outside of the park, the peaks of the Himalayan can also be seen. Surrounding the park there are tea gardens. The famous Darjeeling tea is produced here. Outside the park area, there are local villages where ethnic communities like Sherpa, Limbus, and Lepchas are lived. There are also some religious sites like Buddhist Monasteries and gompas.

How to Reach

By Air: The Bagdogra Airport is the closest to Singalila National Park, which is 13 miles from Darjeeling. All the major airlines fly between the major cities in India. The airport in Bagdogra attracts visitors from abroad due to its links to Bangkok and Parso. To reach Singalila National Park from Bagdogra Airport, one can simply hire a cab, travel in a shared taxi, or take a bus, which takes around 1.45 hours.

By Train: The train station closest to Singalila National Park is Ghoom. The only means of transportation to Ghoom is the Darjeeling Toy Train, which runs from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling. The Darjeeling Toy Train travels through New Jalpaiguri, Siliguri Town, Siliguri Junction, Sukna, Rangtong, Tindharia, Gayabari, Mahanadi, Kurseong, Tung, Sonada, Ghoom, and Darjeeling. Tonglu, which is believed to be the gateway to the Singalila National Park, is about 31 kilometers from Ghoom Railway Station.

By Road: NH 31A (Sivok-Gangtok) is the route that runs the closest to Singalila National Park. This national roadway connects Manebhajan to the National Park via Darjeeling. Rimbick and Tumling, the park’s entrances, are believed to be accessible from Manebhanjan. Singalila may be reached in 1.5 hours from Manbhajan

The route from Siliguri to Singalila National Park is Siliguri > Sukna > Rangtong > Kurseong > Tung > Sonada > Ghoom > Manebhanjan > Tonglu (90 km).

Tips for Travellers

Tips For Travelers:

Take proper precautions. As the journey can feel like a wave motion.
Take enough food and water. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking water.
Take a camera with you to capture the beauty of the park as well as the route.
Follow an experienced guide during trekking.
Do not play music or speaker.
Do not try to feed the animals.
Smoking, and cooking is prohibited inside the park.
Stay away from wild animals.
Take a raincoat, sweater and other necessary clothes.
A permit from the forest service is required to enter the Singalila National Park’s interior. The permission can be acquired either at the Manebhanjan office of the Forest Department or at the national park gate, which is close to Tumling.