The One Thing You Have Been Missing To Is -To Travel SINGALILA
Why to travel Singalila????
Situated at altitudes ranging between 7,900 ft and 12,000 ft, the park is the highest in West Bengal.
The national park is abode to several rare mammals like the exotic red panda and Himalayan black bear. One also gets to see leopard, pangolin, chinkara, elephant, barking deer, etc.
The park is also a delight for birdwatchers as more than 120 species of birds are seen, which includes many rare birds like scarlet minivet, kalij pheasant, satyr tragopan, blood pheasant, etc.
The national park is very popular for its trekking trails. Trekking is at its peak during March and April when rhododendrons and orchids bloom.
Location and History of Singalila
Singalila National Park is a national park of India located on the Singalila Ridge at an altitude of more than 7000 feet above sea level, in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal.
The park was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1986, and was made an Indian National Park in 1992. The region had long been used as the trekking route from manebhanjang to Sandakphu (the highest peak of West Bengal) and Phalut.
How to Reach
By road: Singalila National Park is well connected by road. But the roads are circular and the journey can feel like wave motion.
The road route from Siliguri
Siliguri > Sukna > Rangtong > Kurseong> Tung > Sonada> Ghoom> Manebhanjan > Tonglu – 90 km.
By rail: The nearest railway station of is Ghoom Railway Station 31 km from Tonglu (entry point to the Singalila National Park).
By air: Singalila National Park is located 13 km from Bagdogra Airport in Bagdogra. That is the nearest airport, but by road it is less than 100 km and takes 3 to 4 hours.
Things to do in Singalila:
Sandakphu:
Trek with best in India and thrill and chill with mesmerising view
Clear blue sky, Green Maple tree,small wooden huts, snowy mountain peaks and beautiful reddish sunrise
Image credit – Partha/flickr
Image source- Partha flickr
Tonglu:
Beautiful place to stay on a leisurely trek of the Sangalila range.
Image credit – Susom/Flickr
Jeep safari in Sangalila National Park:
Explore the Singalila National park on an open Jeep safari and enjoy the wonderful ride to the park from the highest point of West Bengal and get a closer view of eight thousanders mountains Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Everest and Makalu.
Image source – offroad adventures
Where to Stay in Singalila
Private lodges and huts are available at Meghma, Tumling, Jhaubari, Gairibas, Kalipokhri and Sandakphu. Shikhar lodge at Tumling is one of the best places to stay for Singalila Park Safari. Other nice accommodations include Hotel Siddhartha (right opposite the Kanchenjunga viewing area) and adjacent to it is the Mountain Lodge. All these are budget hotels. Note that the entrance to Singalila National Park is located very close to Tumling (about 1km away).
Best time to visit Singalila
There are two great seasons to visit the park. One is during Spring (i.e. from March until May) when the flowers like rhododendrons and orchids bloom in full, and then again after the monsoon is over (i.e. between October and early December) when the snow peaks show in their dazzling beauty in a clear blue sky.
Related images and photos of Singalila
Image source – off road adventures
Image source – www.traveldglobe.com
Image source- Thrillophillia
Image source- Himalayan Adventures
Image source – off road adventure