Singalila National Park is one of India's most enigmatic Himalayan forests. It is a wilderness area of 78.6 square kilometres located on the Singalila Ridge at an elevation of 7000 feet to 12000 feet above sea level. It was designated a National Park in 1992. A temperate forest of fir, deciduous hardwood, and Rhododendron with a thick bamboo understory can be described as the habitat type. Singalia has the highest density of orchid blooms in a single region in the world, with over 600 varieties of dainty orchids. The area receives significant seasonal monsoon rains and is located in the Indian state of West Bengal in the Eastern Himalayan Region. It is well-known for the trekking path that runs through it to Sandakphu.
Singalila is one of India's best places to see the elusive Red Panda. Within the boundaries of Singalila, there are an estimated 32 Red Pandas. Other mammals found here include the Himalayan Black bear, Clouded Leopard, Leopard, Leopard Cat, Himalayan Serow, Barking Deer, Yellow-throated Marten, Wild Boar, Pangolin, Pika, and many other Eastern Himalayan exotics.
This is also a birder's paradise. More than 300 bird species have been documented here. It is home to a diverse range of exotic birds, including the Blood Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan, Kalij Pheasant, Brown and Fulvous Parrotbills, Rufous-vented Tit, and Old World babblers such as the Fire-tailed Myzornis and the Golden-breasted Fulvetta, as well as Rosefinchs, bullfinches, Wren Babblers, Laughing thrushes and more.
Sandakhphu top, located within Singalila National Park and the highest peak in West Bengal, is one of the best places to see sunrises and sunsets. The best view of Kangchenjunga, also known as Sleeping Buddha or Sleeping Shiva, is from Sandakphu.
The Red Panda tours to Singalila begin and end at Bagdogra, the nearest airport on the Indo-Nepal border, near Siliguri West Bengal.
Arrive at Bagdogra airport, you will be greeted by a Wild India Journey representative then drive to Manebhajan, a village on the Indo-Nepal border. The drive would take approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. When you will arrive in Manebhajan, the forest authority grants them entry and transfers them from the car or bus to the 1956 model Land Rover.
The ride from Manebhajan to the Lodge is an adventure itself, and these vintage cars are a UNESCO world heritage. It would take about three hours to drive. Upon arrival, you will be formally welcomed and assigned rooms.
The Lodge is located at an elevation of 10,000 feet above sea level. So today would be set aside to adjust to the altitude and prepare for the long days of Panda tracking. Lunch and dinner will be served in the Lodge, and overnight stay.
You would begin the day at the crack of dawn for the next five days. You will either go on a walk in the Indian or Nepalese sides looking for birds and other wildlife, or you will spend time at the birding hide built near the Lodge.
A team of trackers will be out in the field looking for Red Pandas, and any sightings will be communicated to the Lodge then you will escorted to the place. The Pandas are not very shy to human so approaching and watching them from a close distance is entirely possible. On one of the mornings, you can drive up to the Sandakphu peak, from which you can see a panoramic view of Mt Everest. The scenery is spectacular, and the views are breathtaking. It is well worth seeing and highly recommended.
If time allows, depending on when the flights depart, you can go on a morning walk and track the Pandas one last time. After breakfast, you would return to Manebhajan in the heritage Land Rovers, where our car or bus would transport you back to Bagdogra Airport.
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252-Rajendra Nagar, Opposite Main Gate of Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, India 321001
info@wildindiajourney.com
10:00 AM to 7:00 PM IST
