Khangchendzonga National Park, also popularly known as Kanchenjunga National Park is one of the most significant natural and cultural heritage parks in North East India. Located in the heart of the Himalayan Range in Sikkim, the park is a mixed (cultural and natural) UNESCO World Heritage site comprising an area of 850 sq. km.
This Sikkim National Park and wildlife sanctuary not only has rich biodiversity but is also home to 19 mountain peaks including the third highest peak in the world- Mt. Khangchendzonga (stands at a height of 8,576m). Moreover, you will find many unique species of plants and animals inside the Khangchendzonga National Park forest such as musk deer, dhole, sloth bear, snow leopard and more.
Since the park got its name from the Khangchendzonga mountain, it has a religious connotation that is deeply reserved by the local people. In other words, Sikkimese people consider Mount Khangchendzonga and many of the region's other rivers, lakes and caves places of great religious importance because they are related to Buddhist beliefs.
Hence, the different religious ethnicities make Mount Khangchendzonga an important socio-religious center. Continue reading the blog to learn more about this Sikkim National Park and wildlife sanctuary!
A Natural Site
As a part of the Himalaya global biodiversity hotspot and being an important biosphere reserve, Khangchendzonga National Park supports numerous ancient original forests, mountain lakes and valleys and plains with rare flora and fauna species. The park is famous because of its highest concentrations of plants, animals and birds across Central and High Asia mountains.
Moreover, the park is the highest altitude protected wildlife area in India with snowy peaks in the vast forest reserve that is completely natural and unspoiled by humans. If we talk about the peaks in the region, there are over 20 peaks, the majority of which support vegetation. Simply put, the zone has some of the oldest and original forests which are undisturbed by modernization.
Covering an area of about 25% of Sikkim, this Sikkim National Park and wildlife sanctuary is also home to flagship species like red panda, blue sheep, mainland serow, Tibetan wolf and more. Furthermore, Zumu glacier is the largest of the 18 glaciers in Khangchendzonga National Park.
Khangchendzonga National Park Animals and Plants
Since this Sikkim National Park and wildlife sanctuary is located in a place that is not an easily accessible part of Sikkim, it is the home to many flora and fauna species. It is indeed a delight for tourists.
We can divide the flora that blossoms the national park into three zones- Temperate broad-leaved forest, Alpine Scrub above and Mixed coniferous forest consisting of oaks, fir, birch, willow, maple and more. You will find Alpine grasses and medicinal plants and herbs at higher altitudes.
Fauna
The fact that the park is home to diverse and many endangered mammal species is what sets the park apart from other parks in India. Some of these species include Blue sheep, Marmot monkeys, Wild dogs, Rodents and more. You will also find many reptiles, such as rat snakes and Russell’s viper in the region.
Avifauna
Sikkim is the home to more than 500 bird species and subspecies. Some of these are:
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Monal pheasants
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Impeyan pheasant
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Tibetan snow cock
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Lammergeier
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Forest eagle owl
Since upper altitudes get covered in snow, the birds fly down to lower altitudes in winter.
Khangchendzonga National Park Climate
The park remains covered with heavy snowfall during most times of the year. You can expect pleasant weather in the summer months- April and May, and temperature in minus (cold weather) during the monsoon and winter season that starts in May and ends in October. So ideally, April and May are the most preferred time to book Sikkim tour packages.
Best Time to Visit Khangchendzonga National Park
As we already mentioned in the blog above, April and May are two months when you can expect the temperature in Khangchendzonga National Park to be pleasant. Therefore, the best time to visit the park is in these two months only. That is why most tourists book tour packages for Sikkim in these particular months.
On the other hand, tourists do not prefer to visit during the winter and rainy months because the heavy snow and showers make it difficult to explore the outdoors. The snow starts in May end and lasts till mid-October. That means that besides visiting Sikkim National Park and wildlife sanctuary in April and May, visiting from September to mid-December is also a good idea.
Khangchendzonga National Park Accommodation
Sikkim’s hospitality is not yet developed and is still developing. But forest rest houses are a popular choice for tourists looking for accommodations in Khangchendzonga National Park. That is because these rest houses offer all the accommodation facilities required to enjoy a comfortable stay.
You can also consider home stays and budget-friendly hotels as accommodation options. Some popular hotels and homestays near Khangchendzonga Sikkim National Park and wildlife sanctuary among tourists include Hotel Yak, Trekkers Hut, 10zing and Tashigang.
Final thoughts
Now that you know that Khangchendzonga National Park is one of the best places to visit in Sikkim, and reaching there is not difficult as you can conveniently travel by air, road or rail, do you plan to visit this Sikkim National Park and wildlife sanctuary?
If so, do not forget to include SDT in your journey. Contact us today to learn how our car renting services in Sikkim can make your journey more comfortable and convenient.
Frequently Asked Questions about Khangchendzonga National Park
Q1- What is Khangchendzonga National Park?
Ans. Khangchendzonga National Park is a national park and biosphere reserve in Sikkim that is famous for being India’s most significant biodiversity concentration. The park was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in July 2016 and is India’s first “Mixed Heritage” site.
Q2- How is the climate in Khangchendzonga National Park?
Ans. Leaving summer months (April and May), the park experiences heavy snowfall most of the year. The rainy season starts in May and lasts till October. The weather in summer is usually pleasant. On the other hand, the temperature in winter can even fall to 0 degrees Celsius.
