The Mahananda Wildlife Sancruary In Darjeeling

Royal Bengal Tiger

Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary is located around 13kms from Siliguri and comes under the Darjeeling Wildlife division. The place was declared as a sanctuary in the year 1959 so as to protect the highly endangered species of Royal Bengal Tiger and the Indian Bison.It is a perfect place for all those who want to enjoy the beauties of Mother Nature far away from the hustle & bustle of the city life.

There are various hides, glades and watchtowers being built near the streams & saltlicks so as provide a better view of the wild animals. The abandoned railway cabin within the core area has been transformed in to the watchtower. The height of the sanctuary varies from place to place and the highest point in the sanctuary is at Latpanchar.

History

Mahananda wildlife Sanctuary has a total notified area of 158.04 sq.kms.it was constituted.In 1976 by curving out a part of reserve forest of Kurseong Div in 1976. and a part of Baikunthapur division subsequently included in 1988.in 1988 adminstratative control of major part Of the sanctuary was transferred to Kurseong to Wildlife Div.-1 in Darjeeling in 1995.

Attractions

The Animals

Indian Bison

The sanctuary shelters a large population of migratory elephant for a long period of time. The sanctuary has got a tremendous importance in the forest maps of India because of a considerable number of Bengal Tiger.Apart from these the faunal life of the Mahananda Sanctuary comprises of gaur, leopard, spotted deer, sloth bear, barking deer, wild dog, boar, sambar, along with smaller mammals like porcupine, pangolin, jungle cat, leopard cat, civet etc. recently some hullock gibbon and black capped languor have been released in the sanctuary and they can be seen living with the company of rhesus monkeys.

The Birds

Pied Hornbill

The birds can be seen here are fairy blue bird, Himalayan pied hornbill....... etc. Among the others; swallow, swift, thrush, babbler, warbler, roller, minivet, sunbird can be found in abundance.

Accommodation

There are two forest rest houses at Sukna and one at Latpanchar in the northern part on the Sanctuary.

How To Get There

By Air

The nearrest airport is situated at Bagdogra, which is at a distance of only 28kms from the sanctuary.

By Bus

The sanctuary is well connected by road and is only 13kms from Siliguri.

Photo Gallery 

leopard at mahananda wildlife sanctuary