Khangchendzonga National Park

Khangchendzonga National Park, situated in North Sikkim bordering Nepal, covers an area of 850 sq. km. and was set up on August 26, 1977. The area of the park, named as a Biosphere reserve with an elevation ranging from 1830m to over 8550m, is enclosed by some impressive mountain peaks and glaciers on all but its eastern side. On the western border, lies the Khanchenjunga, one of the highest mountain peaks towering above virtually undisturbed fine forest cover. The peaks and glaciers on the northern side include the Nepal, Talung, Tent peaks and the Zemo (longest) and Simyo glaciers and other peaks like Pandim, Narshing, Siniolchu etc in other directions.

The park with its continuous tract of mountains, green forests, flowering meadows and streams in its primitive wilderness attract many nature and adventure lovers.

The lush vegetation include Temperate broad leaved forests dominated by oaks, mixed Coniferous forests with fir, birch, maple, willow etc and alpine grasses and shrubs at higher altitudes along with many medicinal plants and herbs.

The fauna of the park are clouded leopard, snow leopard, wild dog, thar, sloth bear, civet, Himalayan black bear, red panda, Tibetan wild ass, blue sheep, serow, goral, takin, musk deer and reptiles like rat snake and Russels viper etc. Among the avifauna of the state which consist of almost 550 species of birds many are to be found in abundance in the park like Blood Pheasants, Satyr Tragopan, Osprey, Himalayn griffon, Lammergeier, tragopan pheasant, green pigeon, Tibetan snow cock, Snow pigeon, Impeyan phesants, Asian emerald cookoo, Sunbirds & eagles. There are a few Lepcha tribal settlements inside the park.