National Park spreads over an 88 sq.km. situated in the Darjeeling district
under Kalimpong Sub-division. It was declared as a National Park in 1992
with its amazing Bio-diversity and the home of many rare and endangered
plants, animals and birds.
Originating from an inaccessible snout of the park and can be visible from Rechila Danda. Jaributi, one of the most beautiful spots in Neora Valley, is an ideal place for viewing wildlife movements. The place has tremendous importance for medicinal plants that grow here in abundance. Neora Valley National Park is the home of Red Panda. Acute little animal with reddish brown body and a bushy ringed tail is one of the most endangered species in the world. This Park also harbours more than 31 species of mammals, which include the Indian Gaur, clouded leopard, Mithun, Ghoral, wild dog, Himalayan Black Beer, Himalayan Thar, leopard cat and the recent discovery of Royal Bengal Tiger.
Avi - Fauna:
Neora Valley is extraordinarily rich in avi-fauna or the feathered animals. Due to its altitudinal variation ranging from 600ft. to 10600ft.various species of birds make the park a paradise for the bird watchers. There are more than 100 species of birds including Eagle, Tragopan, Pheasants, Cuckoos, Minivets, Flycatchers, Maynas, Orioles, Wood Owls, Parakeets, Sunbirds, Swallows, Swifts and Woodpeckers, Babblers, Robin, Thrush, Jungle Crow and many others.
Nature has bestowed Neora Valley with a broad medley of butterflies, which provide a grand feast to the eyes with their ingrained splendour. Kaiser-I-Hind and Krishna Peacock are amongst the most attractive butterflies found here. The self-sufficient eco-system of Neora Valley harbours a rich plethora of insects. A mammoth diversity of Spiders, Bugs, Beetles, Ants and Bees parts a very important and complex eco-system of Neora Valley.
Neora Valley has gifted by nature with a variety of colorful wild Orchids. Their splendid colours and grace patterns have the capacity to hypnotize anyone. A number of Orchids hidden in the deepest parts of the valley are yet to find a place in the records.
area is being a part of the Himalaya, small water bodies/wetlands are
scattered all over the park namely the Jorepokhri, Panch pokhri, Tempole
etc. No fixed observation points exist in the National Park. However,
there are well-defined briddle paths through which can trek through the
pristine forested hills and valleys. These briddle paths lead to a few
camps where only foresters stay for routine protection duties.
There are only 13 villages and 8 tea gardens in the fringe areas outside the National Park. A substantial population of these villages belongs to tribes mostly Nepalese, Sherpa, Bhutia, Tibetan, Rai and Tamang communities. Totemism is common among the villages and hence they protect the animals and plants and help in the conservation of nature.
As the Neora Valley National Park is situated in area with varying altitude, its Maximum temperature is 30 degree and minimum is below 0 degree. Snowfall is common between Nov – Feb. Monsoon starts from May to middle of October. The average rainfall in the catchment is 635 cms. annually. Best time to visit the National Park is 1st October to 30th April.
There are two entry points, one through Lava which is 32 kms. from Kalimpong and 90 km. from Silliguri. The other through Samsing, which is 80 kms. from Silliguri. National Highway 31 connects Silliguri, Mal jn. and Chalsa. There are district roads which connect Lava and Samsing. Nearest Railway Station is NJP. Visitors going to Samsing can drop at New Mal jn. The nearest Airport is Bagdogra, which is about 13 kms. from Silliguri.
Day visit to the National Park can be availed from 16th Sept to June 15th. Entry tickets are made available as follows:
Visiting Hours Mar-Sept. Issuing time Oct-Feb. Issuing time
Morning Session 6 –
9 am. 5.30 am. 7 – 10am. 6 am.
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