nature · Tiger Hill, Darjeeling
A morning walk in Senchal forest
Senchal was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1915, one of the earliest in India, partly to protect the forest that feeds the Senchal lakes, Darjeeling's water supply. It covers the slopes around Tiger Hill and runs towards Sonada and Chatakpur. The forest is mixed: oaks, magnolias, rhododendrons and planted cryptomeria, hung with moss and ferns.
Once the sunrise cars leave, at about 6.30 am, ask your driver to wait or meet you lower down, and walk the road down through the forest. Mornings bring laughingthrushes, minivets, sibias and sunbirds. Barking deer call from the slopes, and Himalayan black bears and leopards live in the sanctuary, though they are rarely seen.
Keep to the road or marked paths; this is a protected area, and entering deep forest needs permission from the forest department. In April and May rhododendrons flower red on the slopes. In winter the forest is cold and still, and the light through the trees is good for photographs. Allow an extra hour in your car booking.
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Questions people ask
Good to know
What animals live in Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary
Barking deer, Himalayan black bears, leopards, wild boar and many birds such as laughingthrushes, sibias and sunbirds. Large animals are rarely seen near the road. Early mornings after the Tiger Hill crowd leaves give the best chance of birds.
Can I walk in Senchal forest without a permit
You can walk the main road through the sanctuary to and from Tiger Hill. Going off-road into the forest needs permission from the West Bengal Forest Department. Stay on the road, do not leave litter, and check current status before you travel.
When do rhododendrons flower near Tiger Hill
Mostly April and early May, when the red tree rhododendrons flower in the Senchal forest. Higher ridges such as Sandakphu flower a little later. A morning walk after the Tiger Hill sunrise is a good way to see them.
