The Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary
is a wildlife enthusiast’s dream. The sanctuary is located in The Himalayan
foothills and the Terai region and is home to the elephant, Indian bison or
gaur, tigers, leopards, sambar and cheetal.
A short 13 km drive from Siliguri
gets you to Sukna, the gateway to the sanctuary. The Mahananda Wildlife
Sanctuary is spread over the forests of the lower catchment area of the Mahananda River and covers an area of 159.86 sq
km. The forest type varies from riverine forests to dense mixed-wet forest in
the higher elevation in 'Latpanchar' area of Kurseong hills. With this
variation in altitude and forest types, you will find that the sanctuary is
home to a wide variety of mammals, birds and reptiles.
If you head out to the western
end of the elephant migration route, you will get a glimpse of at least a few
of the more than 150 elephants that shelter here during the monsoon and winter seasons.
The park attracts migratory water
birds in winter and you might recognize some very endangered species like fairy
blue bird, Himalayan pied hornbill, etc. Birds like the swallow, swift, thrush,
babbler, warbler, roller, minivet, sunbird can be found in abundance.
An exciting jungle safari in the
sanctuary includes the regions of Siliguri- Sukna - Golaghat - Gulma- Laltong
and can be a real thrilling experience. Keep your binoculars handy and scour
the jungles for the important mammalian denizens like the majestic royal Bengal
Tiger, elephants, the sturdy Indian Gaur or bison, gentle spotted and barking
deer, the rare mountain goat (Serow), many species of lesser cat, Himalayan
black bear, leopards including the clouded leopard and many other smaller
animals. The jungles are alive with other animals like the wild pig, jungle
cats, porcupines, civets, monitor lizards and snakes.
An absolute delight for the
adventurous kind, the sanctuary offers some beautiful trekking routes from
Sukna, Golaghat and Deorali. The highest point at Latpanchar in the Kurseong
Hills ilHiH is 4000 ft above the
sea level and is popular for trekking and bird watching as it provides the
perfect viewpoint for viewing various types of wildlife.
If you are an eco tourist, check
out the Nature Interpretation Centre at Sukna. Several glades, hides and
watchtowers have been created near natural saltlicks and streams to invite wild
animals. An unused railway cabin in the abandoned Gulma Station inside the core
area of the sanctuary has been converted into a watchtower. It is ideally
located beside the Gulma
River and is great for
wildlife viewing.
If you are planning on an
overnight stay, there are a number of rest houses in the sanctuary including
two in Sukna and arguably the best one in Latpanchar.
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