Neora Valley National Park is situated in the northern part of the Kalimpong district, West Bengal, India. It spreads over an area of 88 square kilometres, standing at an elevation of 3200m and is one of the richest biological zones in entire Eastern India. This forested land was earmarked as a national park in 1986.

The entire forest is crisscrossed by mountain streams. Perhaps as this park falls in the ambit of the Neora River, this forest got its name. The highest point of this park is Rachela pass. The Park with its dense forests is located on the tri-junction of Bhutan, Sikkim and West-Bengal and shares its boundary(north-eastern side) with Pangolakha Wild Life Sanctuary in Sikkim and with Toorsa Strict Reserve in Bhutan. The Park also connecting the Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary and Gorumara National Park in the southern boundary.

Neora Valley National Park comprises tropical & temperate vegetation and is the land of rich diverse flora and fauna, which makes this park an important wilderness zone. This is one of the oldest forest zones in northeastern India and is oriented with virgin forests, dense bamboo groves, the colourful canopy of Rhododendron trees, lush green valley, meandering rivers and streams with snow-capped mountains in the backdrop form a picturesque landscape. Infact, the growth of the forest is so affluent that even in most of the parts the sunlight finds it difficult to touch the ground. Much of the park is still inaccessible, making it an adventurous place for nature lovers/trekkers who can take the challenge to explore the still-unknown terrain in the Kalimpong hills.

Being an important biological zone the tourism industries has grown over time. There are places and outdoor activities like trekking, hiking, birdwatching, nature exploration that are getting popular day by day. Destinations like Lava(Tenzing Lepcha), Gorubathan, Kolakham(Dipak Rai), Phapharkheti, Reshyap (Pempa Lepcha, Sherap Lepcha ), Samsing has been gaining in popularity among travellers. Bindu, Jhalong, Rangpo, Todey Tangta area also has become significant tourist destinations on the western front.

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Neora Valley National park is one of the last remaining pristine ecosystems of the Eastern Himalayas with its amazing Bio-diversity and is home to many rare and endangered plants, animals and birds and is the land of the elegant red panda in the pristine undisturbed natural habitat in the inaccessible hilly terrain. Due to the wide range of altitude variation, the climate condition of the park varies from tropical to temperate or even Sub-alpine in the Rachela area, Neora Valley is the hut of well known wild orchids. A number of orchids hidden in the deepest parts of the valley are yet to find a place in the records.

Let’s have a look at the ecology of the Neora Valley National Park.

Biomes

Inside this wildlife sanctuary, the primary biomes corresponding to the ecozone are -

• Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forest of the Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests Biome
• Sino-Himalayan Subtropical Forest of the Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests Biome
• Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forest of the Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests Biome

All of these are typical forest type of foothills of Bhutan, Nepal, India hilly region between altitudinal range 1000 m to 3,600 m.

Major forest types

• Subtropical Mixed Broadleaf Forest,
• Lower Temperate Evergreen Forest
• Upper Temperate Mixed Broadleaf Forest
• Rhododendron Forest

Flora

Neora Valley, one of the last tracts of virgin wilderness in the country, sustains a unique ecosystem where tropical, sub-tropical, sub-temperate, and the temperate vegetative system still harbours a wealth of flora and fauna. The forests consists of mixed species like rhododendron, bamboo, oak, ferns, sal, etc. The valley also has numerous species of orchids. Rhododendron arboruem, R. barbatum, R.falconeri, R. dalhousiae, Swertia chirata, Lycopodium spp., Aconitum spp., Aristolochia spp., Berberis cristata, Costus speciosa, Didymocarpus pedicellate, Rouwolfia serpentine etc. Balanophora neorensis, Balanophora polyandra, Betula utilis, Swertia chirata, Swertia bimaculata, Ranunculus tricuspes, Digitalis purpuria, Geranium nepalense, Taxus baccata, and Ilex hookeri etc. are some of them to note. The vegetation includes Dry Mixed Forest, Wet Mixed Forest, Lauraceous Forest, Bak-Oak Forest, and High-level oak Forest, Coniferous Forest, Himalayas Moist Temperate Forest and Rhododendron forest. It is home to several endemic orchids.

Fauna

Mammals reported from this area are Indian leopard, five species of civet, black bear, sloth bear, golden cat, wild boar, Himalayan Tahr, Tiger, Chinese Marmorata, Pangolin, Malayan Giant Squirrel, Wild Dog, leopard cat, goral, serow, barking deer, sambar, Himalayan flying squirrel and thar. The most exotic of all is Red Panda. Among other endangered mammalian fauna, clouded leopards are seldom seen and likely to be present in the park.

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Birds

Birds(Birdwatching) belonging to varied genus can be found in the park. Neora Valley National Park thus is known as birders' paradise; some of India's most sought-after birds are found here in the winter months as well. The semi-evergreen forests between 1600 m and 2700 m are the home of several rarities like Rufous-throated partridge, satyr tragopan, crimson-breasted woodpecker, Darjeeling woodpecker, bay woodpecker, golden-throated barbet, Hodgson's hawk cuckoo, lesser cuckoo, brown wood owl, ashy wood pigeon, mountain imperial pigeon, Jerdon's baza, black eagle, mountain hawk-eagle, dark-throated thrush, rufous-gorgeted flycatcher, white-gorgeted flycatcher, white-browed bush robin, white-tailed robin, Yellow-browed tit, striated bulbul, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, black-faced warbler, black-faced laughing thrush, Chestnut-crowned laughing thrush, streak-breasted scimitar babbler, Scaly-breasted cup wing, pygmy cup wing, rufous-fronted babbler, black-headed shrike babbler, white-browed shrike babbler, rusty-fronted barwing, Rufous-winged fulvetta, brown parrotbill, fire-breasted flowerpecker, fire-tailed sunbird, maroon-backed accentor, dark-breasted rosefinch, red-headed bullfinch, gold-naped finch and many other rarities.

Reptiles

Like birds and mammalian fauna, reptilian fauna also coexists in the park's ecosystem; which includes King cobra, common krait, green pit viper, blind snake, lizards etc.

Insects (entomology)

It is a heaven for Entomologists as well; many colourful insects such as butterflies, moths, beetles, bees, wasps, bugs and cicadas are added attractions of the valley.

The Neora Valley National Park is an area that is strictly reserved for the betterment of the wildlife & biodiversity, and where activities like development, forestry, poaching, hunting and grazing on cultivation are not permitted. Their boundaries are well marked and circumscribed. The Park has two entry points: one is from Lava and the other from Samsing. The trek route through Lava starts from Zero Point which is about 25 km from Lava. There is no forest safari or forest trail treks inside the National Park. However, before exploring the park you must visit the Nature Interpretation Cente, which give a blueprint of the Park. – The centre remains open from 8 am – 12noon, 1 pm – 4 pm every day except Thursdays.

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Best time to visit

The park is open to tourists from September till June. However, the best time to visit October to April. Try to avoid rainy and harsh cold weather. The park remains closed for 3 months during the monsoon.

How to Reach

• By Air - Nearest airport is Bagdogra airport
• By Rail - Nearest railway station is New Jalpaiguri Railway Station.
• By Road - Neora Valley National Park is well connected to Major Cities and Places by road network. The nearest town is Lava and the nearest District town is Kalimpong.

Where to stay

There are some beautiful Homestays we offer if you are planning to visit this Destination. These Stay will make your trip more delightful.

• Lava - Tenzing Lepcha
• Lava - Dipak Rai
• Lava - Pempa Lepcha
• Lava - Sherap Lepcha