10 Best Places in India For Snow Leopard Sighting

Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim

Also known as the Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve, this wildlife destination in Sikkim is one of the best places for sightings of snow leopard in India apart from Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Spread over an area of about 850 sq km, Khangchendzonga National Park extends from the cold deserts of Lhonak Valley and the ridges of Lachen to the historical place at Yuksom in North Sikkim. Its upper realm makes for a decent home for snow leopards who are sighted someday or the other. Apart from snow leopards, the national park is also popular for being home to India’s half bird diversity, orchids, wild trees and one-third of India’s flowering plants. The national park occupies around 40 percent of Sikkim, which makes it one of the highest ecosystems in the world.

Best season for sighting: Winter (October to December)

How to Reach?

You can reach the national park via NH 31A that connects West Bengal (via Sevoke) and Sikkim. The park is around 45 kilometres from Gangtok. The nearest towns to Khangchendzonga National Park are Yuksom in West Sikkim and Chungthang in North Sikkim.