Khangchendzonga National Park

The Khangchendzonga National Park is located in the Sikkim region of India. Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve is also recognised as a mixed heritage site by UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee. This national park is situated in the Himalayan region and has a rich biodiversity. It also has 19 mountain peaks, including Mt. Khangchendzonga, which has a height of 8,586 metres and is the third highest mountain peak in the world. This park got its name from Mt. Khangchendzonga.

General Information About Khangchendzonga National Park

The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve has an area of 1784 square km (689 sq mi). This park is located in the northern district of Sikkim. It is a combination of many diverse natural habitats. These include the plains, rivers and valleys, lakes, and snow-capped mountains covered with forests.

The climate of the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve is soothing between April and May. The monsoon begins in May and extends till October. Winters are colder, and the temperature drops below 0 degrees Celsius. 

Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve is a combination of natural scenic beauty, wildlife and adventure. Tourists visit this place for treks, safaris, or simply walk through the park.

Geography

Khangchendzonga National Park is a biosphere reserve in Sikkim. India’s first Mixed-Heritage site and UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in July 2016 as part of the UNESCO Biosphere Program. The park’s name is on the Kangchenjunga (8,586 m/28,169 ft), the world’s third-highest peak. The total park area is 849.5 km2 (328.0 sq mi).

History

Khangchendzonga National Park is large enough to represent its Outstanding Universal Value fully. Originally established in 1977, it later expanded in 1997 to include the tallest mountain and glaciers and new lowland forest areas in the area. The increased size also accommodated the larger migration ranges of seasonal animals. Overlaying the property is the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, which encompasses an additional 114,712 ha of the buffer zone. The property is part of a unique mountain ecosystem that includes peaks, glaciers, lakes, rivers, and many ecologically linked biological elements.

The property includes key man-made features that shape Sikkimese sacred geography. Mount Khangchendzonga, Sikkim’s guardian deity and owner of the land, has Mayel Lyang, the Lepcha’s mythological place, on its slopes. Buddhists believe that the entire state of Sikkim is a holy land, and this belief extends beyond the boundaries of the property.

Flora and Fauna of the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve

The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve is famous for its diverse range of animals and plants. Learn about the flora and fauna of India’s first mixed heritage site below:

Flora of the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve

The flora of the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve can be divided into three categories:

• Temperate broadleaf forest: This forest covers a height of 2730 metres. You can also find Quercus lineata, Acer campbellii and Juglans regia. 
• Mixed coniferous forest: It continues to a height of 3650 metres. It is home to plant species like the Abies densa, juniper, and rhododendron.
• The Alpine scrub: This part is present up to a height of 3650 metres. This place is full of common herbs and medicinal plants, such as Picrorhiza and Rheum emodi.

Fauna and Avifauna of Khangchendzonga National Park 

Coming to the fauna of the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, this park is home to a variety of endangered mammal species, such as: 

• Snow leopard
• Red panda, Sikkim’s state animal 
• Blue sheep
• Barking deer
• Musk deer
• Wild dogs 
• Marmosets
• Rat snakes
• Russell’s viper

You can locate more than 500 species and subspecies of birds in the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve. Some of them are:

• Monal pheasants
• Osprey
• Asian emerald cuckoo
• Sunbirds
• Himalayan forest thrush

Conclusion

The Khangchendzonga National Park is located in the northeastern state of Sikkim. It attracts tourists from all over the world throughout the year. It is also India’s first mixed heritage site. 

The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve covers 35% of Sikkim’s total area and houses many rare animal and plant species. The national park also offers a view of Mt. Khangchendzonga, the world’s third-highest peak.