Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary was set up in 1915 in the Darjeeling District of West Bengal, India. It is one of the oldest wildlife sanctuaries of India. It covers an area of 38.6 km2 (14.9 sq mi). The elevation ranges from 1,500 to 2,600 m (4,900 to 8,500 ft). High-altitude animals such as barking deer, wild pig, himalayan black bear, leopard, jungle cat, common rhesus monkey, Assam macaque, Himalayan flying squirrel, etc. are found in their natural habitats. The sanctuary is also rich in bird life. The two Senchal lakes supply drinking water to the town of Darjeeling.

Forests

The sanctuary. is a compact block of both natural and man-made forests, the latter comprising more than 60  of the total area. Between 2,000m to 2,400m oaks occupy the top canopy. Other important species are Kapasi, Katus, Kawla, Champ, etc.
Mating bamboo and numerous varieties of ferns etc. comprise the undergrowth. Above 2,400m Ghoge Champ &: Rhododendrons are found. Sub-tropical flora is found ‘between 1,500m to 2,000m with Castanopsis indica Meliosma wallichii, Machilus edulis, Pipli, Alnus nepalensis, Prunus nepaulensis predominating. . First plantations were raised here way back in 1892. The plantations are stocked with Dhupi (Cryptomeria japonica) mixed with Arupate, Pipli, Champ, Kapasi, Buk, Saur, Kawla, Utis, etc. Scattered plantations of Hemlock (Tsuga brunoniana) and pure plantations of Dhupi also occur.

 Fauna

Barking deer and wild pigs are distributed all over the sanctuary. Goral and serow occupy the undisturbed valleys and steep ridges while the Himalayan Black Bear comes down from higher’ elevations elsewhere and stay during autumn and to winter. .Leopard, jungle cat & leopard cat occur in lower elevations.Common Rhesus,Assamese Macaque, Indian civet, Himalayan Flying Squirrel, Scaly Ant-eater,
Himalayan Jackal and Wild Dog are found here. The area is rich in bird life. Large yellow naped wood-pecker, Tickel’s Golden back Wood pecker, Emerald Cuckoos, Black-backed KhaJij Pheasant, Red Jungle Fowl, Hornbills, Imperial Pigeons, Green, Pigeons , Thrushes, Babblers, Sunbirds etc. are found.

Senchal wildlife sanctuary map

Accommodation

Homestays are available in chattakpur village inside wildlife sanctuary, forest eco huts are also available in chattakpur.

How to reach

By Rail:

The closest railway station of Senchal wildlife sanctuary is New Jalpaiguri railway station, which is 70 km apart from Darjeeling city. This railway station is a principal junction which joins North Eastern India as well as Siliguri to metropolitan cities like Chennai, Guwahati, Bangalore, Pune, Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi. The station runs on both narrow and broad gauges. The broad gauge is mainly utilized for regular rail traffic while narrow gauge is utilized for Darjeeling Himalayan railway.

By Road:

As this sanctuary is a hill station, the road leading to Darjeeling is twisted, winding and long, where private buses, NBSTC buses and taxis ply frequently. The journey by bus on this route takes more time than what it should take due to rugged and steep hilly regions. Jeeps are better options as they prove cheaper and faster.

By Bus:

Darjeeling is joined to other town of West Bengal and Sikkim states by bus. Regular private buses and NBSTC buses ply from Siliguri to bus stand of Darjeeling daily.