Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, Wildlife refuge in East Sikkim district, India.
Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary spreads across mountain terrain between 1,760 and 4,390 meters (5,774 and 14,403 feet) in eastern Sikkim. Its forests and slopes form a natural corridor through one of the eastern Himalayas' most remote regions.
The sanctuary was established in 1999 to create a protected link between Bhutan's forests and the Neora Valley National Park in West Bengal. This designation connected two important forest regions through a single protected corridor.
The villages of Mankhim and Dalepchand are woven into the sanctuary's life, with residents participating in community committees that guide how the forest is cared for. This partnership shows how local traditions and conservation work together in daily practice.
The sanctuary can be reached from Rangpo city via roughly 40 kilometers of mountain road that passes through several hamlets. Small mountain villages along this route offer basic lodging and serve as good starting points for exploring the area.
Three high-altitude lakes - Kupup, Tsomgo, and Hangu - sit within the sanctuary and freeze solid in winter. These frozen waters become resting places for migratory birds traveling through the region during colder months.
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