Neora Valley National Park, National park in West Bengal, India
Neora Valley National Park is a protected area in West Bengal that stretches across elevations from 600 feet to 10,500 feet (183 to 3,200 meters) and includes several forest types. The landscape ranges from dense lowland woods to mist-covered mountain slopes with tall rhododendrons and bamboo.
Neora Valley National Park was established in 1986 in the Kalimpong district of West Bengal, India, covering 88 km2 (34 sq mi). It is listed as a Tentative World Heritage Site. The park borders Pakyong District and the forests of Samtse District in Bhutan, and the Neora River, its main water source, supplies Kalimpong town.
The park lies in the Kalimpong hills, and the Neora River rising inside it is the main water source for Kalimpong town. Rhododendron arboreum, Rhododendron falconeri and Rhododendron dalhousiae grow in the forests, and some of the valley's orchids are found nowhere else. The semi-evergreen woods between 1,600 and 2,700 m are known among birdwatchers for species such as the satyr tragopan and the Darjeeling woodpecker.
Visitors need to obtain a permit from the forest department before entering, as authorities control the number of people walking into the woods at any time. The best months to visit are between October and May, when the trails are dry and visibility is clearer.
The area is home to the red panda, a rare animal that lives among the branches and feeds mainly on bamboo. Visitors can also come across wild orchids growing on the trunks of old trees, blooming during the humid months.
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