About Senchal Lake and Wildlife Sanctuary
Senchal Lake and Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected forest and twin reservoir near Ghum, about 11 km southeast of Darjeeling in West Bengal. Established in 1915, it is one of India's oldest wildlife sanctuaries, covering 38.88 sq km at 1,500-2,600 m altitude. The artificial lakes, built between 1910 and 1915, supply drinking water to Darjeeling town. The sanctuary encompasses Tiger Hill and offers dense temperate forests, wildlife viewing and Himalayan views.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a dense temperate forest of oak, kapasi and champ with two reservoir lakes (North and South Senchal Lake) surrounded by forested hills. The sanctuary encompasses Tiger Hill, famous for sunrise views of Kanchenjunga. Visitors can explore forest roads and trekking trails, watch for barking deer, wild boar, Himalayan black bear and diverse birds, and enjoy viewpoints, photography spots and quiet natural surroundings near Ghum and Darjeeling.
Key highlights
- 01
Twin Senchal Lakes - artificial reservoirs built 1910-1915 supplying water to Darjeeling
- 02
One of India's oldest wildlife sanctuaries, notified in 1915 covering 38.88 sq km
- 03
Tiger Hill inside the sanctuary - renowned sunrise viewpoint for Kanchenjunga and Everest massif
- 04
Dense temperate forest with oak, magnolia and rhododendron