Khangchendzonga National Park, also known as the Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve, is a national park and a biosphere reserve in the Indian state of Sikkim. It was added on the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2016, becoming India’s first “Mixed Heritage” site.
History of Establishment
The timeline of events that happened through the establishment of Khangchendzonga National Park:
- 1955 – First successful ascent of Mt. Khangchendzonga
- 1977 – It was designated by the Government of India
- 1997 – It was extended by 1,784 km2
- 2000 – The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve was designated under the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme
- 2010 – Sikkim Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Management Project was initiated
- 2016 – The National Park was declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO
Physical Features
- The property falls within the Himalaya global biodiversity hotspot and displays an unsurpassed range of sub-tropical to alpine ecosystems
- It covers 25% of the state of Sikkim and is one of India’s most significant biodiversity concentrations
- The park boasts 18 glaciers including Zemu Glacier
- There are 73 glacial lakes in the property including over 18 crystal clear and placid high altitude lakes
- The massif has five main ridges that run in different directions and contain multiple peaks that rise beyond 6,000 metres:
- Mt. Siniolchu on the east ridge
- Mt. Jannu on the west ridge
- Mt. Kabru North on the south ridge
- Twins on the north ridge
- Pandim Peak on the southeast ridge
- The Tholung Monastery, one of the most sacred monasteries of Sikkim is situated inside the Khangchendzonga National Park. It is a World Heritage property
Climatic Conditions
Located between 27 degrees 42’0”N and 88 degrees 08’0”E, Khangchendzonga sees heavy snowfall for most of the year. Summer months are from April to May as monsoon extends from May all throughout October. Summers are pleasant while winters get colder than 0 degrees C.
Map of Khangchendzonga National Park
Flora
The vegetation of the park include temperate broadleaf and mixed forests consisting of oaks, fir, birch, maple, willow. The vegetation of the park also includes Alpine grasses and shrubs at higher altitudes along with many medicinal plants and herbs.
Fauna
The park contains many mammal species including musk deer, Indian leopard, snow leopard, Himalayan tahr, dhole, sloth bear, viverrids, Himalayan black bear, red panda, Tibetan wild ass, Himalayan blue sheep, mainland serow, goral and takin, as well as reptiles including rat snake and Russell’s viper.
FAQs about Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim
A: Khangchendzonga National Park, also known as the Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve, is a national park and biosphere reserve located in the Indian state of Sikkim. It is one of India’s most significant biodiversity concentrations and covers approximately 25% of the state of Sikkim. In July 2016, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as India’s first “Mixed Heritage” site.
A: The timeline of events leading to the establishment of Khangchendzonga National Park is as follows:
1955: The first successful ascent of Mt. Khangchendzonga.
1977: The area was designated as a national park by the Government of India.
1997: The park was extended by an additional 1,784 square kilometers.
2000: Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve was designated under the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme.
2010: The Sikkim Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Management Project was initiated.
2016: Khangchendzonga National Park was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
A: Khangchendzonga National Park experiences heavy snowfall for most of the year due to its location between 27 degrees 42’0”N and 88 degrees 08’0”E. The summer months extend from April to May, and the monsoon season lasts from May to October. Summers are generally pleasant, while winters can get colder than 0 degrees Celsius.
Read also:- Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh
