Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary

Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1976 in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. Covering 158 sq km of sal and mixed deciduous forest in the Himalayan foothills between the Teesta and Mahananda rivers, it lies just 9 km from Siliguri town.

The sanctuary is home to Asian elephants, Bengal tigers, leopards, gaur, sambar deer, and over 200 species of birds. The Bengal Safari Park operates within its boundaries, making it accessible to casual visitors. The forest roads through the sanctuary offer wildlife sightings, particularly of elephants which migrate seasonally through the corridor.

The sanctuary also serves as a critical wildlife corridor between Buxa Tiger Reserve to the east and the Himalayan forests to the north. Best visited October to April; the forest remains closed to visitors during parts of the monsoon.