Trek Through Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary

Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary situated at South Sikkim, is the abode of Himalayan Black Bear, Leopard Cat and the elusive Red Panda amongst the many animals, not to mention about the innumerable species of birds that reside here. The highest point of Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary is Maenam Top (3263 Meters). While the most common and popular trail to Maenam Top is via Rabangla in South Sikkim, there are few extremely uncommon trails which leads to the Maenam Top. These trails, rarely treaded, are absolutely uncharted and there is wilderness in every step, through a dense forest of Oak, Pine and Rhododendron. This trail turns into a riot of colours when the Rhododendrons are in full bloom. There are possibilities of witnessing wildlife if one can walk patiently and quietly, without making much noise. Maenam is also an excellent place for birding, with almost 150 species of birds present in this area.

Dirtboots Adventure is organising trek through Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary through one such extremely uncommon trail from 14th April to 20th April' 2019. Here is the tentative itinerary for the same :-

•  14th April - Pick up from NJP Railway Station/ Siliguri. Drive to Borong. Overnight stay at a homestay at Borong.

•  15th April - We start early in the morning after breakfast. We leave the Borong village behind and soon enter into the thick forest. The trek is more than a mere hike and gets quite steep at times. Birders can get rewards if they keep their eyes open. Around six hours of walking leads us to a beautiful place called Devi Than where we camp for the night next to a sparkling rivulet.

•  16th April - As we gain in height, the density of the forest starts thinning out. After walking for another few hours, we reach a place called Dolodunga, a valley with a thin stream flowing through it. This is a vast expanse of land and there are chances of observing wildlife like Himalayan Black Bear, Barking Deer, etc.

•  17th April - Today, we have a small distance to cover. So, we can take the liberty of starting slightly late after exploring Dolodungs. Walking for a couple of hours or so leads to a velvetty meadow called Bhalutar. This meadow turns lush green post monsoon. We set our camp for the day.

•  18th April - We have a long distance to cover today. So, we start early and trek through an undulating trail towards Maenam Top, the highest point in this trek. Once again, the density of the forest increases and so does the wilderness. The wilderness abruptly gives way to a stone laid path, an indication that we have almost reached Bhaley Dunga. Bhaley Dunga is a suspended spur resembling a rooster’s head overlooking the Yangyang village. It has a small shrine where one can offer their Puja. From Bhaledunga, Maenam is another 30 minutes or so.

•  19th April - We trek back to Ravangla today and spend the night in hotel/ homestay

•  20th April - Our trek ends today as we drive back to NJP Railway Station/ Siliguri