Walk down from Tiger Hill through the Senchal forest
Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary was set up in 1915 and covers the forested ridges around Tiger Hill and the old Senchal lake reservoirs that supply Darjeeling's water. The walk down to Ghum follows the road and older shortcuts through tall cryptomeria, oak and rhododendron. Birdlife is good in the early morning.
It is about 4–5 km, mostly downhill, and takes 1.5–2 hours. Go in a group after the sun is up, stay on the road and tracks, and arrange for your car to wait at Ghum. In April and May the rhododendrons flower; in winter the light through the trees is clear and sharp.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Is it safe to walk down from Tiger Hill?
Yes, in daylight and in company. Stay on the road and main tracks, walk with at least one other person and carry water and a phone. Leopards and wild boar live in the Senchal forest but avoid people; do not walk in the dark. Watch for vehicles on the road sections, especially between 6 and 8 am when sunrise jeeps return.
What birds can I see in the Senchal forest?
Early mornings bring laughingthrushes, minivets, sunbirds, warblers, tits and sometimes the satyr tragopan in winter, though that is rare. Birders often spot green-tailed sunbirds and rufous sibias. Binoculars help, and a local birding guide from Darjeeling can show you the best tracks. Quiet walking pays off.
Where does the walk from Tiger Hill end?
Most people walk down to Ghum, about 4–5 km, and meet their car near Ghum Monastery or the station. From Ghum you can take the toy train or a shared jeep back to Darjeeling, 8 km away. Fit walkers can continue on to Batasia Loop and Darjeeling on foot, adding another 1.5 hours.
Also in Tiger Hill
More hours to plan around
