Singalila.

Singalila is an enchanting mountain region bordering West Bengal and Nepal (on either side of a road actually!), in the Darjeeling district. A 3 hours drive from Bagdogra airport through Manebhanjan as the gateway to the national park. Sandakphu is the highest point of this park and of West Bengal state and famous with trekkers and birders alike. The “Sleeping Budha” (where 4 highest mountains in the horizon give the impression of Budha sleeping!) can be seen on some clear mornings. This is one of the best places to find the rare and extremely cute Red Pandas in the wild (but one needs to be prepared for some treacherous treks through bamboo forests!). Orange Bellied Squirrel can also be found here. The diversity of birds is immense and some of the ones I got good photographs of were Red Crossbill, Brown Parrotbill, Satyr Tragopan, Blood Pheasant, Black-throated Parrotbill, Black-eared Shrike-Babbler, Himalayan Shortwing, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, White-browed Fulvetta, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Gold-naped Finch, Gray-sided Bush Warbler, Mountain Finch, Spotted Laughing Thrush, Red-tailed Minla, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher.