Khangchendzonga National Park

Khangchendzonga National Park is a protected area in northern Sikkim, India, that conserves the ecosystems and cultural landscapes around the Kangchenjunga massif. It is notable for including part of the Kangchenjunga massif and its high Himalayan terrain.

The park contains high mountain environments including glaciers, steep valleys and alpine meadows, and provides habitat for high-altitude species and seasonal grazing areas. Trekking routes and remote vistas extend across elevations up to the Kangchenjunga peaks; the massif’s 8,586 m summit is an important landmark in the region.

The site was designated and managed by Indian and Sikkimese authorities to conserve the region’s natural and cultural values and was later inscribed by UNESCO in 2016 as a mixed natural and cultural World Heritage Site. Management has involved protection of both biodiversity and local cultural practices tied to the mountains.

Geographically the park occupies mountainous terrain in northern Sikkim along the India-Nepal/Tibet uplands of the eastern Himalaya. Access is from roadheads in Sikkim and the park lies within the state’s high Himalayan zone, containing remote alpine and glacial landscapes.

• UNESCO status: Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2016 as a mixed natural and cultural property.
• Peak elevation: Contains part of the Kangchenjunga massif, whose main summit is 8,586 m above sea level.

What to See #

• Kangchenjunga massif: The highest part of the protected area, incorporating the Kangchenjunga massif and its immediate glacial valleys; the massif's main summit reaches 8,586 m and forms the park's dominant feature.
• Glacial valleys and alpine zones: High-elevation valleys, glaciers and alpine meadows that host cold-adapted flora and fauna and provide routes used by trekkers and pastoralists.