Wildlife and birds · Ganesh Tok
Red pandas at the Himalayan Zoological Park
Cross the road from Ganesh Tok into a hillside zoo of natural forest, where red pandas, Sikkim's state animal, live in large enclosures. Walk the loop road slowly, look up into the branches, and you will usually find one.
Photo: Sunuwargr · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Himalayan Zoological Park at Bulbuley spreads over a forested hillside opposite Ganesh Tok. A road loops through it past large enclosures for Himalayan animals, including red pandas, Himalayan black bears and leopards, with trees, rocks and streams inside rather than bare cages. You can walk the loop, which takes 1–1.5 hours with stops, or drive part of it where vehicles are allowed.
Red pandas are the stars. They spend much of the day asleep in the branches, curled with their ringed tails over their faces, and wake to feed on bamboo. Look up rather than at the ground, and give each enclosure a few minutes. Keepers' feeding times are the most active; ask at the gate.
Keep voices low, do not throw food, and never tap on fences. The zoo usually opens mid-morning and is closed one day a week; opening days and fees change, so check current status before you travel. Combine it with Ganesh Tok before or after, since they share the same parking area.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
Can we see red pandas in Gangtok?
Yes. The Himalayan Zoological Park opposite Ganesh Tok keeps red pandas in large forested enclosures, and most visitors spot at least one if they are patient. Seeing a wild red panda is much harder; it needs time in forests such as Kyongnosla or Fambong Lho with a local guide, and luck.
What are the Himalayan Zoological Park timings?
It generally opens mid-morning, around 9–9:30 am, and closes in the late afternoon, with one weekly closing day. Times and the closing day can change, so check current status before you travel. We plan Ganesh Tok first and the zoo when it opens.
How long does the Himalayan Zoological Park take?
Allow 1–1.5 hours to walk the loop road at a relaxed pace, longer with small children or for photography. The road climbs and descends, so wear comfortable shoes. Carry water; there are few stalls inside. Seniors can drive part of the loop where vehicles are allowed.
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