Nature · Kitam Bird Sanctuary
A family walk in Sikkim's low sal forest
An easy, short walk on Kitam's forest tracks for families who want to see a different Sikkim: tall sal trees, pine on the dry ridges, peafowl calls and monkey troops, all at a warm, low altitude that suits young children and older travellers.
Photo: Anand.osuri · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Kitam's forest is dominated by sal, the large deciduous tree that covers much of the Himalayan foothills and central India, with pine on drier spurs. Walking here feels very different from the oak and rhododendron forests higher up, and children notice the change at once: bigger leaves, warmer air, different sounds.
Keep the walk short and slow. Listen for peafowl and junglefowl, look for Assamese macaques in the trees, and point out the huge, rough-barked sal trunks. A guide can show animal tracks and explain how the forest changes with the seasons, from the dry leaf-fall of spring to the green of the monsoon.
Winter mornings, from November to March, are pleasant and cool. Bring water, snacks and hats, and wear closed shoes. Stay on the tracks and keep noise down. Forest department rules apply and may include entry fees or guide requirements; check current status before you travel.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
Is Kitam Bird Sanctuary good for children?
Yes, for a short morning walk. It is low, warm and close to Namchi, and the tracks are gentle. Children enjoy hearing peafowl and seeing monkeys. Keep visits to about two hours, avoid midday heat from April, and bring water, snacks and hats.
What is sal forest?
Sal, Shorea robusta, is a large deciduous tree that dominates much of the forest along the Himalayan foothills and in central India. In Sikkim it grows only in the warm, low valleys, which is why Kitam's sal woodland is unusual within the state's protected areas.
Are there leeches or snakes at Kitam?
Leeches are mainly a monsoon problem, from June to September, when we do not recommend visiting. Snakes live in the forest but are rarely seen and avoid people. Stay on tracks, wear closed shoes and long trousers, and watch where you step and put your hands.
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