Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary protects about 36 km² of temperate forest on the Maenam ridge above Ravangla, from about 2,300 m to the 3,263 m summit. Established in 1987, it shelters red panda, goral, serow and blood pheasant, and is reached by a steep 4-hour forest trek from Ravangla.
Bhutia nameMaenam-laMeans: treasure-house of medicinesSource: Wikipedia: Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary
Best months
Oct–Dec and Mar–May
Nights we suggest
Stay in Ravangla or Borong
From Gangtok
≈ 65 km to Ravangla trailhead · 3 h
Altitude
≈ 2,300–3,263 m
Known for
Red panda habitat, medicinal plants, summit views
Permit
Forest entry fee/registration may apply; check at Ravangla
About Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary
What to know before you go
Maenam is the high, dark ridge that rises behind Ravangla to the north-east. Its upper slopes form a wildlife sanctuary, declared in 1987 and covering about 36.34 km², on the ridge that runs north–south through the middle of the district and divides the Teesta and Rangeet valleys. The name is translated as the treasure-house of medicines, a nod to the medicinal plants that grow here.
The forest changes with height: oak and chestnut near Ravangla, then magnolia, rhododendron, fir and bamboo near the top. The Sikkim forest department lists red panda, goral, serow, barking deer, marbled cat, leopard cat and civets among its mammals, and blood pheasant, hill partridge and many smaller birds. Seeing mammals takes luck and silence; birds are easier.
Most visitors walk up from Ravangla to the summit in about 4 hours, with wide views of Kangchenjunga and the West Sikkim peaks from the top, then either return the same way or continue down to Borong. Further along the ridge is Bhaleydhunga, a rock outcrop above a sheer drop on Maenam's south face. This is a full-day trek and needs a guide.
Highlights
What to see and do
Summit views
From the top at about 3,263 m, look north to Kangchenjunga, Pandim and the West Sikkim peaks, and south over the Tendong ridge to the plains on very clear days. Best October to December.
Layers of forest
Oak and chestnut give way to rhododendron, magnolia, fir and bamboo as you climb. In April and May rhododendrons flower on the upper ridge in reds and pinks.
Red panda habitat
The bamboo and fir forest near the top is home to red pandas. Sightings are rare and need quiet walking with a guide, but signs such as droppings are often pointed out.
Birds of the high forest
Blood pheasant, hill partridge, laughingthrushes, sibias and many warblers live here. Early morning on the upper trail is the best time to see and hear them.
Bhaleydhunga cliff
A dramatic rock outcrop above a sheer drop on Maenam's south face, reached along the ridge with a local guide. A proposed skywalk here is not open; the walk is the experience.
The story of Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary
A hill named for its medicines
Maenam's name is usually explained as Maenam-la, the treasure-house of medicines, and the Sikkim forest department describes the sanctuary in just those terms: a store of medicinal plants and herbs. For generations, healers from the villages around Ravangla, Yangang and Borong have gone up the ridge to gather roots, barks and leaves, and the forest is still rich in species used in traditional Sikkimese and Tibetan medicine. When the state declared about 36 km² of the ridge a wildlife sanctuary in 1987, it was protecting not only red pandas and pheasants but this living pharmacy. A small gompa stands on the ridge near the summit. In recent years a ropeway and skywalk over the Bhaleydhunga cliff have been proposed, a large and costly project; at the time of writing it is not open. For now, the only way to Maenam's medicines and views is on foot.
Source: Wikipedia: Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary; Sikkim Forest Department descriptions
Little known
Things most visitors never hear
The sanctuary was declared in 1987 and covers about 36.34 km², from roughly 2,300 m to the 3,263 m summit of Maenam.
Source: Wikipedia: Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary
Bhaleydhunga, on Maenam's south face, is the site of a proposed ropeway and skywalk; none of it is open to visitors at the time of writing.
Source: Wikipedia: Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary
Trekkers who cross the summit can descend the far side to Borong village instead of returning to Ravangla, a classic one-way day route.
Reach Ravangla by shared jeep from Gangtok (about ₹250–400) or Namchi (₹100–150). The trail starts above town; your guide will meet you at your hotel. If you end at Borong, take a local jeep or taxi back to Ravangla, about ₹600–1,000.
Private car
No road reaches the summit. A car can drop you at the trailhead above Ravangla and collect you at Borong if you cross over, about ₹1,500–2,500 for the drop and pick-up. From Gangtok, Ravangla is about 3 hours.
From Bagdogra / NJP
About 120–125 km and 4.5–5 hours to Ravangla by car. Sleep at least one night in Ravangla before the trek to adjust and start early. If NH10 is closed after monsoon slides, drivers route through Darjeeling district and Jorethang.
Permits in South Sikkim
Indian nationals need no permit anywhere in Namchi district. Foreign nationals need the standard Sikkim Restricted Area Permit, applied online through the e-FRRO portal after arriving in India since 12 January 2026, with approval usually in 24–48 hours; no extra protected-area permit is needed for South Sikkim as we understand it. Sikkim collects a ₹50 per tourist entry fee at hotels, valid 30 days, with under-fives exempt. Forest department rules and fees may apply in Maenam and Kitam sanctuaries. Check current status before you travel.
Stay in Ravangla the night before: Mt. Narsing Village Resort and The Barfung Retreat suit value and comfort budgets, and simple hotels near the market cost from about ₹1,500 a room. If you cross the summit and descend to Borong, book a night in one of the Borong homestays and soak in the hot spring the next morning. Yangang's homestays, below the ridge on the east, are another option.
Hire a local guide: side trails branch and mist can close in fast.
Start by 6:30–7 am to reach the summit before midday cloud.
Carry 2 litres of water, lunch, a warm layer and a rain jacket.
Leeches are common from June to September; we do not recommend the monsoon.
Walk quietly and stay on the trail; this is a protected sanctuary.
Month by month
When to visit Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary
JFMAMJJASOND
BestGoodAvoid or closed
Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary is at 3,263 m. Spend a night lower down first, climb slowly and drink water. Headache, nausea or breathlessness at rest mean go down. The altitude ladder.
Above Ravangla in Namchi district (South Sikkim), on the Maenam ridge. The summit is about 3,263 m. The usual trailhead is just above Ravangla town, about 3 hours by road from Gangtok.
How long is the Maenam trek?
About 4 hours up from Ravangla to the summit and 3 hours down, a full day of 7–8 hours with breaks. Crossing to Borong instead of returning takes 7–9 hours. Both need an early start and a guide.
When was Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary established?
In 1987. It covers about 36.34 km² of temperate forest from around 2,300 m to the 3,263 m summit, and protects species such as red panda, goral, serow and blood pheasant, plus a wealth of medicinal plants.
What animals live in Maenam?
The forest department lists red panda, goral, serow, barking deer, marbled cat, leopard cat and civets, and birds such as blood pheasant, hill partridge, magpies and black eagle. Most mammals are shy; birds are easier to see.
What is the best time for the Maenam trek?
October to December for clear views, and March to May for rhododendrons and birds. January and February can be clear but cold, with occasional snow on top. Avoid June to September: rain, leeches and mist.
Do we need a guide for Maenam?
Yes. The trail has branches, mist closes in quickly and it is a protected sanctuary. Local guides in Ravangla charge about ₹1,500–2,500 a day. A naturalist for wildlife walks costs more.
Is there a ropeway or skywalk at Maenam?
A ropeway from Maenam and a skywalk over the Bhaleydhunga cliff have been proposed, but at the time of writing they are not open to visitors. Do not plan around them. Check current status before you travel.
Can children do the Maenam trek?
Fit teenagers who are used to hiking can do it. For younger children, the full climb is long and steep; a short walk into the lower forest is a better choice. Families can also enjoy Maenam's edges from Yangang or Borong.
Is Maenam open to foreign tourists?
Yes, with the standard Sikkim Restricted Area Permit, applied online via e-FRRO. No extra protected-area permit has been required at the time of writing, though a forest entry fee may apply. Check current status before you travel.
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