Looking for holiday destination ideas that are stress busters? Consider visiting Sikkim to enjoy the magical activity of butterfly watching in the tranquility of its forests in the Eastern Himalayas.
WHY SIKKIM?
Sikkim has a rich butterfly diversity and is home to 50% of butterflies recorded in the Indian subcontinent. Botany buffs and nature lovers can rejoice as close to 700 species of butterflies have been recorded in Sikkim’s mountainous landscape.
The varying altitudes breed different kinds of butterflies; while the lower valleys (900m to 1800m) have the highest density of butterflies, the numbers dwindle as you go higher up due to the harsh climatic conditions.
Paris Peacock
BUTTERFLIES TO SPOT
Chocolate Albatross, Bright Sunbeam, Common Red Forester, Yellow Swallowtail, Paris Peacock, Blue Duchess, Blue Duke, Krishna Peacock, Lime Butterfly, Atlas Moth, Great Mormon, Dark Cerulean, Small Woodbrown, and Kaiser-i-Hind. The Blue Duchess is commonly observed during April-May at 1000-1400m. These can be seen in large numbers at Sankalang area in Dzongu, North Sikkim.
Butterflies found at over 14,000 feet: Indian Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Dark Clouded Yellow, Tortoiseshell, and Large Cabbage White.
Newly discovered species: Chocolate-bordered Flitter in 2020 discovered in Dzongu, north Sikkim.
Blue Duke
BUTTERFLY LOCATIONS
Tashiding, Legship, Teesta Valley, Zuluk, Yuksom, Dzongu, and Tholong Valley.
BUTTERFLY SEASON
Butterfly season starts in April and lasts till September. The best time to view butterflies is between 8 am to 12 noon on a sunny day.
Yuksom Valley
GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS
Butterfly watching can be fun if you know how to identify them. Learn as much as you can about the butterflies in the area before the trip. Also, remember to wear dull coloured clothes to camouflage with your surroundings.
Essential Equipment Needed for Butterfly Watching
1. Binoculars
2. Cases: To temporarily catch a butterfly to get a closer look at the wings before releasing it.
3. Field notebook and pencil: To jot down field observations, data, and record field sketches.
4. Camera: Click the habitat and the plants for later study.
Dark Clouded Yellow
OTHER NORTHEAST STATES TO GO BUTTERFLY WATCHING
Besides Sikkim, you can also go butterfly-watching in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland. More than 236 species have been recorded from Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh.
OUR RECOMMENDATION
Visit Namprikdang, upper Dzongu, North Sikkim, for the perfect butterfly-watching experience. As many as 27 species of butterflies can be found there.
Places to stay: Mayallyang Homestay | Yealbong Lee Homestay
Add butterfly watching to any Sikkim tour package