Kurseong, Mirik & the tea valleys · lake

Namthing Pokhri

The seasonal lake where Himalayan salamanders come to breed

Altitude1,370m NightsDay trip BestJun – Aug · Oct – Nov

In brief

Namthing Pokhri is a small seasonal lake at about 1,370 m (4,500 ft) in the Shelpu hills near Sittong and Latpanchar. In the monsoon it fills and becomes a breeding ground for the Himalayan salamander, a rare crocodile newt. Entry is free or a small local fee; reach it by car from Sittong for ₹800–1,200 return.

The local story

The little crocodiles of the Shelpu hills

Pokhri means pond or small lake in Nepali, and for most of the year Namthing Pokhri is just that: a shallow, grassy hollow in the forest of the Shelpu hills, partly dry in winter. Then the monsoon arrives. The hollow fills, and from the leaf litter and burrows around it come Himalayan salamanders, dark brown newts about 16–18 cm long with rows of knobbly orange-brown warts down their backs, sometimes called crocodile newts for their rough skin.

They come to breed. Pairs court in the water in a slow dance that can last more than an hour, and the females fix their eggs to plants just below the surface. The Darjeeling hills are one of very few places in India where this salamander lives, and its ponds have been lost to roads, drainage and building. Scientists described the Himalayan population as its own species, Tylototriton himalayanus, in 2015, though many local sources still call it T. verrucosus. The forest department and the Darjeeling zoo now work to protect the ponds, and Namthing Pokhri is the best known of them.

Namthing Pokhri lies at about 1,370 m (4,500 ft) and is seasonal: it fills in the monsoon and partly dries in winter.

Himalayan salamanders grow to about 16–18 cm and fix their eggs to plants just under the water during the monsoon breeding season.

A proposed salamander conservation landscape centres on three wetlands: Namthing Pokhri, Pokhriatar and Panch Pokhri, all in the Darjeeling hills.

About Namthing Pokhri

Namthing Pokhri is a quiet place with one big story. The lake itself is small, surrounded by forest and grass, and in the dry months it can look like little more than a marshy meadow. What makes it special is the animal that depends on it. In the monsoon the Himalayan salamander, one of the rarest amphibians in India, gathers here to breed.

Visit with care. This is a habitat, not a park: walk on the edge, never step into the water, never pick up or photograph salamanders with flash, and do not leave any food or plastic. The best time to see salamanders is the monsoon, roughly June to August, which is also when roads are wettest; the best time for a pleasant forest walk is October to April. Combine it with Sittong or Latpanchar.

What to see and do

Salamander season

From about June to August the lake fills and Himalayan salamanders gather to court and lay eggs. Look from the edge; adults often rest on submerged plants or come up for air.

A forest lake

Outside the monsoon Namthing Pokhri is a shallow, grassy hollow ringed by forest, quiet except for birds. A good half-hour stop on a Sittong or Latpanchar day.

Conservation in action

The forest department and the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling have worked on wetland restoration and salamander breeding. Signs at the lake explain the rules.

Shelpu hill forest

The lake sits in the forested Shelpu hills between Sittong and the Kurseong ridges. Walk the road around it for birds and quiet.

How to get there

Reserved car: From Sittong it is a short drive, about 30–45 minutes, ₹800–1,200 return with waiting. From Latpanchar, ₹1,000–1,500. From Kurseong, on the way to Sittong via Bagora, ₹2,200–2,800 return.
On foot: From the upper parts of Sittong, local paths lead up towards the lake in 1.5–2 hours. Go with someone from your homestay; paths are not marked and are slippery in the monsoon.

Where to stay

There are no stays at the lake. Stay in Sittong's family homestays, which are closest (₹1,200–1,800 per person with meals), or in Latpanchar. Both make Namthing Pokhri an easy morning trip. If you are visiting in the monsoon for the salamanders, choose a homestay whose host can drive you up on wet roads and confirm the road is open the day before.

Local tips

Never handle salamanders or their eggs; their skin is delicate and they are protected.
Stay on the edge of the lake and do not wade in.
Use no flash and keep a distance when photographing.
Carry leech socks and a raincoat in the monsoon.
Take every scrap of rubbish away with you.

02,7005,400

Altitude1,370 m

Hill-station height: cool evenings, a sweater most of the year.

What it costs here

Car from Sittong, return₹800–1,200

Car from Latpanchar, return₹1,000–1,500

Car from Kurseong, return₹2,200–2,800

EntryFree or a small local fee

Local guide₹500–800

Indicative, 2025–26. Check current status before you travel.

Best months: Jun – Aug for salamanders · Oct – Apr for walks
Nights we suggest: Visit from Sittong or Latpanchar
From Siliguri: ≈ 55–60 km · 2.5–3 h
Altitude: ≈ 1,370 m
Known for: Himalayan salamander breeding
Network: Weak or none at the lake

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

BestGoodAvoid or closed

Things to do

Four things to do in Namthing Pokhri

Wildlife and birds · 1.5 hoursWatch Himalayan salamanders breedNamthing Pokhri · Free or small fee · guide ₹500–800 Treks and walks · 1 hourA quiet walk round the lakeNamthing Pokhri · Free Wildlife and birds · 2 hoursBirds of the Shelpu forestNamthing Pokhri · Guide ₹500–800 Culture and history · 1 hourHow the salamander ponds are protectedNamthing Pokhri · Free

On the map

Namthing Pokhri and its neighbours

Drawn by Darjeeling Himalayas from Natural Earth outlines (public domain). Borders as depicted by India. Not for navigation.

Close by

Nearby places

village1,200 m Sittong Darjeeling's orange village in the Riyang valley

forest village1,400 m Latpanchar Hornbills and cinchona at the top of Mahananda sanctuary

viewpoint1,500 m Ahaldara A bare hilltop over the Teesta, with Kanchenjunga on clear mornings

Ways to travel

Wildlife and birds Off-season and monsoon Photography

Questions people ask

Questions about Namthing Pokhri

Where is Namthing Pokhri?

Namthing Pokhri is a seasonal lake in the Shelpu hills of Kurseong subdivision, Darjeeling district, at about 1,370 m. It lies close to Sittong and Latpanchar, about 55–60 km from Siliguri.

Why is Namthing Pokhri famous?

Because it is a breeding ground of the Himalayan salamander, a rare crocodile newt found in only a few places in India. In the monsoon the lake fills and the salamanders gather to court and lay eggs on submerged plants.

What is the best time to visit Namthing Pokhri?

June to August if you want to see salamanders, which come to breed in the monsoon. October to April if you want a pleasant forest walk and dry roads. Combine either with a stay in Sittong or Latpanchar.

Is there an entry fee at Namthing Pokhri?

In recent years entry has been free or a small local fee. Rules and fees may change as conservation work develops and the site moves under the forest department. Check current status before you travel.

How do I get to Namthing Pokhri?

By car from Sittong (about 30–45 minutes, ₹800–1,200 return) or Latpanchar (₹1,000–1,500). There is no public transport to the lake. From the upper parts of Sittong, local paths lead up on foot in 1.5–2 hours with a guide.

Can I touch the salamanders?

No. They are protected and their skin is very sensitive to the oils, sunscreen and repellent on human hands. Watch from the edge, do not wade into the water and do not move plants or stones where eggs may be attached.

Is Namthing Pokhri worth a special trip?

For naturalists in the monsoon, yes. For most travellers, it is a short, quiet stop best combined with Sittong's orchards or Latpanchar's hornbills. The lake itself is small and simple; the salamander story is what makes it worth knowing about.

What does Namthing Pokhri mean?

Pokhri means pond or small lake in Nepali. We have not found a reliable source for the meaning of Namthing, so we leave it there rather than guess. Ask your Sittong host for the local explanation.

Is it safe to visit Namthing Pokhri in the monsoon?

Yes, with care. Roads are wet and slippery, leeches are out and landslides can block the way. Go with a local driver who knows the road, carry rain gear and leech socks, and confirm conditions the evening before.