This sanctuary located in the upper area of Shimla District has undisturbed forest area with plenty of wildlife. Monal, Tragopan, Koklas and Kalij are the pheasants found here. The area also has Musk deer, Goral and Thar. There is a net work of bridle paths and inspection paths in the sanctuary. Visitors are advised to seek assistance from the forest staff posted at Dofda and Sarahan. The area is ideal for those who love to trek along mountain heights.

This Sanctuary is located near Rampur Bushahr, in Shimla District having an area of 167.40-km. This place is 150 kilometers from Shimla, Himachal Pradesh India.

Daranghati sanctuary located in the upper area of Shimla District, has undisturbed forest area with plenty of wildlife and was notified on 27th March 1974. The total covered area of this sanctuary is 16740 hectares.

       History :An erstwhile hunting reserve of the Rampur Bushahr royal family, it was notified as a sanctuary in March 1962 and then re-notified on 27th March 1974. The sanctuary is in two non-contiguous parts namely, Daranghati Wildlife Sanctuary I and II. These two units lie on either side of the Dhaula Dhar hills, an intervening range that forms part of the Middle Himalaya. The total notified area of both the parts is 168 km

       Geography :Daranghati Sanctuary spans over an area of 167.40 Km with an altitude varying between 2,100 to 3,315 meters above sea level. It is located in west Himalayan biogeographic zone. Climate and Visiting Season: The best time recommended to visit this sanctuary is during May, June, October and November; when the weather is pleasant.

       Flora At The Daranghati Sanctuary :The sanctuary is covered with sub alpine and sub-tropical broad-leaf hill; alpine moist scrub forests and alpine moist pasture. Visitors can find several species of oak, Himalayan yew and trees of almond, apricot, cherry, pear and plum. Cedar trees and different varieties of coniferous trees such as blue pine, spruce and silver fir can also be seen.

       Fauna At Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary: Major wildlife attraction here is the Western Tragopan, a native pheasant. During May and June, it nests in hollows of trees. The other birds that can be seen in the sanctuary include Kaleej, Koklass and Himalayan Monal. Other animals that can be seen in this sanctuary include Himalayan tahr, musk deer, goral, barking deer, serow, Himalayan blue sheep and the ibex. Visitors can also spot the Himalayan palm civet, brown bear, Asiatic black bear, Himalayan weasel, leopard, red fox, yellow throated marten, jungle cat and striped hyena. Tourists visiting this sanctuary during winters might not be able to spot any bears as they are known to hibernate during winter.

       Trekking :Trekking is a common activity in the Daranghati Sanctuary. A scenic trek along the silk route from Saharan forest post to Daranghati is a must try. There is another popular trek from Shimla to Daranghati that passes through Nakranda to Baggi, then to Sungri, Taklech and then Kareri.

The Daranghati Sanctuary can be conveniently reached.

Air: The closest airport to this sanctuary is Jubbarhatti airport about 23Km from Shimla and 150Km from Rampur.

Rail : The closest railway station is Shimla. There is a narrow gauge rail line connecting Kalka to Shimla. There are two toy trains that run along this route.

Road : There are good roads that connect Shimla to other major cities. From Shimla, visitors can take taxis or buses to Rampur and further to the sanctuary.

There is a decent guest house in the Daranghati Sanctuary. Visitors are required to make advanced booking to get an accommodation at the guest house. Visitors can also opt for tented accommodation inside the sanctuary. Those looking for luxury or budget accommodation can find excellent options in Shimla.

Summer :

The summer months are best to visit the Daranghati Sanctuary. Months from May to June are cool and excellent to explore the flora and fauna around.

Monsoon :

The monsoon season usually lasts between July and September. Average rainfall experienced here is 750mm.

Winter :

The winter months in the Daranghati Sanctuary can be quite harsh. Visitors should be prepared for heavy snowfall. Despite harsh snowfall, a number of visitors prefer winter months to visit this sanctuary because of various challenges and adventures that they come across.