The short answer
Takhni-Rehmapur Wildlife Sanctuary: what visitors should know first
Worth a morning if you like low-key forest walks and do not expect a safari experience. It is a separate outing across the state border in Punjab, facilities are not published, and sightings are not guaranteed. Confirm access with the Punjab wildlife department before you drive.
History and context
The story behind Takhni-Rehmapur Wildlife Sanctuary
The area was first declared a wildlife sanctuary by a Punjab government notification dated 16 February 1993, according to a wildlife travel guide that cites the notification. The Punjab wildlife department lists the notified area as 382 hectares, which is government land. A 2013 Tribune report noted that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had given the state a deadline to decide on fencing the sanctuary.
Useful facts
Takhni-Rehmapur Wildlife Sanctuary facts at a glance
- Location
- Hoshiarpur district, Punjab, near Mehngrowal village
- Experience type
- Foothill forest and bird-watching outing
- Known for
- Sambar, hog deer, jungle cat; leopards recorded nearby
- Area
- About 382 hectares (956 acres)
- Birds
- About 86 species listed by the Punjab wildlife department
- Access
- Fees and timings not published; confirm with forest office
Why it matters
Why Takhni-Rehmapur Wildlife Sanctuary is worth your time
Most Chintpurni itineraries stay within temples, langars and the Pong Dam wetland. This sanctuary is a reminder that the Shivalik foothills also hold real forest and wildlife, even in a small, densely populated stretch of Punjab. It covers just 382 hectares, split between the villages of Takhni and Rehmapur, but it is part of the lower Shivalik belt where leopards, sambar and deer survive.
The sanctuary is modest and not set up for tourism, which is both its appeal and its limit. It suits visitors who value quiet and are happy to accept unpredictable sightings. It is also a chance to see the plains-side edge of the same hills that frame the Chintpurni ridge, with a very different, quieter feel from the pilgrimage towns.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Foothill forest
Mixed deciduous woodland of shisham, khair and neem, much of it overgrown with lantana, gives a rare quiet patch of Shivalik forest.
- 02
Deer and small carnivores
Sambar, hog deer, barking deer and jungle cat are recorded; sightings depend on luck and an early start.
- 03
Birdlife
Around 86 bird species have been listed, so patient morning walks with binoculars reward more than a quick look.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Treat this as a day trip from Chintpurni rather than a stop on the pilgrimage circuit. The sanctuary lies on the Hoshiarpur to Mehngrowal road in Punjab, so plan the drive via Hoshiarpur with a car and driver, and agree the day's route before leaving. Because visitor rules are not published, call the local forest office first to ask whether the sanctuary is open, where to enter and whether you need written permission.
Once there, go early and keep to the existing tracks. The area is mixed deciduous forest with shisham, khair, ber, acacia and neem, though much of the ground has been taken over by lantana, which makes the undergrowth dense. Sambar, hog deer, barking deer, jungle cat, jackal and wild boar have been recorded, and officials report leopards moving through the area, so keep voices low, do not wander off paths and never approach animals.
Carry water, snacks and sun protection, since facilities are not confirmed. Binoculars help with the birds, of which about 86 species have been listed. Plan to be on the road back before late afternoon, and combine the trip with the Hoshiarpur side of the route only if time allows.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- Call the Punjab wildlife or Hoshiarpur forest office to confirm access and any permit
- Carry water, snacks and sun protection; facilities are not confirmed
- Go early and leave before late afternoon
- Stay on existing tracks and keep clear of animals
- Hire a car with driver; public transport reaches only Hoshiarpur
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Near Mehngrowal village, about 15 km from Hoshiarpur town (Punjab); roughly an hour or more by road from Chintpurni
- Time needed
- 2-3 hours on site, plus the drive
- Best time
- Early morning from October to March; summer is hot and the undergrowth is dense
- Walking level
- Moderate
- Senior comfort
- Reaching the sanctuary means a long road transfer, and nothing is published about benches, shelter, toilets or cafes inside. Terrain is foothill forest, with uneven paths. Best for older travellers who are comfortable with a simple, self-sufficient outing.
- Tickets and access
- Entry fees, timings, permits and any guided access are not published in sources that could be confirmed. Contact the Punjab wildlife department or the Hoshiarpur forest office before you go, and do not assume that a safari or guide is available.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Takhni-Rehmapur Wildlife Sanctuary
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
Reaching the sanctuary means a long road transfer, and nothing is published about benches, shelter, toilets or cafes inside. Terrain is foothill forest, with uneven paths. Best for older travellers who are comfortable with a simple, self-sufficient outing.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Is Takhni-Rehmapur open to tourists?
It is a notified wildlife sanctuary in Punjab, but no official visitor timings, fees or permit rules could be confirmed. Contact the forest office before you go.
Can I see leopards there?
Officials report leopards in and around the sanctuary, but sightings by visitors are rare and not something to plan on.
How far is it from Chintpurni?
It lies in Hoshiarpur district, Punjab, roughly an hour or more by road depending on the route; check the drive time on a map before you commit.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
