A terrestrial species, it has a preference for cool climates that restricts its habitat to hills and mountain plateaus.

India (Darjeeling, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh (Miao, Namdapha - Changlang district, Itanagar - Papum Pare district), Myanmar, Bhutan, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Nepal, South China (Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, Hong Kong, Hainan, northward to Henan and Gansu; south to Wei He river), Taiwan, West Malaysia (Cameron Highlands, Pahang), Indonesia (Sumatra).

It is also reported from Lowachhara National Park of North-eastern Bangladesh[4] These rat snakes thrive under cool and very humid conditions.

On many occasions they are found at altitudes exceeding 800 meters in evergreen moist rainforest or monsoon forests, depending on the subspecies and locality.

They spend most of the time hiding in leaf litter, under moss carpets, or under rocks and logs.