Trekking in region of Darjeeling is one of the most
fabulous experiences with beautiful hills, scenic views of snow covered
mountains, dense forests, mesmerizing landscapes and different colors of
rhododendrons blooming along the routes.
Trekking to Sandakphu is equally captivating and exciting. Rather, it is
such a beautiful experience that one cannot explain all of it in mere words.
Situated at a height of about 3,636 m above sea level,
Sandakphu is the highest peak of the Singalila Ridge and also the highest one
in the state of West Bengal. Regardless of the lack of luxurious amenities at
this place, one will certainly feel the divine beauty of the God’s creation. In
fact, you can see the spell-binding view of the highest mountains in the world
in the horizon of this place like the peaks of Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu
and Lhotse.
The untouched beauty of the mountains and the different species of
the wild flowers blossoming at this place will make you feel that if there is a
paradise on earth, this place is certainly the one. The cool breeze of the
mountains flowing through your face, the clean air and the birds chirping happily
at this place will surely bring tears of ecstasy in your eyes.
Every person
that you meet at this region, whether it may be the local people of this place
or the tourists visiting this place, all of them will be carrying a smile in
their face, a smile of eternal satisfaction. But in order to experience all these feelings
and the untouched beauty of the place one has to trek to this place.
Maneybhanjan in Darjeeling, which is a small town, is the
starting point for the trek to Sandakphu. It is situated at a distance of about
30 km from the main town of Darjeeling. Some of the vehicles that you find at
this place are more than 70 or 80 years old.
You have two options to reach Sandakphu. You can either
go walking though the dense forest or hire Land Rover, which will drive you
through the meandering roads uphill to Sandakphu. Both the option is open and
are sure to give lifetime experience for both tourists as well as trekkers.
Best Time to Visit
Sandakphu can be visited at every season of the year
except the monsoon season. During monsoons, the trek routes are leech infected
and quite slippery. Apart from this, every season offers a different aura of
beauty of the place.
Accommodation
You will not find any luxurious hotels at this place but
there are many trekkers hut located along the trek as well as in Sandakphu.
Staying at these huts is quite cheap, which also includes food and warm beds to
sleep on.
How to Reach
There are two different ways to reach Sandakphu,
which is either by car or by trekking. You can hire a 1950s Land Rover to get
to this place, which is the only vehicle that can travel the steep climb of
this place. Whereas the trekking rout
commences from Maneybhanjang via Chitirey, Meghma, Tonglu, Tumling, Gairibas,
KalaPokhri, Bekhey to Sandakphu. Both of these options are not comfortable, as the drive on Land Rover is not that smooth on the steep rough roads of this region. As for trekking, one has to climb over steep landscapes at certain areas. But once you reach Sandakphu, you will realize it is entirely worth the effort you have put in to reach this paradise on earth.
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