The Singalila ridge trek : Sandakphu

• Darjeeling
• Grown-Up Trips
• Trekking

The Singalila ridge trek

Sandakphu .

Trek along with Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Lhotse and a grand Himalayan panorama of more than 20 other peaks. Swing along the border trails between India and Nepal. Walk through the clouds and rhododendron forest, in the Singalila National Park, to climb Sandakphu, the highest peak of West Bengal. At 3636 meters, this is not only the best trek for a beginner, but also stands out from lots of other treks in the Himalayas in terms of views and experience it has to offer.

Of course you will have to make an effort and trek uphill to experience this ‘top of the world’ feeling but we assure you it is definitely worth all the effort.

Sandakphu or Sandakfu or Sandakpur (3636 m; 11,941 ft) is the highest peak in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the highest point of the Singalila Ridge in Darjeeling district on the West Bengal-Nepal border. The peak is located at the edge of the Singalila National Park and has a small village on the summit with a few hostels. Four of the five highest peaks in the world, Everest, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu can be seen from its summit.

From Sandakphu, the best view of the mountain Kangchenjunga is possible, which is called as the Sleeping Buddha or the Sleeping Shiva.

The trek along the Singalila Ridge to Sandakphu is one of the most popular ones in the Eastern Himalayas, due to the grand views of the Kangchenjunga range and the Everest range which can be seen from the ridge. This trekking route is  also famous for the seasonal wildflower blooms.

Highlights of the trek :

• Complimentary stay at Manebhajang
• Homestay trek

About Singalila National Park

The Singalila National Park, located in Darjeeling district of West Bengal covers an area of 78 km and has an altitudinal range of 2,400-3,650 metres. The National Park shares a natural boundary with Nepal on the west and with Sikkim on the north. The international border between India and Nepal is identified by a 52 km road running from Phalut (3,650 m) down to Manebhanjyang (1,920 m).The National Park is an Important Bird Area and an IUCN Category IIProtected Area.

The Singalila area in Darjeeling was purchased by the British Government from Sibbim Durbar in 1882, and notified a Reserve Forest under the Indian Forest Act 1878. It was notified as a National Parb in 1992 and was also officially opened up for tourism.

Sherpas, Tibetans, Rais,Tamangs, Newars, Lepchas, Chettris, Bahuns, Sunwars, Limbus, Gurungs and Bhujels are the hey ethnic groups in the landscape.

Darjeeling Himalaya is very rich in plant life and is estimated to have about 2,900 species of angiosperms (Das 2011). Singalila National Park has a large number of flowering ground flora of which the Primulas,Aconites, Asters, Arisaema, Meconopsis, Cotoneasters, Geraniums are predominant.

Rhododendrons are regarded by many as the best flowering evergreen plants in the temperate landscape. Sir Joseph Hooker,the famous naturalist discovered 25 new species of rhododendrons in the Himalayas. Singalila National Park has 18 recorded species of rhododendrons.

Singalila National Park has a record of 350 species of birds.
Singalila National Park with its diverse habitats supports a rich community of birds ranging from small sized birds like warblers, sunbirds and flowerpeckers to the relatively larger sized species like Raptors, Magpies, Jays and Thrushes.

Previous trips photo gallery