Sandakphu

A Hikers’ Delight

Alluring! Exhilarating! Breathtaking! None of these expressions is enough to describe a land blessed with the Himalayas' virtues. Sandakphu, located inside Singalila National Park, stands at the highest point of West Bengal at an altitude of 3,600 metres above sea level. As the crown of the Sandakphu Himalayan trek, it presents what is widely regarded as the most beautiful landscape in the entire Eastern Himalayas—undoubtedly so. The reasons behind Sandakphu’s growing reputation in Sandakphu tourism are many and deeply compelling for international travellers.

Towering snowy peaks stretch endlessly across the horizon, offering an incredible panoramic view spanning more than 300 kilometres of the Greater Himalayan Ranges across Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, and Tibet. On a clear day, at least ten of the world’s highest peaks above 7,000 metres—among them four towering above 8,000 metres—are visible from Sandakphu. What makes the Sandakphu Kanchenjunga view truly exceptional is that these peaks can be captured within a single photographic frame, even using a standard camera lens. Mt Everest, Mt Kanchenjunga, Mt Makalu, and Mt Lhotse are among the most prominent summits visible, drawing trekkers, nature lovers, and photographers from across the world and firmly establishing Sandakphu trekking India as one of the most exciting high-altitude trekking experiences in the Himalayas.

It is not only the dramatic landscape and shifting mountain colours that make the Sandakphu trek a sought-after destination. The rich and largely untouched forests of Singalila National Park form a vital Himalayan biome, sheltering some of the region’s rarest wildlife. Spotting an elusive Red Panda moving quietly through rhododendron thickets or witnessing the vibrant flight of the magnificent Satyr Tragopan can leave any wildlife enthusiast spellbound. These encounters add a distinctive ecological depth to Sandakphu trekking holidays India, making the journey as rewarding for wildlife lovers as it is for mountain trekkers.

Beyond its natural wonders, Sandakphu offers an enchanting glimpse into a remote Himalayan rural life that feels untouched by modern urgency. Scattered across rugged and isolated terrain, with no motorable roads reaching most of them, tiny hamlets—sometimes consisting of as few as three households—dot the landscape along the Sandakphu trek from Darjeeling. Life here unfolds at an unhurried pace, and interactions with the warm, ever-charming local people reveal a different philosophy of living—one rooted in simplicity, resilience, and contentment, offering travellers a deeper emotional connection to the region.

Accommodation

Within Singalila, accommodation options are limited to village tea houses and homestays, which form an integral part of the Sandakphu guided trek experience. These stays offer simple yet comfortable arrangements and are often far more pleasant than camping in tents. Most homestays provide private rooms and private toilets, ensuring a reasonable level of comfort even at high altitude. Although you technically stay in Nepal during parts of the trek, foreign nationals do not require a Nepal visa to stay in these villages. It is sufficient to register your name at the Manebhanjan check post before starting the trek. Staying in these tea houses or homestays allows travellers to experience genuine local hospitality and traditional food, enriching the overall journey and making Sandakphu tour packages especially appealing for foreign trekkers seeking authenticity along with comfort.

Activities in Sandakphu

Trekking and Hiking - The Sandakphu trek offers multiple hiking options with varying difficulty levels, ranging from easy walks to physically demanding high-altitude routes. The most classic and popular hiking route begins at Maneybhanjang, located at an altitude of 7,000 feet. This small market town marks the official base for the Sandakphu trek from Darjeeling and the entry point to Singalila National Park.MORE

Red Panda Tour - Beyond its spectacular birds and landscapes, Singalila National Park is one of the very few places in the wild where the elusive Red Panda can still be seen in its natural habitat of bamboo and rhododendron forests. The park currently supports a population of approximately 35 Red Pandas, making it a critical conservation zone within Sandakphu trekking India.MORE

Bird Watching in Singalila - In addition to dramatic mountain scenery, Singalila National Park is renowned for its extraordinary birdlife. The forests here are a true treasure trove for bird watchers, with more than 350 recorded bird species concentrated within this relatively small protected area along the Sandakphu trek route.MORE

Village Life - Unlike many Himalayan treks that pass exclusively through wilderness with minimal human presence, the Sandakphu trek stands out for how human settlement enhances the overall experience. Along the route, trekkers encounter numerous small villages, most of them located on the Nepal side of the ridge.MORE

Night sky - In most trekking destinations, nights are quiet and uneventful, with trekkers retreating indoors due to cold and fatigue. Singalila, however, offers an extraordinary exception for those willing to brave the chill. Owing to its high elevation and complete absence of urban light pollution, the region provides exceptional conditions for night-sky observation.MORE

Attractions in Sandakphu

Tonglu & Tumling
Tonglu and Tumling are often described as twin sisters within Singalila National Park. Although an international border between India and Nepal separates them politically, the two locations lie side by side, sharing the same dramatic mountain landscape, climate, terrain, and local culture. This unique positioning makes Tonglu and Tumling an essential early highlight of the Sandakphu trek.
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Phalut
Phalut is technically the second-highest point in Bengal, with only a few metres separating it from Sandakphu, the highest point. This marginal difference does not diminish its appeal; in fact, Phalut is often considered to offer even finer Himalayan views than Sandakphu itself. The hilltop feels strikingly isolated, drawing your gaze across endless layers of hills and valleys wrapped in clouds and mist, gradually leading the eye toward the highest mountains on Earth.
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Gairibas
While Tonglu, Tumling, and Sandakphu are best known for their panoramic mountain views, Gairibas is celebrated for its vibrant and largely untouched forest environment. Located at an altitude of about 8,500 feet in the core zone of Singalila National Park, Gairibas plays a crucial role in Red Panda conservation and ecological preservation along the Sandakphu trek from Darjeeling.
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Kalepokhri
Kalepokhri—literally meaning “black pond”—is a small village located on the Nepal side of the border, consisting of only a few households and a homestay catering to trekkers. Kalepokhri serves as a convenient overnight stop for hikers who prefer not to complete the full 20-kilometre stretch between Tumling and Sandakphu in a single day.
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Gorkhey
A steep descent from Phalut Top leads to Gorkhey, a picturesque village located on the Bengal–Sikkim border and separated by a gently meandering stream. At just over 2,200 metres in altitude, Gorkhey remains tucked away within a peaceful valley surrounded by pine forests. Its mild climate, tranquil atmosphere, and small cluster of village huts create a scene often compared to a serene fairy-tale hideout in the Swiss Alps.
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Connectivity

To Reach Sandakphu, you need to come to Bagdogra Airport. This is the main gateway to the eastern Himalayas. All the major metropolis like Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, and Ahmedabad have daily direct flights to Bagdogra. The Airport is a 3hrs drive to Maneybhanjang, which is the starting point of the trek. Or else you can reach Darjeeling or Kurseong and stay the night in a hotel before going to Maneybhanjang the next morning. Form Maneybhanjang, both these locations can be reached in a 1.5 hr journey.

Climate

Bestowed with six different seasons - Spring, Summer, Monsoon, Autumn, Per-winter and Winter - the entire Singalila National Park glows with a distinctive charm in each alternative month. Because of the stunning views of mountains and a riot of colours on the virgin forest canopy dominated by rhododendron, magnolia, oak, birch, maple and pine, Spring, Autumn and Pre-winter are considered the best hiking seasons in Sandakphu. However, visiting in the winter and summer can be attractive too.

Usually, the trekkers would find this attractive during November and December when the sky remains very clear, allowing you to watch the mountains. Or those who love to see the colour and flower bloom should come in March and April. January and February remain very cold, and the temperature can drop below – 8 DC, and snowfall can be a frequent possibility.