Sandakphu Peak is one of the popular peaks situated in West Bengal state of India. It is the loftiest peak of the Singalila Ridge. The place is known for its sunrises and sunsets. A tourist site located on the Indo Nepal border, Maneybhanjan, is the gateway to the peak. Sandakphu is quite popular among the trekkers, explorers and photographers throughout the world.
Etymology of Sandakphu
The term Sandakphu means the "height of the poison plant". It refers to the poisonous aconite plants that grow near the peak.
Location of Sandakphu Peak
Sandakphu is the highest peak located in the Darjeeling district in the eastern state of India, West Bengal. It is about fifty eight kilometres from Darjeeling. It is situated at the border of the Singalila National Park on the West Bengal-Sikkim boundary. Sandakphu is situated at an altitude of 3,636 metres above mean sea level.
Trekking at Sandakphu Peak
Referred as the "Paradise of Trekkers", Sandakphu offers excellent opportunities for trekking. Sandakphu is the last destination of many trekking routes in the Darjeeling-Sikkim region. The trek to the peak starts from Maneybhanjan. Sandakphu is a point from where one can view the four out of the world"s five highest peaks in the world- Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu and Lhotse.
Other Attractions of Sandakphu Peak
This peak offers stunning view of nature which is spread throughout its structure. It houses a diverse variety of flora namely, magnolias, rhododendrons, primulas and other sub-alpine flowers making it an ideal retreat for nature lovers. The region also houses nearly six hundred varieties of orchids, which is the largest collection in the world.
Connectivity of Sandakphu Peak
The peak can be visited any time of the year. However, the monsoon months of July-August is not suggested. The peak can be assessed either by car or by trekking. The trekking begins from Maneybhanjang (a small town near Darjeeling) via Chitirey, Meghma, Tonglu, Tumling, Gairibas, KalaPokhri, Bekhey to Sandakphu. And the car can be hired from Maneybhanjang. The town is famous for its Land Rovers so one can easily hire these cars. Maneybhanjan can be reached from Siliguri via Ghoom or Darjeeling.
