Sandakphu Trek (Manebhanjan to Sandakphu)

The Sandakphu trek follows the Singalila Ridge in Singalila National Park, Darjeeling district, West Bengal, from the trailhead village of Manebhanjan (2,150 m) to Sandakphu (3,636 m), the highest point in the state. Manebhanjan is reached by shared jeep from Darjeeling, a drive of roughly 51 km that takes about 1.5 hours. Entry to the national park is controlled at Manebhanjan, where visitors register, pay the park fee and take a licensed guide, which is compulsory on the ridge; passport or photo ID is needed for the paperwork. The route covers about 32 km one way and is usually walked in four to five days, although fixed-fare Land Rovers run the rough ridge road and can shorten the journey to two days. The first day climbs steeply through oak and bamboo forest to Chitrey and Tumling, with the road and the footpath crossing repeatedly. Beyond Tumling the trail follows the ridge past Gairibas and Kalipokhri, where a small black-water lake and a temple mark the halfway stage, then climbs through Bikhebhanjan to the final ascent. Elevation gain is more than 1,400 m overall, and the surface is a mix of dirt path, stony track and the loose road. Exposure is limited, but the upper sections above 3,000 m are open and cold, with strong wind and little shade. Key landmarks include the Nepal border pillars that the path crosses, the rhododendron and magnolia belts, and the Sandakphu summit, from which Kangchenjunga, Everest, Lhotse and Makalu are visible on clear mornings. Accommodation is in trekkers' huts and simple tea houses at Tumling, Kalipokhri and Sandakphu, which also serve basic meals; water is available at these settlements but should be treated before drinking. Sensible turn-around points are Tumling or Kalipokhri if weather or altitude symptoms set in, since the Land Rover road allows a descent from most points on the ridge. Mobile coverage is patchy along the ridge.