Sandakphu

Sandakphu
View from Sandakphu in West Bengal
Highest point
Elevation 3,636 m (11,929 ft)
Listing List of Indian states and territories by highest point
Coordinates 27°6′21″N 88°0′6″E / 27.10583°N 88.00167°E / 27.10583; 88.00167Coordinates: 27°6′21″N 88°0′6″E / 27.10583°N 88.00167°E / 27.10583; 88.00167 [1]
Geography
Sandakphu
Location of Sandakphu peak
Sandakphu
Sandakphu (Province No. 1)
Location Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India / Ilam district, Mechi, Nepal
Parent range Singalila Ridge
Topo map Google topographic map[2]
Climbing
Easiest route Hiking or by car
Route map of Sandakfu trek (not to scale)

Sandakphu or Sandakfu or Sandakpur (3636 m; 11,930 ft) is the highest peak in the district of Ilam, Nepal and 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.[3] It also affords a pristine view of the entire Kangchenjunga Range.

Trekking

Nepal

The western part of Sandakphu peak is located in Sandakpur rural municipality (ward no. 2 & 4) of Ilam District of Province No. 1.

The trekking starts from Ilam Bazar via Maipokhari, Maimajhuwa, Mabu, Kala Pokhri Bikhe Bhyanjyang to Sandakpur. And also from ilam Bazar via sulubung, jamuna, hangetham (special for birds like spiny babbler, blue tit etc.), piple, kalipokhari, bikhe vanjyang to sandakpur. In this treaking route jamuna is most valuable for trekkers. There were many beautiful places like dhap pokhari, choyatar (special for red panda). There was a three jungle hile samudayik ban, choyatar samudayik ban, hangetham samudayik ban.

India

The trek along the Singalila Ridge to Sandakphu and Phalut is one of the most popular ones in the Eastern Himalayas due to the grand vistas of the Kangchenjunga range and the Everest range which can be seen from the ridge, and also for the seasonal wildflower blooms and birding. Treks begin at Manebhanjan which is 28 km (approx. 1 hour by road) from Darjeeling.[4]

Ascent

The trekking routes inside the Singalila National Park have four legs or stages.

  • Manebhanjan to Meghma (2600 m): This is a 4-hour trek through the lower forest. The route goes via Chitre.
  • Meghma to Gairibans (2621 m): There are two alternative trekking routes. They respectively go via Tonglu (3070 m) and Tumling (2900 m). From Tumling, a shorter trail cuts through Nepal and Jaubari (2750 m).Jaubari is ward no 07 of jamuna VDC ilam.
  • Gairibans to Sandakphu (3636 m):
  • Sandakphu to Phalut (3600 m): It is a one-day trek via Sabarkum (3536 m) covering 21 km.

Descent

  • Retracing the way back to Manebhanjan.
  • A steep descent to the village of Sirikhola on the banks of the River Sirikhola, via Gurdum (2300 m), and from there to Rimbick.

Panorama of Peaks seen from Sandakphu and Phalut[5]

Baruntse ( 7220m ), Chamlang ( 7319m ), Chomo Lonzo ( 7818m ), Lhotse ( 8516m ), Machhapuchhare ( 6993m ), Makalu ( 8462m ), Mount Everest ( 8848m ), Nuptse ( 7861m ), Kanchenjunga ( 8586m ), Talung ( 7349m ), Rathong ( 6679m ), Kabru N ( 7353m ), Koktang ( 6147m ), Simvo ( 6812m ), Frey ( 5853m ), Kabru S ( 7318m ), Kabru Dome ( 6600m ), Kabru Forked ( 6100m ), Pandim ( 6691m ), Tenchenkhang ( 6010m ), Jupono ( 5650m )

Villages At Glance: Gorkhey, Bhareng, Gairibas, Meghma, Maneybhanjyang, Rammam, Srikhola, Sepi, Molley, Gurdum [5]

References

  1. ↑ Sandakphu Top - Wikimapia
  2. ↑ Google topographic map
  3. ↑ Sandakphu & Singalila Trek
  4. ↑ , Sandakphu, Trek to Sandakphu, 1 August 2015 Archived 21 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. 1 2 "SANDAKPHU PHALUT TREK".
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