Sandakphu

4–5 daysBest: Apr–May, Oct–NovAdventure#trek#everest views#singalila

Trek to the Everest viewpoint

Why this weekend?

Four-8000m peaksSingalila ridgeRhododendrons

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The day-by-day plan

Day 1 · The border ridge
- Darjeeling to Manebhanjan
- Climb to Tumling ridge stay
- Kalipokhri village
Day 2 · The peak wall
- Sandakphu summit sunrise
- Phalut extension
- Descent via Gairibas
- Return to Manebhanjan

Geography & terrain

Sandakphu is the highest point of West Bengal at 3,636 m on the Singalila ridge that divides Bengal from Nepal — a treeless grassy crest above the forest, reached on foot or on the border road from Manebhanjan, with the four great 8,000-m peaks (Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu) in a line across the sky.

History & culture

The Singalila border-ridge trails were walked by colonial planters and surveyors mapping the eastern Himalaya, and the trek route — now an overnight chain of village stays from Manebhanjan through Tumling, Gairibas and Kalipokhri — is the classic British-era Darjeeling hill walk; the route's rhododendron forests and the border posts keep its frontier character alive.

Where to stay

Budget

₹1,000–2,500/night

Mid-range

₹2,500–5,000/night

Comfort

₹5,000+/night

Things to do

Four-peak panorama
Singalila ridge
Rhododendron bloom
Border villages
Yak pastures

Eat & drink

Kosha mangsho
Macher jhol (fish curry)
Sorshe ilish
Sandesh
Rasgulla

Getting there

Fly: Kolkata (CCU) / Bagdogra (IXB)
Train: Howrah & Sealdah junctions
Road from Kolkata: varies by district — 50–600 km
Getting around: Metro (Kolkata), autos, buses

Budget snapshot

Total: ₹18,000–35,000 (4 days)
Per day · Stay: ₹1,000–5,000/night
Per day · Food: ₹600–1,000
Per day · Transport: ₹1,200–1,600
Per day · Activities: ₹2,000–2,400

Month by month

Jan · Best: 9–27°C · None rain
Feb · Good: 12–31°C · None rain
Mar · Hot: 17–36°C · None rain
Apr · Hot: 23–41°C · None rain
May · Hot: 26–42°C · None rain
Jun · Monsoon: 27–38°C · Heavy rain
Jul · Monsoon: 25–32°C · Heavy rain
Aug · Monsoon: 25–31°C · Heavy rain
Sep · Monsoon tail: 24–33°C · Moderate rain
Oct · Good: 18–32°C · Light rain
Nov · Best: 12–29°C · None rain
Dec · Best: 9–26°C · None rain

Practical info

Language: Bengali (English understood in tourist spots)
Best window: Apr–May, Oct–Nov
Connectivity: good 4G in towns
UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops

Practical tips

The trail is graded moderate — fit trekkers finish in 4 days
The ridge stays chill even in summer — layers and gloves essential
Rhododendron bloom peaks in April–May; the clearest skies run October–November

Frequently asked questions

How tough is the Sandakphu trek?

Moderate — long days but no technical climbing; most first-timers manage the classic 4-day loop.

Can I see Everest from Sandakphu?

Yes — Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu all appear on clear mornings.

Is the road usable instead of trekking?

Jeeps reach Sandakphu on the border road, but the trek is the point of the ridge.