Sandakup Exsursion
Sandakphu Trek (Maneybhanjan – Tumling – Kalapokhari - Sandakphu –
Gurdum – Srikhola - NJP)
Day 1 – NJP to Maneybhanjan (85 km)
Reception at NJP rail station / Bagdogra airport. Drive to
Maneybhanjan (85 km) in exclusive vehicle. The road to Manebhanjan
follows the Hill Cart Road connecting Darjeeling with the plains.
Reach Ghoom (The highest rail station in India), spend some time
photoshooting there and then leave the Hill Cart Road. It takes
another hour from Ghoom to reach Manybhanjan. Check in at Hotel and
evening free to acclimatize in the new environs. (Overnight stay at
Maneybhanjan)
Breakfast (No) Lunch (Yes) Dinner (Yes)
Day 2 – Maneybhanjan to Tumling / Tonglu (13 km)
Trek Starts from Maneybhanjan, a small village inhabited by Buddhist
Sherpas. In the morning, one can get a view of the trekking route,
which is an awesome, near vertical climb. Your trek begins with a
gradual ascent to Chitray where we stop for some light refreshments.
An interesting point to note about this route is that you keep on
shuffling between India and Nepal. In fact the stall where we prefer
to have tea lays half in India and the other half is in Nepal. Stroll
to visit a small Sherpa monastery. The trail then gradually ascends
all the way to Meghma at a height of 2,600m.
Lunch will be taken at Meghma, a small Nepali village amidst the
forest of rhododendron trees and bamboo groves. Here one can also get
to see some fine specimens of Himalayan cobra lilies as well as
orchids.
Visit the Hoshel Dechenling Gompa, a Nyingmapa monastery built in
1953, now supported by the local Tamang community.
[Tonglu top can be viewed from Meghma. However, the trek to Tonglu Top
is arduous and very steep].
After lunch, we trek to Tumling, a Gurung village through dense
forests, and hillsides covered with wild flowers and a breathtaking
mountain view of the Kanchendzonga and its neighboring peaks. In fact,
beautiful view of the Nepalese valley with the Teesta as well as the
Kosi can be viewed from here. Generally it is a trek of about 3 hrs to
Meghma and another one and a half to two hours (Depending upon ones
pace) from Meghma to Tumling. (Overnight stay at Tumling).
Breakfast (Yes) Lunch (Yes) Dinner (Yes)
Day 3 – Tonglu / Tumling to Kalipokhri (3186m) – (13 km)
Wake up early in the morning for a rare and beautiful view of the
mountains around. After breakfast head on the trail that leads one
through bamboo glades and farmlands to Gairibas at a height of 2621
meters. Trek time 3 hrs, approx 9 kms.
There is a forest bunglow in this village. After lunch the trail
ascends all the way through dwarf rhododendron forest to reach
Kalipokhari, meaning the Black Lake (3170 meters). This route is also
rich in Primulae species, Impatients falcifer, Owl-eyed Impatiens,
Sorbus, Pyrus, Enkaithus and Roscoea alpina.
The lake is considered very auspicious by the local and legend has it
that this lake never gets frozen even in the severest of winters. The
dark crystaline waters of Kalipokhari lake shimmering in the breeze
and surrounded by alpine trees with the mountains looming across the
horizon is the perfect setting to watch the sunset.
Distance is 6 Kms and it is about 3 hrs walk from Gairibas.
(Overnight stay at Kalipokhari)
Breakfast (Yes) Lunch (Yes) Dinner (Yes)
Day 4 – Kalipokhari to Sandakphu (3636 m) – (10 km)
From Kalipokhari the trek route ascends to Bikhebhangang meaning “The
Valley of Poison” (As Aconites grow in abundance here) Thereafter, the
trek from Bikhebhanjang to Sandakphu is a steep climb of 4 kms
through magnolia, blue pine and rhododendron forest and takes more
than two hour.
Sandakphu at 3636 meters is the highest mountain in West Bengal and
commands one of the most spectacular views of four 8000 metres peaks
along with the mountain ranges of the Kabru (7338m), Kumbhakarna (
7710m), Pandim (6691m) and the towering Kanchendzonga (8598m) .
On a clear day one can even see the peaks of Lhotse (8501m), Everest
(8848m) and Makalu (8475m) of the Nepal Himalayas and the huge
Kanchenjunga massif.
An interesting feature of the entire range is such that it is called
“The Sleeping Buddha”. The mountain slopes are covered with
rhododendrons and silver fir trees. (Overnight stay at Sandakphu)
Breakfast (Yes) Lunch (Yes) Dinner (Yes)
Day 5 – Sandakphu to Gurdum (2910 mts 10 km trek)
Explore Sandakphu. Wake up early in the morning for beautiful view of
Kanchenjunga and Everest range. Different varieties of rhododendrons,
plants like Streptous simplex, Trilidium govanianum, Primula
rotundifolia, Fritillaria cirrhosa, Llydia and other flora like
Anemone and Iris can be found here. Walk among the rhododendron. Enjoy
the high.
After breakfast, trek to Gurdum.
Gurdum is 10 KM from Sandakphu. The route from Sandakphu to Gudum is
mostly through dense forest with plenty of Rhododendron all along the
route. In some of the places, sunlight doesn't even reach the ground.
This trek is a gradual descent all the way through lovely forest.
There is only a trekking path and no roads at all. For the first few
hours, the trek would be through a dense jungle with active bird call
all the way. The second half would be through a bamboo forest.
Reach the Gurdum campsite after a good 5 hours of walk. Gurdum is a
village with three four families staying there. The only accommodation
there is a hut for the trekkers. It is a place like a picture postcard
surrounded by dense forest. If you are lucky you may come across bears
near your hut.
The Gurdum campsite is perhaps the best in the whole trek. (Overnight
at Gurdum).
Breakfast (Yes) Lunch (Yes) Dinner (Yes)
Day 6 – Gurdum to Srikhola (Trek) and then to NJP by Vehicle.
Srikhola is 6 KM away from Gurdum. It would be the last day of your
trek. Enjoy splashing and having some fun time near the Srikhola
River. Have lunch at Srikhola and finally reach the road head Sippey,
1 km ahead of Srikhola.Board your vehicle to be dropped to NJP. Your
trek ends with aching body and an insatiate desire to return again.
Gurdum – Srikhola - NJP)
Day 1 – NJP to Maneybhanjan (85 km)
Reception at NJP rail station / Bagdogra airport. Drive to
Maneybhanjan (85 km) in exclusive vehicle. The road to Manebhanjan
follows the Hill Cart Road connecting Darjeeling with the plains.
Reach Ghoom (The highest rail station in India), spend some time
photoshooting there and then leave the Hill Cart Road. It takes
another hour from Ghoom to reach Manybhanjan. Check in at Hotel and
evening free to acclimatize in the new environs. (Overnight stay at
Maneybhanjan)
Breakfast (No) Lunch (Yes) Dinner (Yes)
Day 2 – Maneybhanjan to Tumling / Tonglu (13 km)
Trek Starts from Maneybhanjan, a small village inhabited by Buddhist
Sherpas. In the morning, one can get a view of the trekking route,
which is an awesome, near vertical climb. Your trek begins with a
gradual ascent to Chitray where we stop for some light refreshments.
An interesting point to note about this route is that you keep on
shuffling between India and Nepal. In fact the stall where we prefer
to have tea lays half in India and the other half is in Nepal. Stroll
to visit a small Sherpa monastery. The trail then gradually ascends
all the way to Meghma at a height of 2,600m.
Lunch will be taken at Meghma, a small Nepali village amidst the
forest of rhododendron trees and bamboo groves. Here one can also get
to see some fine specimens of Himalayan cobra lilies as well as
orchids.
Visit the Hoshel Dechenling Gompa, a Nyingmapa monastery built in
1953, now supported by the local Tamang community.
[Tonglu top can be viewed from Meghma. However, the trek to Tonglu Top
is arduous and very steep].
After lunch, we trek to Tumling, a Gurung village through dense
forests, and hillsides covered with wild flowers and a breathtaking
mountain view of the Kanchendzonga and its neighboring peaks. In fact,
beautiful view of the Nepalese valley with the Teesta as well as the
Kosi can be viewed from here. Generally it is a trek of about 3 hrs to
Meghma and another one and a half to two hours (Depending upon ones
pace) from Meghma to Tumling. (Overnight stay at Tumling).
Breakfast (Yes) Lunch (Yes) Dinner (Yes)
Day 3 – Tonglu / Tumling to Kalipokhri (3186m) – (13 km)
Wake up early in the morning for a rare and beautiful view of the
mountains around. After breakfast head on the trail that leads one
through bamboo glades and farmlands to Gairibas at a height of 2621
meters. Trek time 3 hrs, approx 9 kms.
There is a forest bunglow in this village. After lunch the trail
ascends all the way through dwarf rhododendron forest to reach
Kalipokhari, meaning the Black Lake (3170 meters). This route is also
rich in Primulae species, Impatients falcifer, Owl-eyed Impatiens,
Sorbus, Pyrus, Enkaithus and Roscoea alpina.
The lake is considered very auspicious by the local and legend has it
that this lake never gets frozen even in the severest of winters. The
dark crystaline waters of Kalipokhari lake shimmering in the breeze
and surrounded by alpine trees with the mountains looming across the
horizon is the perfect setting to watch the sunset.
Distance is 6 Kms and it is about 3 hrs walk from Gairibas.
(Overnight stay at Kalipokhari)
Breakfast (Yes) Lunch (Yes) Dinner (Yes)
Day 4 – Kalipokhari to Sandakphu (3636 m) – (10 km)
From Kalipokhari the trek route ascends to Bikhebhangang meaning “The
Valley of Poison” (As Aconites grow in abundance here) Thereafter, the
trek from Bikhebhanjang to Sandakphu is a steep climb of 4 kms
through magnolia, blue pine and rhododendron forest and takes more
than two hour.
Sandakphu at 3636 meters is the highest mountain in West Bengal and
commands one of the most spectacular views of four 8000 metres peaks
along with the mountain ranges of the Kabru (7338m), Kumbhakarna (
7710m), Pandim (6691m) and the towering Kanchendzonga (8598m) .
On a clear day one can even see the peaks of Lhotse (8501m), Everest
(8848m) and Makalu (8475m) of the Nepal Himalayas and the huge
Kanchenjunga massif.
An interesting feature of the entire range is such that it is called
“The Sleeping Buddha”. The mountain slopes are covered with
rhododendrons and silver fir trees. (Overnight stay at Sandakphu)
Breakfast (Yes) Lunch (Yes) Dinner (Yes)
Day 5 – Sandakphu to Gurdum (2910 mts 10 km trek)
Explore Sandakphu. Wake up early in the morning for beautiful view of
Kanchenjunga and Everest range. Different varieties of rhododendrons,
plants like Streptous simplex, Trilidium govanianum, Primula
rotundifolia, Fritillaria cirrhosa, Llydia and other flora like
Anemone and Iris can be found here. Walk among the rhododendron. Enjoy
the high.
After breakfast, trek to Gurdum.
Gurdum is 10 KM from Sandakphu. The route from Sandakphu to Gudum is
mostly through dense forest with plenty of Rhododendron all along the
route. In some of the places, sunlight doesn't even reach the ground.
This trek is a gradual descent all the way through lovely forest.
There is only a trekking path and no roads at all. For the first few
hours, the trek would be through a dense jungle with active bird call
all the way. The second half would be through a bamboo forest.
Reach the Gurdum campsite after a good 5 hours of walk. Gurdum is a
village with three four families staying there. The only accommodation
there is a hut for the trekkers. It is a place like a picture postcard
surrounded by dense forest. If you are lucky you may come across bears
near your hut.
The Gurdum campsite is perhaps the best in the whole trek. (Overnight
at Gurdum).
Breakfast (Yes) Lunch (Yes) Dinner (Yes)
Day 6 – Gurdum to Srikhola (Trek) and then to NJP by Vehicle.
Srikhola is 6 KM away from Gurdum. It would be the last day of your
trek. Enjoy splashing and having some fun time near the Srikhola
River. Have lunch at Srikhola and finally reach the road head Sippey,
1 km ahead of Srikhola.Board your vehicle to be dropped to NJP. Your
trek ends with aching body and an insatiate desire to return again.