Sandakphu or Sandakpur at is a mountain peak in the Singalila Ridge on the

border Borders are generally defined as geography, geographical boundaries, imposed either by features such as oceans and terrain, or by polity, political entities such as governments, sovereign states, federated states, and other administrative divisio ...

between

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

and

Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...

. It is the highest point of the ridge and of the state of

West Bengal West Bengal (; Bengali language, Bengali: , , abbr. WB) is a States and union territories of India, state in the East India, eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabi ...

, India. The peak is located at the edge of the Singalila National Park and has a small village on the summit with a few hotels. Four of the five highest peaks in the world, Everest,

Kangchenjunga Kangchenjunga is the third-highest mountain in the world. Its summit lies at in a section of the Himalayas, the ''Kangchenjunga Himal'', which is bounded in the west by the Tamur River, in the north by the Lhonak River and Jongsang La, and ...

Lhotse Lhotse ( ; ; ) is the List of highest mountains#List, fourth-highest mountain on Earth, after Mount Everest, K2, and Kangchenjunga. At an elevation of above sea level, the main summit is on the border between Tibet Autonomous Region of Chin ...

and Makalu can be seen from its summit. It also affords a pristine view of the entire Kangchenjunga Range. Sandakphu is also known as the land of poisonous flowers.

Etymology

The name derives from the Tibeto-Burman Lepcha language and translates as "the height of the poisonous plant" - in reference to the former abundance at the locality (around a century ago) of the poisonous plants '' Aconitum ferox'' and certain

rhododendron ''Rhododendron'' (; : ''rhododendra'') is a very large genus of about 1,024 species of woody plants in the Ericaceae, heath family (Ericaceae). They can be either evergreen or deciduous. Most species are native to eastern Asia and the Himalayan ...

species. So great was the danger of fatal poisoning to sheep and cattle being driven through the area that they had to be muzzled to prevent them grazing/browsing upon these toxic species (''Aconitum ferox'' has a good claim to being the most poisonous plant species in the world).

Trekking

India

The trek along the Singalila Ridge to Sandakphu and Phalut is one of the most popular in the

Eastern Himalaya ] The Eastern Himalayas extend from eastern Nepal across Northeast India, Bhutan, the Tibet Autonomous Region to Yunnan in China and northern Myanmar. The climate of this region is influenced by the monsoon of South Asia from June to September. It ...

s, owing not only to the stupendous vistas of the Kangchenjunga and Everest ranges which it affords, but also to its seasonal wildflowers and opportunities for

birdwatching Birdwatching, or birding, is the observing of birds, either as a recreational activity or as a form of citizen science. A birdwatcher may observe by using their naked eye, by using a visual enhancement device such as binoculars or a telescop ...

. Treks begin at Manebhanjan which is (approx. 1 hour by road) from

Darjeeling Darjeeling (, , ) is a city in the northernmost region of the States and union territories of India, Indian state of West Bengal. Located in the Eastern Himalayas, it has an average elevation of . To the west of Darjeeling lies the Koshi Pr ...

., ''Sandakphu'', Trek to Sandakphu, 1 August 2015

Ascent

The Sandakphu trekking routes inside the Singalila National Park have four legs or stages. * Manebhanjan to Meghma – height : This is a 4-hour trek through the lower forest. The route goes via Chitre. * Meghma to Gairibans – height : There are two alternative trekking routes. They respectively go via Tonglu – height and Tumling – height . From Tumling, a shorter trail cuts through Nepal and Jaubari – height . Jaubari is ward no 07 of jamuna VDC ilam. * Gairibans to Sandakphu – height * Sandakphu to Phalut – height : It is a one-day trek via Sabarkum – height covering .

Descent

* Retracing the way back to Manebhanjan. * A steep descent to the village of Sirikhola on the banks of the River Sirikhola, via Gurdum – height , and from there to Rimbick. Panorama of Peaks seen from Sandakphu and Phalut Baruntse – height , Chamlang – height , Chomo Lonzo – height , Lhotse – height , Makalu – height , Mount Everest – height , Nuptse – height , Kanchenjunga – height , Talung – height , Rathong – height , Kabru N – height , Koktang – height , Simvo – height , Frey – height , Kabru S – height , Kabru Dome – height , Kabru Forked – height , Pandim – height , Tenchenkhang – height , Jupono – height Villages At Glance: Gorkhey, Bhareng, Gairibas, Meghma, Maneybhanjyang, Rammam, Srikhola, Sepi, Molley, Gurdum.

Nepal

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

Ilam District Ilam district () is one of Districts of Province No. 1, 14 districts of Koshi Province of eastern Nepal. It is a Geography of Nepal#The Hill Region, Hill districts of Nepal, district and covers . The 2011 Nepal census, 2011 census counted 290,25 ...

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 (a special area for birds such as the spiny babbler and blue tit), Piple, Kalipokhari, Bikhe Vanjyang to Sandakpur. Jamuna is a highlight for trekkers. There are several beautiful places like Dhap Pokhari and Choyatar (special area for red pandas) on the route.

Gallery

File:From Sandakphu trek.jpg, Sunrise on Mt. Kanchendzonga from Aahl near Sandakphu or Sandakpur File:Kanchendzonga from sandakaphu.jpg, Singalila Range and Kanchenjungha seen from Sandakpur File:Sandakphu panorama.jpg, A panoramic view of Sandakpur. File:Domestic yak in Sandakpur.jpg,

Domestic yak The yak (''Bos grunniens''), also known as the Tartary ox, grunting ox, hairy cattle, or domestic yak, is a species of long-haired domesticated cattle found throughout the Himalayan region, the Tibetan Plateau, Tajikistan, the Pamir Mountains ...

(''Bos grunniens'') near Sandakpur File:Sandakpur top view.jpg, View of Sandakphu from above File:Sandakpur, Ilam Nepal.jpg, Sandakphu: shrub-clad rocky ridge with toxic, pink-flowered

species - for which it was (in part) named

References

External links

Mt Everest and Lhotse as seen from SandakphuIn the Land of Sleeping Buddha - A Guide to Sandakphu TrekLand of the Land Rovers - Community fleet of 57 Series I in daily use from Maneybhanjang to the Sandakphu summit20 Stunning Photos of Sandakphu
{{Darjeeling Mountains of West Bengal Mountains of Koshi Province Villages in Darjeeling district Highest points of Indian states and union territories India–Nepal border Geography of Darjeeling district