Darjeeling

War Memorial || Ghoom Monastery || Natural History Museum || Japanese Peace Pagoda || Mountaineering Institute || Padmaja Naidu zoological Par || Places around Darjeeling || Tiger Hill / Ghoom Monastery || Rock Garden || Dhirdham Temple || Chowrasta || Lloyd Botanical Garden || Singla / Majitar / Peshok || Tinchuley / Takdah / Mungpoo || Rafting in Chitrey / Rangeet || Sandakphu / Falut || Mirik Lake & Pashupati || Tourist Spot of Darjeeling || Darjeeling Package || Darjeeling Himalayan Railway ||

Sandakphu / Falut - Sandakphu or Sandakfu is situated at an elevation of 3636 meters and is the highest peak in the state of West Bengal, India. It is close to the edge of the Singalila National Park on the West Bengal - Sikkim - Nepal border and is the highest point of the Singalila Ridge. Varieties of rhododendrons with plants like Streptous simplex, Trilidium govanianum, Primula rotundifolia, Fritillaria cirrhosa, Llydia and flora like Iris, Anemone, etc is found in this region. Sandakphu has a small hamlet on the peak with a number trekkers hut and a Public Works Department Rest House (PWD). The whole length of the Himalayan Range with the peaks of Kanchendzonga and Everest can be seen from its summit. Sunrise and sun set are brilliant. So is the snowfall and the scenic beauty around the place. which is known as the sleeping buddha or the sleeping shiva.

Sandakphu can be reached by treking from Maney Bhanjan via Tonglu, Gauribaas, Kalipokhri or motor able only via the legendary Land - Rover rather the legendary monster 4 x 4. On the route it is advisable to stop at Shikhar lodge, Tumling.  The weather is pleasant and the temperature ranges from - 20 C in winter to 15 C in summer. Snowfalls in winters are a treat to watch. Phalut is nearly 21 kilometers through the forest, meadows (Bugials) from Sandakphu. There is no settlement in this route and the road is scenic with brilliant scenery. It is a tricky route as any left turn will take you to Nepal. Phalut is always the most brilliant part of the trek, of course if guest do not travel to Gurdung, which is also a unique place. It is a pleasant walk with more or less a level ground and with not many ups and downs and the scenery of the purple hills was almost magical and dreamy. Water and ready food is all that you need during the trek. Phalut has only a single guest house but the house has space for many.

Tags: Sandakphu / Falut