Photo: solarshakti · CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

SandakphuHeight above mean sea level 3,636 m

trek route · Darjeeling Hills

West Bengal's highest point, with Everest on the skyline

Best Mar – Apr · Oct – Nov2–5 nights

Sandakphu, at 3,636 m on the Singalila Ridge, is the highest point in West Bengal and one of the few places where you can see Everest, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu together. Reach it in three days on foot or 3–5 hours by Land Rover from Manebhanjan. Go October–November or March–April.

Sandakphu is a cluster of lodges and a trekkers' hut on top of the Singalila Ridge, right on the India–Nepal border, about 57 km from Darjeeling. At 3,636 m it is the highest point in West Bengal. The reason people come is the view: on a clear morning the Kangchenjunga range fills the north-east, and to the west you can pick out Everest, Lhotse and Makalu. Very few places on earth show four of the five highest mountains from one spot.

Getting there is part of the trip. The road ends for normal cars at Manebhanjan, a small bazaar at about 2,134 m, 26 km from Darjeeling. From there you either walk for three days through rhododendron, oak and bamboo forest in Singalila National Park, or ride up a steep stone track in one of Manebhanjan's old Land Rovers. Either way you need a licensed guide, hired at Manebhanjan, and you pay a park entry fee.

Sandakphu is a cheap trip if you keep it simple. Lodges along the ridge are basic, with shared toilets, thick quilts and dal-bhat dinners, and they cost far less than a Darjeeling hotel. The real costs are the guide and, if you ride, the Land Rover, so travel in a group of four to six and split them. The park usually closes from mid-June to mid-September; check current status before you travel.

Don't miss

Highlights of Sandakphu

Four of the five highest peaks at sunrise

From the top of Sandakphu, Kangchenjunga lies to the north-east, and the Everest group, with Lhotse and Makalu, shows to the west. Be out by 5 am in October and November, when the sky is clearest. Cloud usually builds by 9 am, so the first two hours matter most.

The Singalila trek from Manebhanjan

Three days up through Chitrey, Tumling, Gairibas and Kalipokhri, climbing from about 2,134 m to 3,636 m. Days are 4–7 hours of walking on old stone paths and jeep track. Nights are spent in simple lodges with shared toilets. A licensed guide is mandatory.

A Land Rover up the ridge

If you cannot spare three days, ride up with Manebhanjan's drivers in a vintage Land Rover. It takes 3–5 hours to Sandakphu with stops, and a vehicle carries up to about six people. Split between a group, it is cheaper than it first sounds.

Rhododendron forests in spring

Late March to early May, the ridge between Tumling and Sandakphu turns red, pink and white as several rhododendron species flower. Magnolias bloom lower down. Mountain views are hazier than in autumn, but the forest is at its best and the lodges are quieter.

Red pandas and high-altitude birds

Singalila National Park is one of India's best red panda habitats. Sightings are never certain, but early mornings in the bamboo and oak forest near Gairibas and Kalipokhri give you the best chance. Guides also point out pheasants, laughingthrushes and the occasional barking deer.

On to Phalut

Phalut, about 21 km further north along the ridge, is quieter and closer to Kangchenjunga. Walking there and descending via Gorkhey or Rammam to Rimbick adds two to three days and gives the trek its full shape. Plan this only in October, November, March or April.

Told in the hills

A border ridge and its old Land Rovers

The Singalila Ridge runs north–south from Kangchenjunga, and for most of its length it is the border between India and Nepal. The trail to Sandakphu follows that line so closely that walkers step in and out of Nepal all day: Tumling, Gairibas and parts of the route sit on the Nepal side, with small lodges where you pay in either currency. Singalila National Park protects the Indian side of the ridge, a strip of high forest that is one of the best places in India to look for the red panda.

For decades the only motor link to the top has been a narrow, steep track from Manebhanjan. It is too rough for most modern cars, so the job is done by a fleet of old Land Rovers, many of them Series models from the 1950s and 1960s, kept running by local drivers and mechanics. The drivers' association sets fares and runs the vehicles in turn. Riding one up the hairpins, with the roof rack loaded and the gears grinding, has become as much a part of Sandakphu as the sunrise.

Pinned to the board

Did you know

At 3,636 m, Sandakphu is the highest point in West Bengal.

From Sandakphu, on a clear day, you can see four of the world's five highest peaks: Everest, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu.

Singalila National Park, which the trail to Sandakphu passes through, is known as one of the best places in India to see the red panda in the wild.

Things to do

Four ways to spend a day in Sandakphu

2 hours Sunrise over Everest and Kangchenjunga Sandakphu · Free once you are at Sandakphu

5–7 days return The Singalila trek from Manebhanjan Sandakphu · ₹9,000–16,000 per person for a self-org…

1–2 days Land Rover ride up the Singalila Ridge Sandakphu · ₹5,500–7,500 per vehicle return, indica…

Half day Red pandas and rhododendrons in Singalila Sandakphu · Included in park entry and guide fee

Getting there

How to reach Sandakphu

Shared jeepShared jeeps run from Darjeeling's Chowk Bazaar stand to Manebhanjan via Ghum and Sukhiapokhri, about 1–1.5 hours, ₹80–150 a seat, indicative 2026. Leave by 9 am so you can register, pay park fees and hire a guide before entry closes in the early afternoon.

Reserved carA reserved car from Darjeeling to Manebhanjan costs about ₹1,800–2,800, and from Bagdogra or NJP about ₹3,500–5,000, indicative 2026. Normal cars stop at Manebhanjan. From there only the local Land Rovers, at ₹5,500–7,500 per vehicle return, or your feet will take you up.

Rail / AirThe nearest airport is Bagdogra (IXB) and the nearest big station is NJP, both about 90–95 km from Manebhanjan, or 3.5–4 hours by road. Most people sleep a night in Darjeeling first, which also helps with the altitude. Check current status before you travel.

Darjeeling to Sandakphu

Costs in Sandakphuindicative, 2026

Shared jeep Darjeeling → Manebhanjan₹80–150 a seat
Singalila National Park entry≈ ₹120 a day (Indians), more for foreigners
Licensed guide₹1,000–1,500 a day per group
Land Rover Manebhanjan → Sandakphu, return₹5,500–7,500 per vehicle
Lodge bed or basic room on the ridge₹500–1,500 per person
Dal-bhat dinner at a lodge₹200–350

Fares and fees change with fuel prices, season and local union rates. Check current rates before you travel.

Money-saving tip

Go in a group of four to six: the guide fee and the Land Rover are charged per group or per vehicle, so sharing can cut your cost per head by more than half.

Where to stay

Sleeping in Sandakphu

Sleep in Darjeeling the night before, then use the lodges along the ridge. At Sandakphu there are GTA trekkers' huts and several private lodges with dormitory beds and simple rooms; expect shared toilets, limited hot water and dal-bhat dinners. On the way up, Tumling, Kalipokhri and Gairibas have family-run lodges, and Tumling is the most comfortable first-night stop. Rooms are basic everywhere, and bedding is heavy quilts rather than heated rooms. Your guide normally books lodges as you go; in October and the Puja holidays, ask him to reserve a day ahead.

Tour packages

Packages that stop in Sandakphu

Nº 38383 · Darjeeling4N / 5D Sandakphu by Land Rover in 4 nights Darjeeling → Sandakphu → Darjeeling Budget fare from
per person, twin₹11,500

Nº 92033 · Darjeeling7N / 8D Sandakphu and Phalut Singalila trek in 7 nights Darjeeling → Sandakphu Budget fare from
per person, twin₹17,500

On the map

Drawn by Darjeeling Tour Plan from Natural Earth outlines (public domain). Borders as depicted by India. Not for navigation.

Next stations

Near Sandakphu

All of Darjeeling

Darjeeling2,042 m

Tea, toy trains and Kangchenjunga from the Mall

Hill town · best Mar – May · Oct – Dec · 2–4 nights

Ghum2,258 m

India's highest railway station, Batasia Loop and an old monastery

Monastery town · best Mar – May · Oct – Dec · 0–1 nights

Lepchajagat

Lepchajagat2,100 m

A pine-forest hamlet past Ghum, quieter than Darjeeling

Village · best Mar – May · Oct – Dec · 1–2 nights

Mirik1,495 m

A lake, a monastery and orange orchards near the Nepal border

Lake · best Mar – Apr · Oct – Dec · 1 nights

Questions people ask

Sandakphu: questions answered

What is the best time to visit Sandakphu

Mid-October to late November is best for clear views of Everest and Kangchenjunga. March to April brings rhododendrons, with hazier skies. December to February is very cold, with snow that can stop vehicles and close trails. The park usually closes from mid-June to mid-September for the monsoon. Check current status before you travel.

How high is Sandakphu

Sandakphu stands at 3,636 m, the highest point in West Bengal, on the Singalila Ridge along the India–Nepal border. Manebhanjan, where the trek and the Land Rover ride begin, is at about 2,134 m, so you gain around 1,500 m. Spend a night in Darjeeling first and climb slowly if you are walking.

Is Sandakphu safe in April

Yes, April is a normal trekking month and the rhododendrons are usually in bloom. Expect afternoon cloud, occasional hail or thunderstorms and cold nights, so start walking early and carry rain gear. Snow is rare by April but not impossible near the top. The trail is well used and your mandatory guide knows the route.

How much does a Sandakphu trip cost

A self-organised trek of five to six days from Darjeeling costs about ₹9,000–16,000 per person, indicative 2026, covering guide share, park fees, lodges and meals. A two-day Land Rover trip in a full vehicle is cheaper on time and costs roughly ₹4,000–7,000 each. Packaged treks from Siliguri cost more but include transfers.

Do foreigners need a permit for Sandakphu

Foreigners can trek to Sandakphu but must carry their passport and visa, which are checked at Manebhanjan and at checkposts along the border. They pay a higher park entry fee and, like everyone, must hire a licensed guide. The route crosses into Nepal in places. Rules can change, so check current status before you travel.

Is there mobile network at Sandakphu

Signal is patchy. Some Indian networks work intermittently at Sandakphu and Tumling, and Nepali networks sometimes pick up near the border, but do not count on calls or data. Tell family your plan before you leave Manebhanjan. Lodges have limited electricity, often solar, so carry a power bank and charge it in Darjeeling.

Does it snow at Sandakphu

Yes. Snow usually falls between December and February and sometimes in March. The ridge can look beautiful, but snow can block the Land Rover track and make trails icy, and temperatures drop far below freezing at night. If you want snow, go in January with a flexible plan and good gear, and check current status before you travel.

Where do you stay at Sandakphu

There are GTA trekkers' huts and a handful of private lodges with dormitory beds and simple rooms, from about ₹500 to ₹1,500 per person, indicative 2026. Toilets are usually shared, hot water is limited and meals are dal-bhat, noodles and eggs. Your guide normally books beds. In October and the Puja holidays, reserve a day ahead.

Can children go to Sandakphu

Children who are used to walking can do the trek, and families often ride up by Land Rover instead. The main concern is altitude: 3,636 m can give headaches and poor sleep, and children may not explain how they feel. Climb slowly, keep them warm and well fed, and descend if symptoms get worse. Ask your doctor first for very young children.