SANDAKPHU, THE SOUL OF THE HIMALAYAS
Imagine standing in one spot and seeing a panorama of the world’s five highest peaks!
Most famously, you witness the entire Kanchenjunga range arranged into the breathtaking silhouette of the “Sleeping Buddha,” a formation so immense and serene it feels like a divine presence watching over the Himalayas.
The vast, clear, star-studded night sky and the dazzling, multi-peaked dawn are moments when the sky feels so close that you realize a paradise like this truly exists.
Sandakphu is renowned for its flora, especially the rhododendrons and magnolias that burst into a spectacular riot of color during spring (April-May). The forests transform into a fairy-tale landscape, carpeted in deep reds, vibrant pinks, and pure whites, often featuring rare and unique varieties. You walk through one of the most biodiverse floral regions in the Eastern Himalayas.
A must-try is Tongba, a warm, slightly alcoholic beverage made from fermented millet seeds, served in a special bamboo mug (also called a Tongba) and sipped through a bamboo straw. As you drink, you keep refilling the mug with hot water until the millet loses its potency — a warming, communal ritual perfect for the cold mountain air.
The trail meanders through small, charming settlements like Tumling, Kalipokhri, and Phalut, often situated right on the Indo-Nepal border. Here, life is slow, simple, and intertwined with nature.
Sandakphu calls you to witness the monumental scale of the planet and rediscover the profound peace found in simplicity, making it not just a trek, but a journey for the soul.
Sandakphu is the highest point in West Bengal, but its true magic lies not just in its height, but in the view it grants you.