Sandakphu
Mountain and highest point in West Bengal
title: "Sandakphu" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["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"] description: "Mountain and highest point in West Bengal" topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandakphu" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Mountain and highest point in West Bengal ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox mountain"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Sandakphu |
| photo | Sandakphu.jpg |
| photo_caption | View from Sandakphu in Darjeeling West Bengal |
| map | India West Bengal |
| map_caption | Location of Sandakphu peak |
| map_image | {{OSM Location map |
| width | 280 |
| coord | |
| C: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, N: neighbourhood, H: hill centre, P: national park/ wildlife sanctuary, T: tourist attraction | |
| Abbreviations used in names – G for Tea Garden (town/village), E for Tea Estate | |
| Mouse over shows names of tea estates. Owing to space constraints in the small map, the locations in the larger map on click through may vary slightly. | |
| mark-sizeD | 18,14 |
| shapeD | l-circle |
| label-colorD | #800000 |
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| location | Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India; |
| Ilam District, Koshi Province, Nepal | |
| coordinates | |
| elevation_m | 3636 |
| elevation_ref | |
| prominence_m | 356 |
| prominence_ref | |
| listing | List of Indian states and territories by highest point |
| range | Singalila Ridge |
| topo | Google topographic map |
| coordinates_ref | |
| easiest_route | Hiking or by car |
| map_size | 300 |
| :: |
| name = Sandakphu | photo = Sandakphu.jpg | photo_caption = View from Sandakphu in Darjeeling West Bengal | map = India West Bengal | map_caption = Location of Sandakphu peak | map_image= {{OSM Location map | width=280| height=260| zoom=10 | coord=| float=center|caption=Places and tea estates in the north-western portion of Darjeeling Sadar subdivision (including Darjeeling Pulbazar CD block) in Darjeeling district. Key: C: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, N: neighbourhood, H: hill centre, P: national park/ wildlife sanctuary, T: tourist attraction Abbreviations used in names – G for Tea Garden (town/village), E for Tea Estate Mouse over shows names of tea estates. Owing to space constraints in the small map, the locations in the larger map on click through may vary slightly. |mark-sizeD=18,14 |shapeD=l-circle|shape-colorD= #A40000|shape-outlineD=white |label-colorD= #800000 |label-sizeD=11 |mark-coord1=| label-pos1=left|label1= | numbered1=C| mark-title1= Chongtong Tea Garden (census town)|label-offset-x1=2 |mark-coord2=| label-pos2=left|label2=| numbered2=C| mark-title2= Ging Tea Garden (census town) |mark-coord3=| label-pos3=left|label3=| numbered3=C| mark-title3= Singtam Tea Garden (census town) |mark-coord4=| label-pos4= right|label4=| numbered4=E| mark-title4= Badamtam Tea Estate (TE)| shape-color4=#87A96B |mark-coord5=| label-pos5=right |label5=Darjeeling| numbered5=M| mark-title5= Darjeeling (M)| shape-color5=#800000 |mark-coord6=| label-pos6=left|label6=| numbered6=R| mark-title6= Bijanbari (R)| shape-color6=#C42222 |mark-coord7=| label-pos7=bottom|label7=| numbered7=R| mark-title7= Lodhoma (R)| shape-color7=#C42222 |mark-coord8=| label-pos8= right |label8= | numbered8=E| mark-title8= Puttabong Tea Estate (TE)| shape-color8=#87A96B |mark-coord9=| label-pos9=left|label9=| numbered9=R| mark-title9= Rimbick (R)| shape-color9=#C42222 |mark-coord10=| label-pos10=right|label10=| numbered10=R| mark-title10= Tukvar Tea Garden (R)| shape-color10=#C42222 |mark-coord11=| label-pos11=left|label11=| numbered11=R| mark-title11= Singla Tea Garden (R)| shape-color11=#C42222 |mark-coord12=| label-pos12=left|label12=| numbered12=R| mark-title12= Soom Tea Garden (R)| shape-color12=#C42222 |mark-coord13=| label-pos13=left|label13=| numbered13=R| mark-title13= Rishihat Tea Garden (R)| shape-color13=#C42222 |mark-coord14=| label-pos14=left|label14=| numbered14=R| mark-title14= Orange Valley Tea Garden (R)| shape-color14=#C42222 |mark-coord15=| label-pos15=bottom|label15=| numbered15=R| mark-title15= Manebhanjyang, Darjeeling (R)| shape-color15=#C42222 |mark-coord16=| label-pos16=top|label16=| numbered16=R| mark-title16= Tonglu, West Bengal (R)| shape-color16=#C42222 |mark-coord17=| label-pos17=right|label17=Ghum| numbered17=N| mark-title17= Ghum, West Bengal (N)| shape-color17=#E97451 |mark-coord18=| label-pos18=right|label18=Sandakphu| numbered18=H| mark-title18= Sandakphu (H)|shape18=triangle|shape-color18=black|mark-size18=22,14|label-size18=12|label-color18=black |ldx18=-5 |mark-coord19=| label-pos19=right|dlx19=3|label19=Phalut| numbered19=H|shape19=triangle| mark-title19= Phalut (H)| shape-color19=#87410E |mark-coord20=| label-pos20=bottom|label20=Singalila^National^Park| numbered20=P| mark-title20= Singalila National Park (NP)| shape-color20=#228B22|ldx20=6 |mark-coord21=| label-pos21=left|label21=| numbered21=E| mark-title21= North Tukvar Tea Estate (TE)| shape-color21=#87A96B |mark-coord22=| label-pos22=right|label22=| numbered22=E| mark-title22= Phoobsering Tea Estate (TE)| shape-color22=#87A96B |mark-coord23=| label-pos23=right|label23=Tiger Hill| numbered23=H| mark-title23= Tiger Hill, Darjeeling (H)| shape-color23=#87410E|shape23=triangle |mark-coord24=| label-pos24=left|label24=| numbered24=T| mark-title24= Rock Garden, Darjeeling (T)| shape-color24=#228B22 |mark-coord25=| label-pos25=bottom|label25=Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary| numbered25=P| mark-title25= Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary (NP)| shape-color25=#228B22|ldy25=-3 |mark-coord26=|label26=Singalila Ridge| label-angle26=-70| label-pos26=top| label-size26=10| mark-size26=0| mark-title26 =none |mark-coord27=|label27=Rangeet| label-color27 = #77A1CB| label-angle27=70| label-pos27=top| label-size27=10| mark-size27=0| mark-title27 =none |mark-coord28=|label28= River| label-color28 = #77A1CB| label-angle28=7| label-pos28=top| label-size28=10| mark-size28=0| mark-title28 =none |mark-coord29=|label29= Rammam|labela29=River| label-color29 = #77A1CB| label-angle29=15| label-pos29=top| label-size29=10| mark-size29=0| mark-title329 =none |arc-coordA=|arc-textA= SIKKIM| arc-text-colorA=hard grey| arc-angleA=-161| arc-gapA=-2| arc-radiusA=0.7 |arc-coordB=|arc-textB= NEPAL| arc-text-colorB=hard grey| arc-angleB=40| arc-gapB=3.5| arc-radiusB=0.4 | location = Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India; Ilam District, Koshi Province, Nepal | coordinates = | elevation_m = 3636 | elevation_ref = | prominence_m = 356 | prominence_ref = | listing = List of Indian states and territories by highest point | range = Singalila Ridge | topo = Google topographic map | range_coordinates = | coordinates_ref = | easiest_route = Hiking or by car |other_name = | map_size = 300 ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Panorama_of_the_Kanchenjunga.jpg" caption="The Sleeping Buddha" alt="Panorama of the Kanchenjunga"] ::
Sandakphu or Sandakpur at 3636 m is a mountain peak in the Singalila Ridge on the border between India and Nepal. It is the highest point of the ridge and of the state of West Bengal, 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, Lhotse 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 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 Himalayas, 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. Treks begin at Manebhanjan which is 28 km (approx. 1 hour by road) from Darjeeling.
Ascent
The Sandakphu trekking routes inside the Singalila National Park have four legs or stages.
- Manebhanjan to Meghma – height 2600 m: This is a 4-hour trek through the lower forest. The route goes via Chitre.
- Meghma to Gairibans – height 2621 m: There are two alternative trekking routes. They respectively go via Tonglu – height 3070 m and Tumling – height 2900 m. From Tumling, a shorter trail cuts through Nepal and Jaubari – height 2750 m. Jaubari is ward no 07 of jamuna VDC ilam.
- Gairibans to Sandakphu – height 3636 m
- Sandakphu to Phalut – height 3600 m: It is a one-day trek via Sabarkum – height 3536 m covering 21 km.
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 2300 m, and from there to Rimbick.
Panorama of Peaks seen from Sandakphu and Phalut
Baruntse – height 7220 m, Chamlang – height 7319 m, Chomo Lonzo – height 7818 m, Lhotse – height 8516 m, Makalu – height 8462 m, Mount Everest – height 8848 m, Nuptse – height 7861 m, Kanchenjunga – height 8586 m, Talung – height 7349 m, Rathong – height 6679 m, Kabru N – height 7353 m, Koktang – height 6147 m, Simvo – height 6812 m, Frey – height 5853 m, Kabru S – height 7318 m, Kabru Dome – height 6600 m, Kabru Forked – height 6100 m, Pandim – height 6691 m, Tenchenkhang – height 6010 m, Jupono – height 5650 m
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 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 (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 rhododendron species - for which it was (in part) named
References
References
- "Sandakphu, India".
- [https://www.google.co.th/maps/place/Sandakphu/@27.106095,88.0023648,12z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x6aa1ea3e41bc17bb Google topographic map]
- [http://wikimapia.org/1272688/Sandakphu-Top Sandakphu Top - Wikimapia]
- Rai, Lalitkumar and Sharma, Eklabyar ''Medicinal Plants of the Sikkim Himalaya: Status, Uses and Potential'', pub. Govind Ballabh Pant Inst. Bishen Singh & Mahendra Pal Singh 1994 pps 25-7.
- "Aconitum Ferox Monkshood Strongest Poisonous Plant".
- [http://darjeeling.gov.in/treak.html/ , ''Sandakphu'', Trek to Sandakphu, 1 August 2015] {{webarchive. link. (21 August 2015)
- "SANDAKPHU PHALUT TREK".
- "Sandakphu Trek".
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