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Sandakphu
View from Sandakphu in Darjeeling West Bengal
Highest point
Elevation	3,636 m (11,929 ft)
Prominence	356 m (1,168 ft)
Listing	List of Indian states and territories by highest point
Coordinates	27°6′21″N 88°0′6″E / 27.10583°N 88.00167°E / 27.10583; 88.00167
Geography
SandakphuLocation of Sandakphu peak
8km 5milesSIK K IMNEP A L Rammam River River Rangeet Singalila Ridge Senchal Wildlife SanctuaryP T Tiger HillH E E Singalila National ParkP PhalutH SandakphuH GhumN R R R R R R R R E R R DarjeelingM E C C C  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.Location of Sandakphu peak
Location	Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India; Ilam District, Koshi Province, Nepal
Parent range	Singalila Ridge
Topo map	Google topographic map
Climbing
Easiest route	Hiking or by car

Sandakphu or Sandakpur at 3,636 m (11,929 ft) 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 (2600 m): This is a 4-hour trek through the lower forest. The route goes via Chitre.
• Meghma to Gairibans (2621 m): There are two alternative trekking routes. They respectively go via Tonglu (3070 m) and Tumling (2900 m). From Tumling, a shorter trail cuts through Nepal and Jaubari (2750 m). Jaubari is ward no 07 of jamuna VDC ilam.
• Gairibans to Sandakphu (3636 m):
• Sandakphu to Phalut (3600 m): It is a one-day trek via Sabarkum (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 (2300 m), and from there to Rimbick.

Panorama of Peaks seen from Sandakphu and Phalut

Baruntse (7220m), Chamlang (7319m), Chomo Lonzo (7818m), Lhotse (8516m), Makalu (8462m), Mount Everest (8848m), Nuptse (7861m), Kanchenjunga (8586m), Talung (7349m), Rathong (6679m), Kabru N (7353m), Koktang (6147m), Simvo (6812m), Frey (5853m), Kabru S (7318m), Kabru Dome (6600m), Kabru Forked (6100m), Pandim (6691m), Tenchenkhang (6010m), Jupono (5650m)

Villages At Glance: Gorkhey, Bhareng, Gairibas, Meghma, Maneybhanjyang, Rammam, Srikhola, Sepi, Molley, Gurdum

Nepal

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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. On this trekking route, Jamuna is most valuable for trekkers. There are many beautiful places like Dhap Pokhari, Choyatar (special area for red pandas). There is a three jungle Hile Samudayik Ban, Choyatar Samudayik Ban, Hangetham Samudayik Ban.

Gallery

• Sunrise on Mt. Kanchendzonga from Aahl near Sandakphu or Sandakpur
• Singalila Range and Kanchenjungha seen from Sandakpur
• A panoramic view of Sandakpur.
• Domestic yak (Bos grunniens)
• View of Sandakphu from above
• Sandakphu: shrub-clad rocky ridge with toxic, pink-flowered Rhododendron species - for which it was (in part) named

References

1. ^ "Sandakphu, India". Retrieved 21 December 2024.
2. Sandakphu Top - Wikimapia
3. Google topographic map
4. 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.
5. "Aconitum Ferox Monkshood Strongest Poisonous Plant". Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
6. , Sandakphu, Trek to Sandakphu, 1 August 2015 Archived 21 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine
7. ^ "SANDAKPHU PHALUT TREK".

External links

• Mt Everest and Lhotse as seen from Sandakphu
• Your complete guide to Sandhakphu trek https://www.ourguest.in/stories/your-complete-guide-to-sandakphu-trek

• In the Land of Sleeping Buddha - A Guide to Sandakphu Trek
• Land of the Land Rovers - Community fleet of 57 Series I in daily use from Maneybhanjang to the Sandakphu summit
• 20 Stunning Photos of Sandakphu
• Sandakphu Trek
• All About Sandakphu Trek: Where the Sky Meets the Earth

v t e Cities, towns and locations in Darjeeling District
Cities, municipal and census towns	Darjeeling Sadar subdivision Badamtam Tea Garden Chongtong Tea Garden Darjeeling Ging Tea Garden Mangarjung Tea Garden (Nagri) Rongmook Ceder Tea Garden Singtam Tea Garden Sonada Sukhiapokhri Kurseong subdivision Cart Road Kurseong Mirik subdivision Mirik Siliguri subdivision Bara Mohansingh Bairatisal Bhimram Dakshin Bagdogra Dumriguri Geni Jitu Kalkut Kharibari Lalman Mathapari Shyamdhan Siliguri Tari Uttar Bagdogra
Locations other than cities and towns	Darjeeling Sadar subdivision Bijanbari Chamong Tea Garden Dhajea Tea Garden Ghum Jorebungalow Lebong & Mineral Spring Tea Garden Lodhoma Manebhanjyang Mariabong Tea Garden Nagri Farm Tea Garden Orange Valley Tea Garden Peshok Tea Garden Pokhriabong Poobong Tea Garden Pattabong Tea Garden Rangli Rangliot Rimbick Rishihat Tea Garden Sandakphu Singla Tea Garden Soom Tea Garden Sungma Tea Garden Takdah Teesta Valley Tea Garden Tonglu Tumsong Tea Garden Tukvar Tea Garden Kurseong subdivision Ambootia Giddapahar Gayabari Longview Tea Garden Mangpu Monteviot Tea Garden Rohini Tea Garden Simulbari Tea Garden Sittong Sukna Tindharia Mirik subdivision Panighatta Singbulli Tea Garden Soureni Siliguri subdivision Bagdogra Batasi Bengdubi Matigarahat Mohorgon Tea Garden Naxalbari Panitanki Phansidewa
Tea estates	Arya Tea Estate Avongrove Tea Estate Badamtam Tea Estate Balasun Tea Estate Castleton Tea Estate Glenburn Tea Estate Gopaldhara Tea Estate Goomtee Tea Estate Happy Valley Tea Estate Jungpana Tea Estate Lopchu Tea Estate Makaibari Tea Estate Margaret's Hope Tea Estate North Tukvar Tea Estate Okayti Tea Estate Phoobsering Tea Estate Phuguri Tea Estate Pussimbing Tea Estate Puttabong Tea Estate Thurbo Tea Estate
See also	Darjeeling related topics Bagdogra Airport People from Darjeeling district Villages in Darjeeling district
India portal

• 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