7 Things to Do in Sandakphu, the Highest Point in West Bengal

Sandakphu sits at 3,636 metres above sea level on the Singalila Ridge, straddling the India-Nepal border area southwest of Darjeeling, and holds the distinction of being the highest point in West Bengal. It's reached almost entirely on foot or by rugged jeep track, since no road built for ordinary vehicles goes all the way up, and the trek has long been popular with Bengali and international hikers for one specific reason: on a clear day, the ridge lines up a run of Himalayan peaks, including Kanchenjunga, that together form a silhouette locals call the Sleeping Buddha.

1. Make the Manebhanjan to Sandakphu trek

Most visitors start from Manebhanjan, a small town accessible by road from Darjeeling, and trek roughly 30 kilometres up through Tumling, Kalapokhri and Garibas before reaching Sandakphu itself, typically spread over two to three days.

2. Ride the vintage Land Rovers

For those short on time or unable to trek, a fleet of well-worn, decades-old Land Rovers still ferries passengers up the same rough track, a slower and considerably bumpier alternative that has become something of an attraction in its own right.

3. Watch sunrise over the Sleeping Buddha

The signature reason to make the climb: at dawn on a clear day, the ridge of peaks running from Kanchenjunga toward Everest catches the first light in a sequence that, from this specific angle, resembles a reclining figure.

View on Google Maps →

4. Look for a four-peak skyline

On exceptionally clear days, Sandakphu is reportedly one of the few places on earth offering a view of four of the world's five highest peaks at once, Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu, though haze and cloud cover mean this full line-up is far from guaranteed on any given visit.

5. Continue on to Phalut

Experienced trekkers often extend the route further along the Singalila Ridge to Phalut, at roughly 3,600 metres nearly as high as Sandakphu itself, for an even wider, less crowded Himalayan panorama.

6. Walk through Singalila National Park's forest

The trekking route runs through Singalila National Park, home to red pandas and a belt of rhododendron and magnolia forest that turns the trail a vivid red and pink through spring, generally around April.

7. Overnight in a trekkers' hut or village homestay

Basic trekkers' huts and small village homestays along the route, including at Tumling and Sandakphu itself, are the only accommodation options, part of what keeps the trek feeling remote despite its popularity.

Traveller tips

• Bagdogra is the nearest major airport, followed by a road journey to Darjeeling and on to Manebhanjan.
• October to December and April to May offer the clearest Himalayan views; the June-to-September monsoon brings heavy cloud cover and leeches to the trail.
• Nights at altitude get cold even in spring and autumn; warm layers are necessary regardless of season.
• A permit is required to enter Singalila National Park, arranged either through a local trekking agency or at the Manebhanjan checkpoint.