Things to do in Darjeeling — sunrise, the toy train, monasteries and tea
Things to do in Darjeeling: Tiger Hill at sunrise, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the Batasia Loop, monasteries, Chowrasta, the zoo and a tea estate.
ArticleVerified 2026-10-24
Sandakphu and the Singalila National Park — West Bengal's highest point and the trek along the ridge
Sandakphu at 3,636 m, West Bengal's highest point, with views of Everest, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu; the Singalila ridge trek, its seasons, red pandas.
Sandakphu is the high point of the Singalila Ridge, west of Darjeeling, and the summit of West Bengal. On a clear morning it shows four of the five highest mountains on earth at once. The way up is a trek through the Singalila National Park.
Photos: Alexkom000 (CC BY 4.0) · Nibeditajha (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
The view
At about 3,636 m, Sandakphu looks across to the Kanchenjunga range, close at hand, and further west to Everest, Lhotse and Makalu. Wikipedia counts these four among the five highest peaks in the world, all visible from the summit. Go for sunrise, and be ready for cloud by midday.
The Singalila National Park
The ridge lies inside the Singalila National Park, made a wildlife sanctuary in 1986 and a national park in 1992, between about 2,300 m and 4,000 m. Bamboo, oak, magnolia and rhododendron forest covers it between about 2,000 and 3,600 m. It is one of the homes of the red panda; Wikipedia counts about 42 in 2019 and records that the Central Zoo Authority's red panda project released zoo-bred pandas here.
The trek
Wikipedia says the trek starts at Manebhanjan, below Darjeeling, and follows the ridge to Sandakphu; many walkers continue to Phalut. We have no verified walking times, entry rules or fees, and we give no difficulty grade. Go with a registered local guide, and check with the park staff before you start.
When to go
Wikipedia names two bloom seasons: the rhododendrons flower in March and April, and the lower forests flower again around October, after the rains. Autumn is usually the clearest time for the high peaks. Winter is cold and can bring snow; the monsoon is wet and cloudy.
Plan the rest
Spend a few days in Darjeeling first: copy the three days in Darjeeling, and read the best time to visit and how to reach Darjeeling.
Places around Darjeeling
The Darjeeling guide →
St Andrew's Church, Darjeeling — the town's oldest church
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway — the toy train and its loops
Lloyd's Botanical Garden, Darjeeling — the Himalayan plants below the town
Chowrasta, Darjeeling — the town square on the Mall
Mahakal Temple, Darjeeling — the Shiva shrine on Observatory Hill
Peace Pagoda, Darjeeling — the white Japanese stupa on Jalapahar
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling — the school founded after Everest
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling — the high-altitude zoo
More stories to read
All stories →
Best time to visit Darjeeling — month by month, from the rain figures
The best time to visit Darjeeling, month by month from the IMD normals: clear autumn, a mild spring, a very wet monsoon, and a cold dry winter with frost.
Darjeeling tea gardens — how the tea began, the four flushes, and the estates you can see
Darjeeling tea gardens: first planted in 1841, the four flushes from March to November, Happy Valley (1854) near town and Makaibari (1852) near Kurseong.
Treks in Himachal by length and month — an hour's walk to a five-day crossing
Himachal treks by how long they take and which months they open: short walks, Triund in a day, Kheerganga overnight, Bhrigu, Beas Kund and Sar Pass.
Shillong to Dawki and Mawlynnong — distance, road times and a long day to the border hills
Shillong to Dawki is about 82 km and 144 minutes by road: the clear Umngot River, the 1932 bridge, Mawlynnong village on the way, and what we cannot verify.
Best time to visit Sonamarg — the short summer season
When to visit Sonamarg: summer for blooming meadows, trout rivers and the glacier, a winter cut off by snow and avalanches, and the weather figures given.
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Today on HimLocal
Been here?Help the next traveller — our team checks every contribution.
Questions people ask
How high is Sandakphu?
About 3,636 m, or 11,929 feet, by Wikipedia's figure, which makes it the highest point of the Singalila Ridge and of West Bengal. From the summit, on a clear day, you can see four of the world's five highest peaks: Everest, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu, with the Kanchenjunga range close at hand.
Where does the Sandakphu trek start?
At Manebhanjan, by Wikipedia's account, below Darjeeling. The trail climbs along the Singalila Ridge through the Singalila National Park to Sandakphu, and some walkers carry on to Phalut. We have no verified walking times, entry rules or fees; ask a registered local guide and the park staff before you set off.
When is the best time for Sandakphu?
Wikipedia names two bloom seasons for the Singalila National Park: the rhododendrons flower in March and April, and the lower forests flower again around October, after the rains. Autumn usually brings the clearest views of the high peaks. Winter is cold on the ridge, and the monsoon months are wet and cloudy.