Introduction:
Sandakphu Trek is the highest point of West Bengal at an altitude of 3636 metre. The Sandakphu Trek is an easy moderate trek and rated as among of the easiest treks throughout the year. The Sandakphu trek is a winter trek and also it has many serious and unexpected challenges in it. During the winter season nearly in the month of February one can experience snowfall in the Sandakphu trek. In 2020 the Sandakphu trek received the highest snowfall in 10 years. Sandakphu trek begins from Sandakphu village which comes in West Bengal or Indo-Nepal Border. This place is famous for Sandakphu trek and beautiful land rover safari. One can trek to Sandakphu from Manebhanjan and the total distance is about 32 kms. At Sandakphu the weather remains extremely clear and one can watch breathtaking views of Kanchenjunga from its base with snow covering all its sister peaks and also Mt Everest farther away whose view can easily make anyone speechless. The Sandakphu trek is a very different magical place. Motor cars are hardly visible on the Sandakphu trek. Land Rovers are still very pervasive in the entire hill district though being quickly replaced by the Mahindra Commander Jeeps. Borders are not clearly demarcated on the trek route all time and so the locals are largely confused as to which side of the border they are based. Another information is that locals in Meghma actually claim that this part is Nepal but it’s actually not. This problem arises due to the non-existence of the border guards. Even the presence of the SSB is increasing day by day since at one time there were none. One can experience the sweet smell of the clean air and sweet smells of the big pine trees with the grand clear view of the mighty mountain Kanchenjunga.
You Can also visit Dayara Bugyal Trek and it is one of the most beautiful places to visit and the valleys are also nice, the Most popular place in India.
Mt Kanchenjunga is known as the sleeping buddha mountain:
The name Kanchenjunga is divided as “kan”, which means head, “chen”, which means belly and ” Jhunga”, which means knee. So if anyone visits the top of the Sandakphu trek they can see the clear view of Mt. Kanchenjunga which would seem like Lord Buddha is sleeping. The Sandakphu trek is a very different magical place. Motor cars are hardly visible on the Sandakphu trek. Land Rovers are still very pervasive in the entire hill district though being quickly replaced by the Mahindra Commander Jeeps. Borders are not clearly demarcated on the trek route all time and so the locals are largely confused as to which side of the border they are based.
Detail guide of trekking to the Land of Sleeping Buddha:
The total distance between Mirik to Sandakphu is 70 km and it would take 2 to 3 hours of travelling. Before reaching Sandakphu from Mirik you have to change the car in Manebhanjyang which is 26 km from Mirik and would take approximately 1 hour. From Manebhanjyang you can hire a Land Rover to reach Sandakphu. Then from the route of Pashupati market you have to go further.
Mount Kanchenjunga is known as the sleeping Buddha mountain
Once you reach Simana village there is the famous Simana viewpoint whose view is just amazing with beautiful pine trees and snow capped mountains between the clouds. There is a market in Simana viewpoint which is completely situated upon graveyards. Between India and Nepal the Manebhanjan which is situated in India-Nepal Border has two specifications which are the first one it represents the friendly relationship between the two countries India and Nepal because without any major formality check post you can cross the border by showing your Id card and go to Nepal and the second one is the most famous pride for which Manebhanjan is known as the Land of Land Rovers and you can see numerous Land Rovers there by which you can adventure Sandakphu from Manebhanjan.
Conclusion
The most interesting part is that in Land Rover series two and three 1954 to 1959 in the whole world is left only 120 and from them 37 Land Rovers are from Manebhanjan. The rates of the Land Rovers are quite high but it is worth it. From Manebhanjan to Sandakphu the charge is 4500 up and down and 1500 you have to give to the driver for the night charge. The terrain or the trek trail is marvellous and the trek begins through a base village. The rocks are scattered everywhere and there are green grasslands all over and in winter it feels like a snowy desert.