Sandakphu
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Indian English Template:Advert Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox mountain
Sandakphu or Sandakpur at Template:Cvt[1] 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).[2][3]
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 Template:Cvt (approx. 1 hour by road) from Darjeeling.[4]
Ascent
The Sandakphu trekking routes inside the Singalila National Park have four legs or stages.
- Manebhanjan to Meghma – height Template:Cvt: This is a 4-hour trek through the lower forest. The route goes via Chitre.
- Meghma to Gairibans – height Template:Cvt: There are two alternative trekking routes. They respectively go via Tonglu – height Template:Cvt and Tumling – height Template:Cvt. From Tumling, a shorter trail cuts through Nepal and Jaubari – height Template:Cvt. Jaubari is ward no 07 of jamuna VDC ilam.
- Gairibans to Sandakphu – height Template:Cvt
- Sandakphu to Phalut – height Template:Cvt: It is a one-day trek via Sabarkum – height Template:Cvt covering Template:Cvt.
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 Template:Cvt, and from there to Rimbick.
Panorama of Peaks seen from Sandakphu and Phalut[5]
Baruntse – height Template:Cvt, Chamlang – height Template:Cvt, Chomo Lonzo – height Template:Cvt, Lhotse – height Template:Cvt, Makalu – height Template:Cvt, Mount Everest – height Template:Cvt, Nuptse – height Template:Cvt, Kanchenjunga – height Template:Cvt, Talung – height Template:Cvt, Rathong – height Template:Cvt, Kabru N – height Template:Cvt, Koktang – height Template:Cvt, Simvo – height Template:Cvt, Frey – height Template:Cvt, Kabru S – height Template:Cvt, Kabru Dome – height Template:Cvt, Kabru Forked – height Template:Cvt, Pandim – height Template:Cvt, Tenchenkhang – height Template:Cvt, Jupono – height Template:Cvt
Villages At Glance: Gorkhey, Bhareng, Gairibas, Meghma, Maneybhanjyang, Rammam, Srikhola, Sepi, Molley, Gurdum. [5]
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.[6]
Gallery
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Sunrise on Mt. Kanchendzonga from Aahl near Sandakphu or Sandakpur
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Singalila Range and Kanchenjungha seen from Sandakpur
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A panoramic view of Sandakpur.
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Domestic yak (Bos grunniens) near Sandakpur
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View of Sandakphu from above
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Sandakphu: shrub-clad rocky ridge with toxic, pink-flowered rhododendron species - for which it was (in part) named
References
External links
- Mt Everest and Lhotse as seen from Sandakphu
- 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
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- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedPB - ↑ 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.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ , Sandakphu, Trek to Sandakphu, 1 August 2015 Template:Webarchive
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".