Perched at an elevation of 2,045 meters on the Lesser Himalaya, Darjeeling, which is one of the popular hill stations in India in North Bengal, is frequented by thousands of tourists and adventurers all throughout the year. The majestic view of the Kanchenjunga range at dawn from Tiger Hill and the sprawling valley bedded with a rich verdure captured from the Mall Road simply grabs the attention of every traveller. Nonetheless, the fresh aroma emanating from the vast tea garden that rolls down the hill simply makes the day inspiring and rejuvenating.
Darjeeling is also a popular hub for trekkers as the hill station is the base to the popular Sandakphu – Phalut Trek. The journey traverses through the rich verdure of the Singalila range and cuts through the thick forest of rhododendron and pine trees en route to several tribal villages tucked in the mountains. It also allows you to get acquainted with the wilderness of the Singalila National Park after crossing Tonglu, which is at an elevation of 3,070 meters.
The trek to Sandakphu – Phalut commences from Maneybhanjang, which is at 2,134 meters, and thereafter it leads to Garibas at 2,620 meters via Tonglu and turns to Sandakphu at 3,640 meters. From Sandakphu to Phalut, it’s a gentle walk and one can catch the panoramic view of the Himalayan range from Mount Everest to Kanchenjunga. The trek downhill leads to Rimbik via Raman and thereafter wheels to Pelling in Sikkim. Pelling is approximately 111 kilometers by road. From Pelling, the Darjeeling and Sikkim trekking tour routes to the Pemayangtse monastery, which is nestling at an elevation of 2,800 meters, and thence the tour leads to Yuksom that is approximately 40 kilometers from Pelling. Yuksom is the erstwhile capital of Sikkim and is the base point of the popular Dzongri – Goecha la trek in Sikkim. From Yuksom one can pay a visit to the Tashiding Monastery and thereafter steer to Martam. The journey leads off at Gangtok via Rumtek Monastery.
