If I ever fall through a magical rabbit hole into a fantasy world, I would want to fall into a place called Sandakphu. This place is a wonderland for trekkers as it offers the most surreal views taking ones breath away just as Alice does when she discovers 'wonderland'. Though the major part of the mountain is in Nepal, the peak at an altitude of 11,929ft falls in Darjeeling district, West Bengal, making it the highest peak in this region. In case one is wondering why trekkers from all over the world are fanatic about this place, the answer lies in the fact that one can witness four of the five highest peaks in the world including Mt. Everest, Makalu, Lhotse, and a pristine view of the entire Kanchanjunga range throughout the trek.
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| Kanchanjunga range just as you start trekking |
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| Me trying to get creative |
The moment I reached Darjeeling, the base camp, I was taken aback by the surrounding. A sight filled with foggy weather and snow capped mountains all around. Coming out of the railway station, I see the most majestic mountain yet, shaped like a person who has just gone to rest; the locals aptly calling the mountain as the "Sleeping Buddha". I took a deep breath while finding myself at peace looking at the snow capped sleeping Buddha only to realize that this is just the beginning of what there is to follow. Right from the base camp to the peak, the view of Kanchanjunga keeps getting better with every step taken. Along with it, as we keep going higher, the sunrise and the sunset views keep taking our breath away. To me, watching a sunrise brings hope for the new day and watching a sunset brings peace into the long night. One will be surprised to find what a sunrise/sunset can do to oneself both mentally and physically. With it, the colours of the mountains keep changing too. It is a sight to behold.
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| The colours of kanchanjunga at different times of the day |
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| Sunset |
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| Sunrise |
The trek comparatively is an easy one by Himalayan standards and ideal for people trekking the Himalayas for the first time. The trek can be done without the help of a guide as well. The trekking path and the gravel road merge at several places and become common for both trekkers and vehicles. However the trek route passes through forested areas for several parts where it could be at times boulder pathway, natural muddy pathway, or even long concrete stairways through the mountains offering short cuts.
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| Ice - Just before the snowing season |
The camping sites are all homestays with proper washrooms, cooked meals, beds and blankets; I would call them a luxury while trekking.
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| Sunset |
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| We could see the dew drops freezing |
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| Sunrise |
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| A river/water stream flowing in between |
Good article. Next time, Try and describe more. It can be chronological in order, as it was till the end of the trek with a takeaway. The length of the article can be increased and the photographs can be used to describe other incidents(as you already have).
ReplyDeleteInitially the plan was that, but for my previous post people said that it was too long and way too detailed. So tried to summarize it this time. Maybe I overdid that. Will try to keep a balance the next time. Thank you. :)
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