A trek to Sandakphu 🌄

        

 Sandakphu Phalut Trek is one of the few treks on earth from where you can see 8,000 meter peaks. Standing at an altitude of 11,950 feet on Sandakphu, on your left you can see the Everest cluster.

Sandakphu-Phalut is one of the most beautiful treks in the eastern Himalayas. Be prepared to witness the grandeur of the world’s top five highest peaks. The trek route is not so difficult since most of the time you will be walking on motor-able roads.

Very few spots in the world can give you views of eight thousander peaks like this. Even fewer of them would be accessible via a moderate trek. 

In terms of altitude you are likely to face minimal problems since the maximum height is within 12000 ft. So the chances and possibility of any altitude related problems are extremely less (although keep some medicines in case of emergency).

In terms of elevation of the trek route, occasionally there will be patches which are steep, otherwise it is a gentle ascend and level walks.The thing that can elevate the difficulty level is rain.So be prepared for it.

Other than these, there is nothing to really worry for in this route.Enjoy the sceenic view and the magnificent Himalayas.

The trek to Sandakphu starts from a place called Manebhanjang,a small township located at an altitude of 7,054 ft (2,150m).

Hustle and bustle in Manebhanjang 

Now, moving to my 'favourites' of the trip :

Sunrise from Sandakphu

After having trekked for hours which leaves you exhausted, the first sunrise from Sandakphu makes it all worth it.It is a sunrise like you've never seen before.

It makes you feel a sense of accomplishment and makes you look forward to another 21 kms to Phalut.

Sunrise from Sandakphu 

Tumling

The actual trek is a very long ridge walk, spread over many camps. So, from Tumling you can actually see all the way to Phalut. All along this ridge you are at a high spot so the mountain views are unobstructed.

But more than that there is always a bank of clouds below you on either side. The sun rises and sets on these banks of clouds. I think it is one of the most spectacular moments you will see on any trek, leave alone Sandakphu.

And when you arrive at Tumling, you get your first unobstructed view of Sleeping Buddha. It also gets closer and bigger each day. 

Tumling at 2,970m

Chitrey

Chittrey, on the first day of trekking, is the first spot where you’ll see pillars marking the India-Nepal border.  There is also a very old monastry which attracts a lot of tourists every year.

The constant merging of the Indo-Nepal border

The Sandakphu trek offers the unique experience of going in and out of the Indo-Nepal border. You will have your lunch in Nepal and your dinner in India.

Monastry at Chitrey

And Ofcourse, the views!

Sandakphu is a trek that gifts you with long distance views. Not only do you see the far away Everest cluster, you also see the next four days of your trek stretched out before you. Such long distance views also make the sunset view absolutely stunning.

In the trek you will get an unbelievable experience of the clouds being below you and the sun setting below you.

Phalut

Phalut is another 21km trek from Sandakphu.The trek is enjoyable with beautiful scenery and only the last few kilometers being steep.

Phalut at 3,595m

The tea houses

The tea house experience is unique. One of the most beautiful things about this trip.It is lovely to see the culture enveloping you in these tea houses.

A small teashop in Kalpokhari

And lastly, ''the people''

The people are the kindest and the most hardworking. They will help you in every way possible to make sure you have a good trip.

            Sandakphu trek was one of the best trips i have been to.It made me push my limitations and boundaries.I never thought that i would be able to go on a ''trek'' because it requires a lot of walking but now i can happily say that I cannot wait to go on another one.

 

Cute puppies soaking the sun

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