|  Sandakphu
Situated at an elevation of 12100ft above
sea level, Sandakphu is the highest eminence of the Singalila
Range within Darjeeling district
of West Bengal. It is considered the best trekking destination
in the area. According to L. S. S. O' Malley, who made an extensive
survey of entire Darjeeling District in the late 19th century,
`The name Sandakphu means the hills of the poison plant, and
has been given to the peak, because deadly aconite plant grows
thickly along the slops for about 2,000 feet below the summit.`
 Sandakphu
commands the finest view of the Himalayas- a view which can
hardly be compared with any other places of the entire region.
In the foreground is a great basin set in the midst of the hills,
the slopes of which are covered by masses of rhododendron and
fragrant pine forests.
In the background is a continuous barrier
of snowy mountains the most prominent of which is Kanchanjangha
towering up in gigantic height and breadth. The other attending
peaks Karbu, Pundim, Janu, Sinialchu stand high with same prominence
and glory. Mount Karbu here does not present the same graceful
outline as when seen from Darjeeling. Janu rises far higher
above with its lofty peak standing up like a great icy horn.
 Far
off to the west, at an aerial distance of 160km from the observer,
the graceful peak of Mt Everest is seen among a group of other
snowy mountains. The Everest is slightly hidden behind a crest
of Peak XIII, which resembles a shape of a grate armchair of
snow. Further to the west, towards Nepal, there is a wonderful
squire mass of mountains looking like a great wall of snow.
The contrast of Everest and Kanchanjangha
is very prominent. The later is remarkable for its imposing
bulk and massive proportions, while Everest, soaring above a
series of valleys and ridges, is more graceful and majestic.
The space between the two is occupied by snowy ranges of smaller
proportion. And eastward, beyond Kanchanjangha, the Narshingh
Group, Dongkya and Chola  Ranges
on the Tibet frontier are distinctively visible with Chomo Lahri
in Bhutan lifting up its head from behind.
The whole snowy ranges of Bhutan,
Sikkim and Nepal covering
a length of 360 kms is visible from Sandakphu, but the panorama
is completely dominated by Kanchanjangha and Everest group.
At dawn when the first ray of sun touches the peaks the Everest
is the first to be seen. The colour of the snow changes from
pale yellow to orange and then to golden as more and more sunrays
reflect on the snow creating some unforgettable magic moments.
The landscape and environment in Sandakphu makes it a very special
trekking destination especially for the trekkers who want to
enjoy a pristine land of Darjeeling Himalayas that can hardly
be described through words. |
