The name Sandakphu means the Height of the Poison Plant, a direct reference to the profusion of the poisonous aconite plants that grow near the peak. The loftiest peak of the Singalila Range, Sandakphu is the culminating point of most of the trekking routes in the Darjeeling-Sikkim region. At an altitude of 3,638 m., it is located at a distance of 58 km. from Darjeeling. 

The best time to visit Sandakphu is in April-May, the flower season, and again around November, when the weather is pleasant and the skies remain unclouded. 

Sandakphu epitomises the wild elemental grandeur of the snows. Nature here is at her pristine best, and the vista at the top is worth all the hardship endured on the way. Aptly called the Paradise of Trekkers, the Sandakphu peak is a vantage point from where one can see four of the world's five highest peaks - Everest, Kanchenjungha, Makalu and Lhotse in a continuous snow-clad arc. 

Sandakphu is resplendent with the ethereal beauty of magnolias, rhododendrons, primulas and other sub-alpine flowers. It also contains more than 600 varieties of orchids, the largest to be found in a single geographical area in the world. 

How To Get There 
Maneybhanjan, at an altitude of 2133.6 m., is the gateway to the Sandakphu region. Bus services are available from Darjeeling, via Sukhiapokhri, to Maneybhanjan. The distance of 24.5 km. is covered in about an hour's time. From here, the 28-km. trek to Sandakphu takes 10 to 12 hours. This section is the most challenging due to its steep gradient. It leads to Sandakphu through thick rhododendron and magnolia forests. 

Land Rovers are also available for a trip from Darjeeling to Sandakphu. But the five-hour ride on a rocky terrain is extremely uncomfortable, and hence the trekking route is the more favoured one.