Darjeeling and Trek to Sandakphu 8 Days

Darjeeling was established as a summer retreat for British officials, soldiers and their families in British India era.

Experiment in growing tea (saplings smuggled from China) was hugely successful that led to clearing of the vast amount of forests by labors imported from eastern Nepal that resulted the  displacement the local indigenous Lepcha and Bhutia people. Huge swath of the mountain slopes were cleared and tea was cultivated successfully all over the districts.

Quality residential schools were established in the area which was also another success story. They became the choice of those who can afford it and still are highly sought after. The introduction of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway brought prosperity in the area which is still running and is a World Heritage Site.

The locals constitute of the descendants of the migrant labors and the indigenous and Nepalese language has been given official recognition by Indian Government although, it has not increase the ability to have a significant greater say in the political affairs. Tourism and Tea are the main stay of the economy. 

The trip usually starts after your flight to Bagdogra via Delhi or Calcutta. The immigration post at Nepal’s border has been closed since Covid pandemic and there are no flights from Kathmandu to Bagdogra. We drive straight to Darjeeling - sometimes called the Queen of the Hills – along the Hill Cart road that runs parallel to the “toy train” rail lines. The small toy train chugging up or down hill at its own pace is an incredible sight.

  
There are a few good site is Darjeeling namely – Peace Pagoda, Chow Rasta and Mall Road, the Chowk Bazaar, The Batasia loop, Rock Garden. An early morning drive to Tiger Hill if time permits will leave an ever lasting memories. 
The trip to Singalila range - in the Singalila National Park which borders Sikkim in the north and Nepal in the west - starts from Manebhanjyang and further to Tumling or Tonglu and even further to the reasonably large village of Kala Pokhari – and the lake with the same name. Singalila Ridge was used for the unsuccessful ascent of Kanchanjunga in 1905. The ridge offer astounding views of the entire eastern Himalayas including Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Chamlang Himal and Kunchenjunga. The ridge also offers views of mountains in Skkim in the north and Bhutan in the east. The return leg is via Manebhyanjyang and further to Bagdogra.