Sandakphu in June 2010

poirot_kol

Hello,
I would like to undertake a trek to Sandakphu in June 2010. I do not know much about the place. All that I know is that it is a 4 days hike to and from Mane. I have also heard about Falut and that it is another days hike from Sandakphu. There will be 4 adults and 1 child 10 years old in this trip.
Would someone be kind enough to let me know about:
a) The itinerary. We will be going from Kolkata. How long would it take to and from NJP?
b) Are there any special precautions to be taken?
c) Since I am planning this trip in the 3rd week of June, will the weather be ok for this journey?
d) Where can I find standard accommodation along the way?

Regards

tanbag

Hello,

I am from Kolkata and really glad to know that u r interested in trekking to Sandakphu.I am answering ur queries one by one:

a) The itinerary. We will be going from Kolkata. How long would it take to and from NJP?

Day 1:Start from Kolkata by train at night(Darjeeling Mail).
Day 2:Reach NJP at 8 AM.Take a cab from NJP station and reach Manebhanjan directly.Or,u could alternately go to Tenjing Norge busstand at Siliguri and take the cab in share mode.Reach Mane by late noon.
Day 3:Start for Tumling(11 kms) early morning,after hiring a porter or two depending on ur requirement.Nightstay in Tumling.
Day 4:Start early morning for Kalapokhri(14 km).Night halt at Kalapkhri.
Day 5:Reach Sandakphu from Kalapokhri( 7 km) by starting early.
Day 6:Rest day at Sandakphu.
Day 7:Reach Phalut(21 km) and halt for night.
Day 8:Start early from Phalut and reach rammam for night stay(8 km)
Day 9:Reach Rimbik from Rammam( 8 km).Stay for night.
Day 10:Start for NJP from Rimbik by cab for boarding train to Kolkata at night.
Day 11:Reach Kolkata early morning.

b) Are there any special precautions to be taken?
No speaial precaution is required in the trek.

c) Since I am planning this trip in the 3rd week of June, will the weather be ok for this journey?
It would be good if u could prepone ur trip by a month or two.Because it will be rainy season here in June.Also till end of April u could experience the feast of colours in the jungles, as rhododendrons and premulas bloom by that time.

d) Where can I find standard accommodation along the way?
Trekker's hut and hotels are available all along the trek route.So accommodation is no problem and no need to book in advance.

Hope I have answered ur queries.....Just go and enjoy Sandakphu..I guarantee that would be an experience of a lifetime for sure.

Regards,

Tanbag

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poirot_kol

Dear Tanmay,
Thank you very much. I will come up with some more questions once I do a little more reading.
I am originally from Kolkata and I know about the monsoons. This is what is concerning me. The problem is that I can only go to India for 1 month sometime between 10th May at the earliest and July at the latest.
When does the monsoon come at Sandakfu? Is it after 8th June? In that case, I might try to go to India as soon as I can after 10th May.

Regards,
Debasish.

tanbag

Hi Poirot_kol,

The soon u reach Kolkata the better.Because monsoon enters north bengal(including Sandakphu) in first week of Jun.It would be ideal for u to come to Kolkata by early May and visit Sandakphu soon after.

Tanbag

subhasis86

hi,

i am frm kolkata,i also plan a trek to dzongri in april 2010 and i think it would b far better than sandakfu trek.......if u like u can join me.....

tanbag

Hi Subhasis...

I am from KOlkata as well......I have also planned for Dzongri Trek in April...Let us try and make it together...if u don't mind..

Tanmay