We — a couple from Kolkata to North Bengal (Sandakphu) — finally decided to take a break from the daily chaos and escape into the calm of the mountains. 🏙️➡️🏔️
Sometimes, life gets so overwhelming that all you need is a few days away, just to breathe, reset, and find yourself again. ☕💆♀️
We had a 4-day holiday 🗓️, so we thought — why not visit a place where even if you scream, only the mountains can hear you? 🌲❄️
And that’s how our journey to Sandakphu began! 🚗💨
🛤️ Day 1: NJP to Manebhanjan (82 km | Approx. 4 hours)
The journey from NJP to Manebhanjan is a scenic 82 km drive that takes around 4 hours. On the way, you can explore the serene Mirik Lake, the lush Gopaldhara Tea Garden, and the beautiful Sukhia View Point — where you’ll get your first mesmerizing view of Kanchenjunga 🏔️.
At Sukhia, there’s also a small Nepali market where you can enjoy a cup of hot tea ☕ while soaking in the mountain charm. From there, continue your drive to Manebhanjan.
Manebhanjan is a lively border town and an important junction — from here, roads branch out towards Srikhola–Dhotrey, Majua, and the famous Sandakphu route 🚙. You can try authentic Nepali delicacies like momo and thukpa, or shop for colorful Nepali flags, handicrafts, and room decor items 🏡🎏.
If you have time, visit the Pashupati Market, just 13 km away on the Nepal side at Illam — a vibrant cross-border bazaar known for its unique products and local charm in Nepal.
Our stay at Manebhanjan was incredibly comfortable, and the view from the room was simply perfect — the kind that makes you want to pause and soak in every moment 🏔️✨.
If you ever plan to visit Manebhanjan and are looking for a cozy, scenic place to stay, we highly recommend this property.
👉 Check out the link below to book your stay 🔗💚
🚙 Day 2: The Land Rover Adventure to Tumling (82 km | Approx. 4 hours)
The next morning, we hopped onto a classic Land Rover and began our thrilling uphill ride to Tumling 🚙⛰️.
Before starting the journey, you’ll need to pay INR 460 for the Land Rover entry pass and INR 120 per person as the Singalila National Park entry fee.
After completing all the formalities, the first village you’ll reach is Chitrey — a peaceful spot offering a beautiful view of Kanchenjunga 🏔️. Don’t miss visiting the serene Chitrey Monastery, located right along the India–Nepal border.
From there, the road continues to Meghma, where you’ll find the second SSB (Sashastra Seema Bal) check post 🇮🇳. After the quick verification, proceed towards Tumling, a picturesque little village that actually lies within Nepal’s border.
The next morning, make sure to take a short walk to Tonglu Lake 🌄 — a peaceful spot where you can see the reflection of Kanchenjunga shimmering in the water. During sunrise, the peaks change colors beautifully — an unforgettable sight to start your day with ✨🌤️.
🏞️ Day 3: Reaching Aahl & Sandakphu(25 km | Approx. 3 hours)
This was the most exciting and memorable day of our entire trip — the day we finally explored the highest point of West Bengal, Sandakphu (3,636 meters) 🏔️.
From here, we witnessed a breathtaking panoramic view of some of the world’s tallest peaks — Makalu, Lhotse, Everest, and of course, the magnificent Sleeping Buddha formation, along with several other known and lesser-known summits 🌄✨.
As the day ended, we experienced one of the most beautiful sunsets in all of North Bengal, painting the sky with shades of gold and crimson 🌅.
Standing there, it truly felt like we were face-to-face with Kanchenjunga — the cold mountain breeze, the warmth of the locals, and the peaceful silence of nature made the moment feel like pure therapy for the soul 💫🕊️.
Day 4:Sandakphu to Manebhanjan and Back to NJP
I would highly recommend staying one extra night to explore the beautiful Thakum Valley, and then head towards Kalipokhri or Chitrey — both are perfect for a peaceful stopover 🌿🏔️.
We returned from Sandakphu to Manebhanjan, and then continued our journey to NJP, which took around 8 hours in total 🚙💨.
Alternatively, you can travel from Sandakphu to Darjeeling and spend a night there as well. This route is more relaxing, especially for senior travelers, as driving directly from Sandakphu to NJP can be quite tiring 🕰️.
If you’re looking for a slow-paced and refreshing experience, I’d suggest planning a 4 Nights / 5 Days Sandakphu trip — it’s the perfect way to explore, unwind, and truly enjoy the serenity of the Himalayas 💆♀️❄️✨.
❤️ A Journey to Remember
This trip was truly soul-refreshing.
Sometimes, all you need is the mountains, your favorite person, and the sound of silence to remind you what peace really feels like. 💑🌿
We captured some beautiful moments 📸 — can’t wait to share them with you!
Sharing with you some delicious food shots 🍲 and a few more beautiful moments captured along the journey 📸 — these pictures will truly bring the vibe of the blog to life 🌄✨.
If you’re planning your Sandakphu trip, I highly recommend checking out Izifiso — they made our journey smooth and memorable. 💚
📞 For bookings or more details, you can call 8447745964 or click the link below for all information 🔗👇✨
For More Blogs you can visit: https://blog.izifiso.com/
Sandakphu 4N5D package – Click This Link
Sandakphu and Aahl Stay booking link- Sandakphu, Aahl
For sandakphu package booking 3N4D(By land rover) click on this link- SANDAKPHU LANDROVER PACKAGE
For Sandakphu package booking 5N6D(Trek) click on this link – Sandakphu Trek
For Sandakphu package booking 4N5D(By land rover) click on this link- Sandakphu Landrover Package
Sandakphu Stay Booking link- Sandakphu
aahl Stay booking link- Aahl
Tumling stay booking link- Tumling
Sandakphu Reference blogs ” age is just a no “
Travellers Name and id – Debabrata Bag and Aditi Sinha