Darjeeling to Sandakphu
Your options
Ways to make the trip
1–1.5 hours to Manebhanjan
₹100–150 a seat · Shared jeeps for Manebhanjan leave from Darjeeling's Chowk Bazar stand through the morning, via Ghum and Sukhiapokhri. From Manebhanjan you hire a guide and start walking, or take a Land Rover up the ridge.
1–1.5 hours to Manebhanjan
₹1,500–2,000 per car · A reserved car from Darjeeling to Manebhanjan saves time in the morning. Ordinary cars cannot drive the ridge track; above Manebhanjan only the local Land Rovers and other permitted vehicles go up.
4–5 hours, Manebhanjan to Sandakphu
₹5,000–7,500 per vehicle one way (indicative) · The Manebhanjan Land Rover association runs old Land Rovers and some newer four-wheel drives on the rough track via Chitrey, Tumling and Kalipokhri. Book at their counter. Fares are fixed per vehicle and shared among up to about seven passengers. Check current status before you travel.
Worth a stop
- Manebhanjan
- Chitrey monastery
- Tumling
- Kalipokhri lake
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Can I drive to Sandakphu in my own car?
No. Private cars and normal taxis stop at Manebhanjan. Above that, the Singalila ridge track is steep, partly cobbled and rough, and only the local Land Rovers and permitted four-wheel drives can go up. You pay the park entry fee and vehicle charges at the Manebhanjan check post. Rules change from season to season. Check current status before you travel.
Do I need a guide to go to Sandakphu?
Trekkers entering Singalila National Park must hire a licensed guide from the Manebhanjan guide association; walking without one is not allowed. Guide fees are around ₹1,500–2,000 a day (indicative). If you travel by Land Rover, the driver normally covers the route, but ask whether a guide is required for your group. Check current status before you travel.
Is Sandakphu open all year?
The Land Rover road usually stays open most of the year, but Singalila National Park traditionally closes for trekking from mid-June to mid-September for the monsoon. Heavy snow in January and February can block the track above Kalipokhri for days. The best windows are October to early December and March to May. Check current status before you travel.
Do Indians and foreigners need permits for Sandakphu?
There is no special permit, but you pay the Singalila National Park entry fee at Manebhanjan and must carry identity: Aadhaar or a passport for Indians, a passport and visa for foreigners. Parts of the route cross into Nepal near Tumling, and there are border posts where ID is checked. Fees are indicative. Check current status before you travel.