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Route · Darjeeling & Kalimpong
From Darjeeling down to Manebhanjan, the trailhead at about 2,150 m, then up the Singalila Ridge by trail or vintage Land Rover via Tumling and Kalipokhri to Sandakphu at 3,636 m. About 28 km by road plus 31 km on the ridge.
Photo: solarshakti · CC BY 2.0 · CommonsEvery way to go
| How | Time | Cost, indicative 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Shared jeep and Land Rover | 5–6 h | ₹80–150 to Manebhanjan; Land Rover ₹5,500–7,500 per vehicle return |
| Trek with guide | 3–4 days up | Guide ₹1,000–1,500 a day plus lodges and park fees |
| Private car and Land Rover | 5–5.5 h | ₹1,500–2,500 car to Manebhanjan; Land Rover per vehicle |
Take a morning shared jeep from Darjeeling to Manebhanjan, about 1–1.5 hours. There, the Land Rover association books vehicles up the ridge road via Tumling and Kalipokhri, a 3–4 hour rough ride. Pay park fees at the Singalila checkpost. Share a vehicle with other travellers to cut the cost. Rates and rules change; check current status before you travel.
Most trekkers walk from Manebhanjan to Tumling on day one, about 11 km, then to Kalipokhri and on to Sandakphu, sleeping in lodges and trekkers' huts. A registered guide is required in Singalila National Park. The path crosses in and out of Nepal; Indians and Nepalis cross freely, and foreigners should carry passport and visa.
A reserved car to Manebhanjan saves waiting for a jeep, then the same Land Rover transfer up the ridge. This suits families and anyone short of time. Sleeping at 3,636 m after one night at 2,000 m is a big step up, so read the altitude advice and talk to your doctor if you have heart or lung conditions.
At each end
Photo: Arne Hückelheim 2010-09-21 12:41:53 This is a … · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
The thunderbolt ridge, its tea and its two-foot railway
Photo: solarshakti · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
West Bengal's highest point, with Everest on the skyline
Questions
Take a shared jeep or car 28 km to Manebhanjan, then either trek three to four days up the Singalila Ridge with a registered guide, or hire a Land Rover for the 31 km ridge road, about 3–4 hours. Pay Singalila National Park fees at the checkpost. Check current status before you travel.
About ₹5,500–7,500 per vehicle for a return trip from Manebhanjan in 2026, shared among up to six or seven passengers, plus park and vehicle entry fees. Overnight stays and longer itineraries cost more. Book through the Manebhanjan Land Rover stand or your lodge.
Yes, it can be. Sandakphu is 3,636 m, and going up by Land Rover in one day from about 2,000 m gives the body little time. Spend a night in Darjeeling first, drink water, avoid alcohol, and descend if headache or breathlessness gets worse. Talk to your doctor before the trip if you have heart or lung conditions.
Trekkers need a registered guide inside Singalila National Park, booked at Manebhanjan or through an operator, for about ₹1,000–1,500 a day. Land Rover passengers travel with the driver. Rules can change, so check current status before you travel.
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