North Bengal’s contribution to Indian trekking is small in scale but enormous in payoff. The Singalila Ridge, straddling the India-Nepal border above Darjeeling, tops out at Sandakphu — the highest point in West Bengal — and on a clear morning offers a sunrise panorama that takes in Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga in a single sweep.
The trail runs through rhododendron forest and grassy ridge-top meadows dotted with small Nepali-influenced villages offering tea-house style accommodation, making this one of the more comfortable multi-day treks in the Himalaya — no camping strictly required.
Best trekked October to December for the clearest mountain views, or April for rhododendron blooms. Manebhanjan, a short drive from Darjeeling, is the standard starting point.
