Parnasree Trekkers Club

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Trekkers Speak

Sandakphu & Phalut Trek Feb, 2016

- :š SANDAKPHU DIARY : -

Sandakphu or Sandakfu or Sandakpur (5636 m; 18,491 ft) is the highest peak in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the highest point of the Singalila Ridge in Darjeeling district on the West Bengal-Nepal border. The peak is located at the edge of the Singalila National Park and has a small village on the summit with a few hostels. Four of the five highest peaks in the world, Everest, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu can be seen from its summit.

 š Climate ›

 The temperature swings from -20 °C (including wind chill factor) in winter to +15 °C in summer. Sandakphu gets snowfall in late December to early February.

 šHow to reach›

 Sandakphu can be reached in two different ways, either by car or by trekking. The trekking starts from Mane Bhanjang via Chitire, Meghma, Tonglu, Tumling, Gairibas, Kalapokhri, Bekhe to Sandakphu. From Manebhanjang one can hire 1950's made Land Rovers which climbs up to Sandakphu and Phalut (Manebhanjan to Sandakphu 6000/- per car include  Six Persons and Sandakphu to Phalut 4500/- per Car include  Three Persons). The journey on Land Rover is not quite smooth on the rough mountain roads. But the trekking is not so easy it’s quit tough some of the places, but overall the trekking is the best option as because in Land Rover drive you can’t see the beauty of the mountains nor the Rhododendrons.

 š Trekking›

The trek along the Singalila Ridge to Sandakphu and Phalut is one of the most popular ones in the Eastern Himalayas due to the grand vistas of the Kangchenjunga range and the Everest range which can be seen from the ridge, and also for the seasonal wildflower (Rhododendrons) blooms and birding. Treks begin at Manebhanjan which is 28 km (approx. 1 hour by road) from Darjeeling.

The trekking routes inside the Singalila National Park have four legs or stages.

• Manebhanjan to Meghmaor Tonglu or Tumbling (2600 m / 3070 m / 2970 m): This is a 4-6 hour trek through the lower forest. The route goes via Chitre. If time and circumstances permit, trekkers can walk to Chitre instead of staying in Mane Bhanjang. This will allow them some leeway the next day. The place is isolated and much cleaner. Earlier, you could have just start the walk without any guide/porter. Thesedays however, guides and porters are mandatory for the trek and have to be booked in Manebhanjan at the cost of 700/- per day and whose carry 20 Kg. of lode and you can also booked Horses at 500/- per day whose carry 100 kg. of lode at earlier basis booked. The first two km is a steep walk starting from Manebhanjan to Chitre near about 2 KM. On very first day you stay at Manebhanjan in the Lodges its cost 100/- to 150/- dormitory minimum with kitchen facility (if make owns).

There is another shorter route via Dhotre which can be reached by hired vehicle from Siliguri. The trekking route takes one directly to Tonglu or Tumling (5 km). Staying facilities in Dhotre is very basic.

• Meghma or Tonglu or Tumbling (2600 m / 3070 m / 2970 m) to Gairibans or Kalipokhri (2621 m / 3170 m): There are two alternative trekking routes. Both go via Tonglu (3070 m) and Tumling(2900 m). The boundary of the national park passes though Tumling where a check post is located. From Tumling, a shorter trail cuts through Nepal and Jaubari (2750 m) and from Tonglu or tumbling you can see the first view of the gorgeous mount Kanchanjanghait’s look like haven in the earth see just in front of you at the very first light of the morning. In all the places you can stay at Trekkers Hut at the cost of 120/- to 150/-per bed with kitchen facility (if make owns).

• Gairibans or Kalipokhri (2621 m / 3170 m) to Sandakphu (3636 m): This is a steep 4-5 hour climb roughly halfway up. The trekkers hut in Gairibans is clean and a good place to stay though a bit removed from the trek path u can also stay in Kalipokhri a small village and a holy lake and the first sign of  the Snow found here. In Kalipokhri you can stay at wooden Trekkers hut which is also an adventure too. Night Stay facility at the both place is well maintained and cost from Rs. 130/- to 180/- per bed with kitchen facility (if make owns). You stay here at Trekkers Hut but they don’t give you the Kitchen Facility so you have to take food at the Trekkers Hut the Dormitory is 150/- per bed and food (Maggi- 80/- per plate, Kichuri -130/- per Plate, Dal Vat Sabji -160/- per Plate, Tea -10/- black tea).

 Sandakphu to Phalut (3600 m): This is the most pristine stretch of the trek, offering great views of Kangchenjunga and Mt. Everest. It is a one-day trek via Sabarkum (3536 m) covering 21 km but present days the Land Rover is available with a high rate but only three people maximum can ride with other belongings. But the main problem of this Sandakphu-Phalut route is that there is no water source in between, so trekkers have to carry enough water to reach Phalut. Since 2009 water and food have been made available at Sabarkum 14 KM from Sandakphu. However, this is a remote place and chances are that one will not find anyone here, let alone water and food during the rainy season and winter. It is advisable to carry one's own water. In case the trekker is unable to proceed further towards Phalut from Sabarkum, one can turn right towards Moley (3 km) trekker’s hut where food is available. Trekkers planning to return from Sabarkum or Moley can take the route directly to Sirikhola or Gorkhe. Do not attempt this route without your porter or guide as it is not marked like the route to Sandakphu. You stay here at Trekkers Hut but they don’t give you the Kitchen Facility so you have to take food at the Trekkers Hut the Dormitory is 150/- per bed and food (Maggi- 80/- per plate, Kichuri -120/- per Plate, Dal Vat Sabji -150/- per Plate, Tea -10/-).

• Phalut (3600 m) to Gorkhry: This is the most important part of the trek in this path we found the one and only important animal in the Singalila Range the Red Panda as because the path covered with the Bamboo tree (Muli Bash) which was the favourite food of red panda. Also the Gorkhey village is also a beautiful village where you found the river flows side by the village and the noise of the flowing water of the river offff…it’s a incredible experience at night.  At Gorkhey you have dormitory room at the cost of 100/-per bed and also the kitchen facility so don’t have to wary. 

After Gorkhey if you want to finish the trek you can go through a two hours walk from Gorkhey to Bhareng (Sikkim) and take a car to Jorethang and from Jorethang you can go anywhere like  Gangtok, Darjeeling, Siliguri.

Or, if you want to continue the trek you can go through Srikholaor Rimbik and finished the trek.

It’s a very beautiful trek for beginners as well as womens; they enjoy the wonderful views of mountains and the national park covered with pain far and Rhododendron trees in very first time of their trek. On 20.02.2016 a bunch of guys (Pan, Humayun, Arup, Raja, Ranojit, Akash, Anthony, Amit, Sahanawaz) of our club (Parnasree Trekkers Club) was started a journey from Kolkata. Carried our own luggage and  footing item(for further details of footing, Medicine and backpacking items visit our

Website- parnasreetrekkersclub.yolasite.com).Having a small problem of cramp in leg of Humayun and Amit all others are manage the trek very well.In short we are enjoying the whole trek.

Story of Valley of Flowers National Park

-: VALLEY OF FLOWERS NATIONAL PARK:- 

Valley of Flowers National Park is an Indian National Park, located in West Himalaya, in the state of Uttarakhand and is known for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and the variety of flora.

The Valley of Flowers is a high-altitude Himalayan valley that has long been acknowledged by renowned mountaineers, botanists, and in literature. It has been recognized internationally for over a century and is referenced in the Hindu religion. Local people have visited the valley since ancient times. Indian yogis (Yogesh Mota) are known to have visited the valley for meditation. The Valley of Flowers has many different colourful flowers, taking on various shades of colours as time progressed. The valley was declared a national parkin 1982 and now it is a World Heritage Site.

The Valley of Flowers is nestled in the upper expanses of Bhyundar Ganga near Joshimath in Garhwal region. The lower reaches of Bhyundar Ganga near Gobindghat are known as Bhyundar Valley. The Valley of Flowers is in the Pushpawati valley 23 km north-northwest of Nanda Devi Park.

Best Timing 

The best time to visit Valley of Flowers depends upon your liking as the valley is for all time beautiful. If you want to see maximum number of flowers July and August is a best time, if you want to see lot of glaciers you should visit in June, to see Brahamkamal flowers at Hemkud August and September is a best time.

The Journey Begin 

From Kolkata to valley of flowers is a great journey for all the group members of Parnasree Trekker Club. Very beginning of the plane all the group members will very excited about the trek, but unfortunately at the last time four of our members are dropped their plan to the Valley of Flowers. Finally the day has come and we total the three members of Parnasree Trekkers Club started the journey towards Valley of Flowers. We started from Behala by Bus to Howrah railway Station and take the Doon Express from Howrah at 20:30 hrs and in the third day morning at about 05:15 hrs but our bad luck the train was late and we reach at Haridwar at 08:00 hrs.

Day: 1 

Today we finally starts our journey from Haridwar Railway Station to Rishikesh we take a auto rickshaw in sharing basis for Rs. 40/- per head to Rishikesh, and we reach Rishikesh market after a 20-25 minute drive. But the Garhwal Bus terminal is about some distance from the Rishikesh Market, so you can take a auto rickshaw or a cycle rickshaw the auto rickshaw take Rs. 20/- per head and the cycle rickshaw is charged Rs 30/- per head. The bus stand have to different section one is Garhwal Terminal and other one is inter state terminal so we reached at the Garhwal terminal. When we reached at Garhwal terminal we came to know that the road was closed some where near at Kaudiyala so all the moving vehicle was stuck there and no one clearly tell us how much time takes to clear the “Malwa”. So hearing the situation from the local bus drivers and conductors we get broken. At the sudden time we found one bus started from Srinagar so we decided to go to Srinagar at the same time one other bus will start to Rudraprayag which was 35 Km away from Srinagar. So we decided to go to Rudraprayag and we boarded at the bus the conductor toll us that the bus will take a long diversion route toward Rudraprayag so we have to pay some extra money for that ié for strate route we have to pay Rs. 130/- per head but for this route we pay Rs 100/- extra, we are in a very critical condition so we agreed with the conductor. After a 6 hour long drive we reached at Rudraprayag at the afternoon 3 o’clock but again our bad luck rain will started. But we have to move to Govind Ghat by the day end because we decided to stay at Ghangharia for three days but bad luck we did not move forward at the time no public transport are available at that time and the hired jeep will demand Rs. 4000/- for that drive. So we decided to stay at Rudraprayag for the day and next day early morning we left for Govind Ghat and today we explore the Rudraprayag. But the rain was continuously fallen and the sky was getting dark and  we also got to book hotel for our night halt, for that me and Humayun was go to find hotel and told vulu to take care of our luggage. We dropped our ruksak in a dry place and find the hotel, after a small search we found the budget hotel in front of the market at the Rs. 300/- fro three person we immediately booked the hotel and goto the room and freshen up. At the evening when rain was stopped we get out and do some essential shopping for our further trek and discover the place as well as enquire about the first bus for Govind Ghat and after that we take out dinner in a Panjabi Hotel i take Channa na Roti but as we all know bengalis are also bengalis Humayun and Bhulu will searching for Fish and after all the odds they finally found the fish in the said hotel and they ordered the fish and after the all odds of all day they finally eat with a great pleasure, thats not end after dinner we go to a sweet shop and take sweets and finally we go to the hotel for take our night halt. In this dinner we paid total Rs. 300/- but in search of fish Bhulu and Humayun found a place where the thali meal that means dall roti sabji and chawl will avaiable at the price of Rs. 60/- only but as our luck we already take out dinner so we decided at the returning if we stay here we take the dinner. And also we know about the thali meal system at the Gharwal regin and this is very helpful for us. And after a hectic day we finally go to our room and get into the bed.

Day: 2

Next day morning we woke up at the morning at 4 o'clock because the first bus will starts from here at 6:30 in the morning so we have to take the bus if we want to go Govind Ghat by the sunset. SO as we decided we reached at Govind Ghat at 2 oçlock at the noon so we decided to start the trek for Ghangharia as we already lost a day at Rudraprayag, after taking our lunch we hired a Khachar for our luggage and the trek item and equipments for Rs. 1100/- from Govind Ghat to Ghangharia, and load all the items except some we need through the trek. So we started at 3 oçlock for Govind Ghat to Ghangharia a 13 KM Trek. And as we expected the beauty and the atmosphere welcome all of us with his arme. We started trekking at the altitude of 1800 mtr Govind Ghat to 3049 mtr Ghangharia. We are the first timer at the said trek so we don’t have any idea how much time takes from Govind Ghat to Gnangharia, many of them tell you takes 6 hours many tell 4 hours etc. But we say whatever its take we do it today so we trk continuously and at the 9 oçlock at the night we reached at Ghangharia, that means we trek almost 3 hours in dark in between the dense pine forest. Ohhhh! its a wonder full experience. But one thing we alway in our notice that the headlamp and the torches are always with us as we assumption in the afternoon that may we reach at Ghangharia at night. Finally we reached at Ghangharia and as well as we searching for hotels, guest houses or trekkers hut firstly we go to GMVN Banglow but the dormitory is booked one dubble bedded room is available at the price of Rs. 1800/- per night for three of us, it’s out of our budget so we tried some other at Hotel HImalaya we have get accommodation for Rs. 400/- per room. So we checked in to the Hotel Himalaya for three days,as we reached Ghangharia in one day next day we have to go to the Valley of Flowers for exploring the valley so as we decided we left the hotel for the valley but its little late, we started our journey at 7.50 Am in the morning but other starts near about sunrises up. As I say earlier that we reached at the night to Ghangharia so we are little tired, so we get sleep for a long.

Day : 3

So after a good sleep we started our journey for Valley of Flowers and from the beginning we checked each and every flower species and take snaps of them and move forward, many of trekkers did not see many kind of flowers which we saw. So for thies reason we have little late to reach the main valley, at noon 2.30 P.M we reached the main valley and suddenly the rain started and the view d\from the viewpoint is getting closed so we takes fastest snaps of the valley and the glaciers and after a half and our the valley was totally covered with cloud and a broken heart we wait for the next time when the valley was cleared but after a while the valley was cleared for a five minutes but after that the valley was fully covered all the trekkers will started to back for the Ghangharia but we decided to go deep in the valley and after that we back to the Ghagharia Hotel so we started to setting up our kitchen for our lunch and making maggi and supe and after taking tea we left the place for the deep valley. And after going to some deep we discover some other types of flower and then we decided to get back to the hotel. And when we started back to the hotel we saw that the rivers we cross by foot those rivers will covered with heavy rain water and started crunching. Finally we back to the hotel and take a small tour of the Ghagharia village and at the evening 8 o'Clock we take our dinner at the Hotel Himalaya at the cost of Rs. 250/- for three person and tried to sleep but our regular work we don't go to the bed below 11 o’clock so as the ew going to the bed at 11 o’clock,

Day : 4

Next day morning at 6:00 hrs we woke up and started for Gurudewara Hemkumnd Sahib so we decided first we started earlier as we decided we started and we don't expect the the road was that stive climb the Gurudwara Hemkund Sahibs road are so stive in clume as we climb 10.250 feet to 15.300 feet above the sea level in 7 Km. So we started at 6:30 but one thing i forgot to tell that in  last day rain we totally wee and all our shoes are getting wet so we tried to dry up the shoes at the night in the fire but our bad luck they at the same stage. So we have to buy the shoes for our climb so in the Ghangharia market we purchase the shoe and with the new pair of shoes we started to climb. In the way of Hemkund Sahib we saw the rare Blue poppy and the rarest Brambha Kamal flower. A the noon 3 o’clock we reach at Gurudwara Hemkiund Sahib and at the time the langar was close not that time the langar was closed at 2 o’clock at noon so if you want to take part at the langar you have reach at the place before 2 o’clock but i you not reach before 2 o’clock don't worry about the the langar wil open 24 hour means you have something to eat at the Gurudwara. And available tea. So we take the tea at the Gurudwara and go to the langar and take hotchpotch for our lunch and take the lunch at the Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib. After that the main thik the toughest think we have ever do. The barth at the Hem Kund. So after a long wait three of us take holy barth at the Hemkund ohhhhh! What a cold water freezing cold water at the Hemkund. And when we get out from the kund the total body of our is getting yellowish, ok we day up and dressed up and at thieving 5 o’clock we started get down to wards Ghangaria and we take a shortcut to reach the place  and the evening we reach Ghangharia.

Day : 5

And finally the time has come when we left the place for next destination all of us feeling bad in our heart that the such a beautiful place we left. From next day morning we starts for Haridwar and after a whole day journey at 11 o’clock we reach at Haridwar and stay at our regular hotel and take dinner and go to sleep as the journey of hole day we all get very tired. And as usual in Haridwar we go to Dada Boudis hotel to take lunch and Harkipouri to see the Ganga Arti, Rishikesh for rafting and next day evening at 09.30 P.M we borough up to the train for our home at Kolkata.

This is the story of our journey to Valley of flowers.