Treks and walks · Sukhia Pokhari
Last market stop before the Singalila Ridge
Use Sukhia Pokhari as the last market stop before Maneybhanjan, the road head for Sandakphu and Phalut on the Singalila Ridge. Buy small supplies, take a cheap shared jeep on, and sort out guide and park entry in Maneybhanjan.
The Singalila Ridge trek to Sandakphu, at 3,636 m the highest point in West Bengal, starts at Maneybhanjan, a small border town a short drive beyond Sukhia Pokhari. From Sandakphu on a clear day you see Kanchenjunga at close range and Everest, Lhotse and Makalu far to the west. Most trekkers reach Maneybhanjan from Darjeeling, and almost all of them pass through Sukhia on the way. For budget trekkers it is a useful place to change jeeps, buy supplies and eat a proper meal.
Use the market to fill gaps in your kit: woollen socks, gloves, a hat, a cheap rain poncho, energy snacks, a torch with spare batteries and a refillable bottle. Prices are lower than in Darjeeling's tourist lanes. Then take a shared jeep on to Maneybhanjan for roughly ₹40–70 a seat. In Maneybhanjan you register, pay the Singalila National Park entry and hire a licensed guide, which is compulsory inside the park; Land Rovers for the road to Sandakphu are arranged there too.
Rules, fees and guide rates on the Singalila Ridge change, and roads on the ridge can close after heavy rain or snow, so check current status before you travel. If you arrive late, sleep in Maneybhanjan rather than starting to walk in the afternoon. Coming back down, Sukhia is also where many trekkers stop for their first hot momos after days of dal and rice on the trail, before the last jeep ride to Darjeeling.
Cost: ₹40–70 jeep seat to Maneybhanjan
Questions people ask
Good to know
How far is Maneybhanjan from Sukhia Pokhari?
It is a short drive along the ridge road, roughly 20–30 minutes by shared jeep. Jeeps run most often in the morning. Many trekkers come straight from Darjeeling to Maneybhanjan in one jeep, a trip of about 26 km and 1.5 hours that passes through Sukhia without stopping.
Do we need a guide for Sandakphu?
Yes. A licensed guide is compulsory inside Singalila National Park and is hired at Maneybhanjan along with your park entry. Guide fees are set per day and change from season to season. Check current status before you travel, and agree the number of days and what is included in writing.
Can we buy trekking gear in Sukhia Pokhari?
Basic items, yes: socks, gloves, woollen hats, ponchos, torches, batteries and snacks. Do not expect technical gear, good boots or sleeping bags. Bring serious equipment from home or Siliguri, or hire it in Darjeeling, and use Sukhia only for last-minute small things.
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