Wildlife and birds · Sandakphu
Walk the slopes that named Sandakphu
A short afternoon walk with your guide around the summit slopes shows the high-altitude plants of Singalila: dwarf rhododendrons, junipers, primulas and, if you know where to look, the aconite that gave the hill its Lepcha name.
The upper slopes of Sandakphu are a different world from the forest below: open grass, dwarf rhododendron scrub, junipers and a few stunted firs bent by the wind. In April and May rhododendrons flower in pinks, whites and yellows. In autumn the grass turns tawny and berries ripen on the shrubs.
Aconite, Aconitum ferox and related species, once grew so thick here that herders muzzled their animals. It flowers in late summer, when the park is closed, but its deeply divided leaves can be spotted by a guide who knows them. Look, do not touch: every part of the plant is poisonous, and it can be absorbed through broken skin.
Keep to paths, avoid the SSB area and stay within sight of the lodges. An hour is enough. Then return for tea and wait for the evening light on Makalu.
Cost: Included in your guide fee
Questions people ask
Good to know
Why is Sandakphu called the land of poisonous plants?
Its Lepcha name is usually translated as 'the height of the poisonous plant', after the aconite and some rhododendrons that grew thickly near the summit and poisoned livestock. Herders muzzled animals to cross. Aconite is much rarer now.
Can I see aconite flowers at Sandakphu?
Aconite blooms in late summer, mostly during the monsoon when the park is closed. In October you may find seed heads or leaves with a knowledgeable guide. Never touch or pick it; it is highly toxic.
When do rhododendrons flower at Sandakphu?
Usually late April to May at the summit level, later than the lower ridge. Species near the top are smaller shrubs with pink, white or pale yellow flowers. Bloom varies yearly with the winter's snow.
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