The Singalila Ridge trek is one of the best treks in the Sikkim Himalayas. The trek is most famous for its views of the Greater Himalayan Range. Starting from Darjeeling, the trek runs through the border of India and Nepal and merges into the southern ridge of Mt. Kanchenjunga. From Darjeeling hills where tea plantations stretch as far as the eye can see, to Sikkim, an ancient Himalayan kingdom of Tibetan culture, trek to Singalila offers breath-taking views.

The Singalila Ridge Trek is one of the rare spots on earth where the view embraces five summits. On these 19th century English Lords trails, one will trek on easy narrow paths along the Indo-Nepali border, sometimes at the edge of the jungle, sometimes through rhododendron forests. The visit of the main Sikkim monasteries provides a touch of culture and makes this journey a rare venture.

From the Singalila Ridge, one can see a huge panorama of peaks stretching for several hundred kilometers. Included in this view are Mt Everest (8850m), Lhotse (8516m), Makalu (8481m) and Kanchenjunga (8585m) four of the five highest mountains in the World. The peaks of Bhutan and Tibet can also be easily seen from the Singalila Ridge Trek. A glimpse of the summit of Everest and the adjacent peaks provide an additional bonus on this outstanding introductory trek.

The ridge is heavily forested with oak and rhododendron forest and has superb views of many well known peaks- Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Kanchenjunga and Chomolhari. The Singalila Ridge Trek is an outstanding and well-liked short trek. The trails are not very steep so you can take it easy and the altitude is also not that extreme.

The charms of the Himalaya along with its mysteries gradually unfold as trekkers transverse through the dense forests of rhododendron and verdant landscape, through the miles of green-carpeted meadows and sleepy hamlets lost in time.

Most of this trek is in Singalila National Park. The park has a number of tree species such as Oak, Hemlock, Juniper Silver Fir, Magnolia and Rhododendron. The park has good wildlife stocks, leopard, elephant and the rare Red Panda being the most famous. As well as a number of Migratory birds the park had resident pigeon, dove, minivet, magpie, sibia, cuckoo, hornbills and kaleej pheasants.

The fascination of mountain lovers for the Singalila Ridge Trek has many enigmatic reasons. Nowhere else in the world, do such steep heights crowd up a square kilometer, resulting in the richest flora and fauna possible in the mountains. This is an extremely pleasant trek for those who love nature and respect culture. The view of mountains from Sandakphu is unsurpassed by any other view anywhere.

The best season to go for Singalila Ridge Trek is from March to November.

Article Source: Ezine