Tourism dept to build trekkers' huts in Sandakphu area
Darjeeling: The West Bengal Tourism department is all set to build trekkers' huts in the Sandakphu area. The decision comes on the wake of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee giving a call to improve tourism infrastructure in the Hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong.
Sandakphu, at an altitude of 12000 ft, is located in Singhalila National Park, one of the highest National Parks in the world.
This National Park is a bio-diverse hotspot with a total area of 78.9 sq km. It is the natural habitat for rare flora and fauna. More than 20 species of Rhododendrons trees can be found here and it is the house for the famous Himalayan Black Bear and the Red Panda.
Sandakphu offers breathtaking views of the Mount Everest, Mount Kanchenjunga and is a famous sunrise viewing spot. Phalut, at an altitude of 11,811 ft, is 21 km away from Sandakphu. Sadakphu is a world famous tourist destination.
"The tourism department will be constructing three trekkers' huts in the Sadakphu area. One will be built at Tonglu, one at Sandakphu and one at Phalut," stated Joyoshi Das Gupta, District Magistrate, Darjeeling.
Incidentally, a large numbers of tourists visit Sandakphu. However, the infrastructure is not sufficient to handle the number of tourists. There are two District Improvement (DI) Fund lodges under the State Government in the Sandakphu area out of which one was torched during the agitation. There are trekkers' huts run by the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration along the route along with private
lodges. "Preliminary survey has already been conducted by the tourism department. The land has been earmarked by the District Magistrate. The architects will visit at the earliest and then a Detailed Project Report will be drawn up. The trekkers' huts will be eco-friendly and light structures and will be wooden structures.
We expect to complete the huts at the earliest," stated Samrak Chakroborty, Deputy Director, North Bengal, Tourism department.
Maneybhanjyang, 28 km from Darjeeling and located on the Indo-Nepal border is treated as the base camp for the Sandakphu trek or ride. The distance from Maneybhanjyang to Phalut via Sandakphu is 52 kms. Heritage Land Rovers are also available for driving up to Sandakphu.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee could be visiting Sandakphu during her next visit to Darjeeling. Earlier, the CM was scheduled to visit Sandakphu from 13th to 17th October in 2014. However, the trip was cancelled. During her recent visit to Kalimpong in the last week of May this year, the Singhalila Land Rover Association had welcomed her and invited her to visit Sandakphu. The CM's had then expressed eagerness to visit Sandakphu.
