Perched at an elevation of about 2000 meters and a distance of about 28 km from Darjeeling, Mane Bhanjang, is the starting point for treks to Sandakphu, the highest hill in West Bengal. It is a transit town on the Indo-Nepal border. The town is mostly on the Indian side though due to the open nature of the border the town extends to the Nepal side as well.
Mane Bhanjang or Mane Bhanjayang comprises two words the word Mane signifies Buddhist Stupas and Bhanjayang signifies Junction. So the name means the junction of Stupas and the land of Buddhist Culture. Being situated within the range of the Singalila National Park or the starting point of the Singalila trek, Mane Bhanjang has become a must-visit adventure destination for tourist who loves adventures and nature.
Getting There
Sukiapokhari about 7 km towards Darjeeling is the main market area from where you can get vehicles for Darjeeling and other places. Mane Bhanjang also has several vehicles which ply tourists regularly.
Darjeeling is the closest major town, 28 km away. There is no dearth of vehicles plying to Darjeeling here. The major transit hub is Siliguri / NJP / Bagdogra which takes about 4 hours to reach. You can get taxis from Siliguri and Darjeeling, which travels to Mane Bhanjang.
To See
As it is the land of trek and adventures, Mane Bhanjang is the base camp for trekkers heading towards Sandhakphu and Phalut. The famous Rhododendron trek which offers hiking and trekking and the Himalayan Run Trek are organized from here.
A steep uphill trek of about 2 km will take you to Chitrey, there is a beautiful large monastery here and you can also get great views of Kanchenjunga as well as the surrounding hills from here. Chitrey is on the main Sandakphu trek route but you are allowed to visit here without a permit or a guide.
Trek a couple of kilometres in the opposite direction to reach Simana. This is a popular tourist spot on the Mirik – Darjeeling highway offering a great view of the hills on the Nepal side.
Where to Stay
There are basic trekker huts and lodges available at Mane Bhanjang. The accommodations are basic and nothing fanciful. Most properties offer dormitories for a large group of backpackers who travel through here. There are a few homestay accommodations that are not in the main town but on the outskirts. For updated information and booking of accommodation, please get in touch with our team members by filling out the form below.
