Dzongri

Home of the red panda, black khaleej pheasant and the yellow-necked woodpeckers, the fascinating mountain trail up to Dzongri is a trekker’s delight. In the season, the slopes are aflame with great varieties of rhododendron.

Situated at an altitude of over 3962 m, it offers the most fascinating view of the Khangchendzonga massif. Sunny, crisp mountain air or swirling mists – it’s magical up here anytime. Rhododendrons drench the glades. Just opposite is the Pandim Peak (6890 m) cloaked in thick snow. At Tsoka, before Dzongri, the villagers are prosperous and the fields well maintained; some of the villagers are said to have travelled to Switzerland to learn about high altitude farming. So now they’ve set up ginger, poptato and cabbage farms – though the village may be short on power supply!

About 7 km way from Dzongri is Khangchendzonga base camp established by Darjeeling’s Himalayan Mountaineering Institute.