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Mount Kanchenjunga, the magnificent mountain, stands tall at 8,586 metres. The highest peak in India, it is a part of the Kanchenjunga Himal segment of the Himalayan Mountain Range, sitting between the boundary between India and Nepal. Mount Kanchenjunga sources its name from a Tibetan word, which means, ‘The five treasures of the snow’. This is because Mount Kanchenjunga has five main peaks. Three of these peaks lie between Sikkim, India and eastern Nepal while the rest of the two peaks lie in the Taplejung district in Nepal.
Mount Kanchenjunga has been sacred for the local people of West Bengal, Sikkim and Nepal since ancient times. They regard climbing the summit of this mountain as a disrespect to their beliefs. Therefore, the summit is usually not climbed by the people to experience the magic of the expedition. It is anyway famous as a remote mountain, one which is not attempted to be climbed as much as Everest, owing to accessibility, landscape and other factors. Therefore, many people want to catch sight of this mountain resort by going over to nearby places and then availing of local services in hopes of witnessing a view of a lifetime.
The best places from where you can get a beautiful view of the stunning Mount Kanchenjunga
1. Charkhole, Kalimpong
Charkhole, a charming little village in Kalimpong, has been gaining traction among tourists as one of the best locations from where one can witness Mt. Kanchenjunga in all its grandeur. Charkhole has made quite a name for its amazing views of the Kanchenjunga. Combined with its natural beauty, this little hamlet is a no-brainer when deciding to travel to a location offering beautiful Kanchenjunga views.
2. Tiger Hill, Darjeeling
Widely famous as one of the most well-known and also one of the oldest places from where people witness the beauty of Mt. Kanchenjunga, Tiger Hill is an icon in itself. Captivating views of Kanchenjunga, and an amazing sunrise adding to the divine beauty of the landscape and its mesmerising surroundings, this location will forever be a favourite among tourists.
3. Batasia Loop, Darjeeling
Batasia Loop, a toy train track, was originally built by the Britishers to solve the problem of a steep decline that came along the way in Darjeeling roads. To alleviate this discomfort, a 360 degrees turn was made up, hence giving the track its name. This train track is now famous for being a picturesque location from where visitors can catch beautiful views of Kanchenjunga while also enjoying the beautiful gardens of Batasia Loop.
4. Mall Road, Darjeeling
The Mall Road in Darjeeling boasts three viewing points, with the best one out of all being the one that is located above the Hotel Retreat. If the weather is favourable and clear, tourists can be witness to some truly captivating views of the Kanchenjunga from the Mall Road viewing point, early in the morning.
5. Sandakphu, Darjeeling
Although Darjeeling has viewing points for Kanchenjunga in abundance, the best of the locations is considered to be Sandakhpu. A village located some fifty or so kilometres away from Darjeeling, it is famous for not only offering the best view of the Kanchenjunga, but tourists also get to view other peaks such as Everest, Makalu and Lhotse if they are lucky. The landscape of the peaks of Kanchenjunga range as viewed from Sandakhpu is also famously called ‘The Sleeping Buddha’ owing to its literal resemblance to the image of Buddha sleeping.
6. Tashi View Point, Sikkim
Tashi View Point is a location which has been built especially to offer visitors to come to view Kanchenjunga in all its majestic aura. Considered to be one of the most commonly visited places for Kanchenjunga views and one of the most beautiful locations in Gangtok, Sikkim in its own right, the Tashi viewpoint offers tourists expansive views of the famous mountain.
7. Lachung, Sikkim
A different location than others on this list, Lachung is a destination on its own. A mesmerising trek, the beautiful lake and the natural surroundings offer you some scenic views of nature already. Add to it the bonus that the valley also offers you amazing views of the Kanchenjunga, it could not get any better than this.
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