20 Never-seen-before photos of Sandakphu

You start the trek by stepping into one of the densest pine forests you have seen. It almost feels like you are about to step into a deep, dark adventure. Photo by Sandhya UC

An hour ahead, it is thick with dense undergrowth, mossy stones, and tall pine trees. Photo by Suchandan Bhar.

Trekkers ‘hug-a-tree’ in Yeti Land and Human land around the Sopedonga stone. Photo by Dhaval Jajal.

You come across this delightful section of pine trees just as you start trekking from Samanden to Molley. “It’s a steep ascent of 4 km." "But what stays with you is how well-placed the pine trees are,” shares Akshay Upreti. Photo by Tarun Deb

You enter a bamboo forest! The bamboo groves flank you on either side of the route. In some parts, the bamboo forest gets so dense that you can hardly see further than a few meters into the jungle. Photo by Abhijeet Metkar

In these very forests, if you are lucky enough, you will see one of the shyest creatures from the endemic Himalayan fauna—the elusive and endangered Red Panda. They forage in these forests, as their diet primarily consists of bamboo shoots. Photo by Ajit Hota

The entire route from Samanden to Molley is through a dense forest. Asian black bears are known to dwell in these forests, and several trekkers have even had close encounters with them. You can identify them by the distinct moon-shaped patch of white hair on their chest. They are generally not aggressive and will leave your path if you are approaching them. Photo by Ajit Hota

Higher on the trek, right as you are about to reach Molley, the forest shifts yet again. Now you are surrounded by a dense growth of dwarf rhododendrons. In early spring, you may find this section covered in a blanket of snow. Photo by Dhaval Jajal

“This picture is from a section between Aal and Sabargram. "It's one of my favourite sections on the trek,” says Akshay. “It’s an undulating stretch of 10 kilometers, right above the tree line. You can see hundreds of rhododendron trees blooming from here. That makes for an unforgettable sight.” Photo by Nikhil Jain

On the other side of the trek, you again enter the oak and pine tree forest while on your way to the base of the trek. Photo by Divya Dugar

Surrounded by deep, dark forests, this is one of the most beautiful villages on the trek. Samanden. Notice how the houses—belonging to a handful of Sherpa families—are neatly placed amidst farmlands. These families actively practice farming. They grow potatoes, peas, beans, and corn. Photo by Subhajit Chakrabarti.

Every house in these villages has a tiny garden and colorful flowers blooming on the porch. It’s charming to notice that flowers are an integral part of their interiors. Photo by Nikhil Bhat

In spring, it’s a medley of flowers inside and outside the houses! Photo from Indiahikes Archives.

Families living in the tea houses predominantly follow a Buddhist culture. You’ll find an altar like this in almost every teahouse you visit. Photo by Divya Dugar

Tea houses are also known for their cozy settings. It’s a great place for people to come together to eat and share stories from faraway lands. Photo by Divya Dugar

On a cold night, you can cozy up by the fire in a tea house with a book, chatting with your fellow trekkers. Photo from Indiahikes Archives.

Flowers, as mentioned earlier, form an integral part of the interiors here. In a tea house, you’ll find flower pots everywhere! Photo from Indiahikes Archives.

You awaken at the Sleeping Buddha from our Sabargram campsite. The view often leaves trekkers teary-eyed. Photo by Aakash G Ratkal

Outside the tree line, you trek on the ridge for 2–3 days. And on all these days, you witness spectacular views of the Sleeping Buddha. This photo was taken from above 11,000 ft. You are very close to Aal at this point. Notice how mountain tops are jutting out from the sea of clouds. Photo by Sanjay Nargund

A brilliant alpen glow on Sleeping Buddha. Notice how the entire Kanchenjunga range is rising above the sea of clouds. Photo by Swathi Gavde.