Why Visit Kalipokhri?
Sitting at a formidable altitude of 10,400 feet (3,170 meters), Kalipokhri derives its name from the local words "Kala" (Black) and "Pokhri" (Lake). This small, windswept settlement is defined by the sacred alpine lake located at its center. Surrounded by Buddhist prayer flags, the water is dark and muddy, yet it is highly revered by the locals because, mysteriously, the lake never freezes over—even in the dead of winter when the surrounding landscape is completely blanketed in snow.
Kalipokhri acts as the ultimate checkpoint on the Singalila Ridge. It is the final village before the notoriously steep, 4-kilometer final ascent to the Sandakphu summit. Because of its high altitude and remote location inside the national park, conventional cars cannot reach here. Your journey must begin by booking a comfortable taxi from NJP or Bagdogra Airport to the Manebhanjan base camp with Siliguri Cab Rental, from where you will either trek or take a vintage Land Rover.
