Shivkhola to Tindharia.

Route

How the trail goes.

The hike begins at Shivkhola temple. A narrow jungle path of about 500 metres opens onto the rugged road of Tindharia Tea Estate. A twenty minute climb brings you to the tea factory. The road continues up without vehicular traffic apart from the occasional tea garden jeep. A split off the right leads down to Manjushree tea garden. Stay left and a slight uphill takes you to the first of three sharp turns near Tindharia. A second option exists via Sepoydhura factory and Chunbhatti on Hill Cart Road, then another four kilometres to Tindharia. Most trekkers take the first route.

Highlights

What stays with you.

• The source of the Mahananda. Two streams converge at Shivkhola Lake from the Paglajhora Slump valley and the Mahaldiram forest.
• Contrasting landscapes on a single climb. Tindharia and Giddey ridges ahead, the Mahananda valley and the plains of Siliguri behind.
• Tindharia Tea Estate. The road largely yours, with the odd jeep and tea workers in the gardens.
• Tea workers who know Siliguri well. Siliguri is 25 km away. They will suggest other routes.

Waypoints

The route, hour by hour.

1. 00:00Shivkhola temple
2. 00:10Jungle path opens onto the tea estate road
3. 00:30Tindharia Tea Estate factory
4. 01:30Manjushree split-off (stay left)
5. 02:30First of three sharp turns near Tindharia
6. 03:00Tindharia

What to carry

Five things, no more.

• Water, 1.5 litres
• Light fleece, removable
• Trail runners, not hiking boots
• Phone on aeroplane mode
• A notebook, if you write

Back at base

The morning ends here.

Tindharia sits at moderate altitude. The descent back by car is cooler than the climb up.