Across the main Singalila Ridge ( see previous articles ) lies the Kangchenjunga massif comprising the main peak ( 8586 m ), the central peak ( 8482 m ) and the south peak
( 8476 m). To the north beyond Kangchenjunga, the Ridge glitters with the Nepal peak ( 6910 m ), Kirat Chuli ( 7365 m ), Pyramid peak ( 7123 m ), Dome Kang ( 7442 m ), Jongsang ( 7483 m ) and the Lonak peak ( 6710 m ). However, these peaks north of Kangchenjunga are not visible on the trek. [pandim_1.tif]It is peaks adjoining and to the south of Kangchenjunga and Talung ( 7349 m ) in the fabulous West Sikkim region that loom close and clear in breathtaking proportions. They include Kabru North ( 7338 m ), Kabru South ( 7317 m ), Kabru Dome ( 6600 m ), Forked peaks I, II, . III and IV ( 6100, 6000, 5900 and 5500 m ), Rahtong ( 6679 m ), Koktang ( 6147 m ), Sangri ( 5300 m ), Rinok ( 4800 m ), Khang ( 5560 m ). Two peaks in the region stand out for their unique appearance. The first is Kabur ( 4800 m ) near the Dzongri La, a black peak, sacred to the point that no one is allowed to step on it. The second is clearly the most beautiful peak in the amphitheatre, the Frey peak at 20,000 feet - a training peak of HMI Darjeeling. It pierces through the sky, its pinnacle being the first to catch the morning glow of the sun, shooting out from a huge tapering face of ice and rock.
The peaks form an amphitheatre enclosing the formidable Rahtong glacier.
However, without getting into the amphitheatre, the best viewpoint of this close panorama, is Dzongri top, rising from the yak pastures of Dzongri.
STAGE 1 : This is a drive of about 6 to 7 hours from Darjeeling to Yuksom, the erstwhile capital of Sikkim. The road crosses the spectacular gorge enclosing the turbulent Teesta river, over the Coronation Bridge. A lunch break at Jorethang in Sikkim and then onwards to Yuksom via Legship, the route runs through the typical rural landscape of Sikkim with it's stepped rice fields and green forests by the Teesta river roaring below. Yuksom has comfortable trekkers' huts and even at it 5,800 feet altitude, boasts of the first views of Pandim and Kabru peaks.
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