To scale the Sandakphu peak, you have no option but to hop into a Land Rover in Manebhanjyang. At a height of 11,930 feet, you will pass through the beauty of the rhododendrons. For travellers and enthusiasts who love scaling the mountain peaks, they can’t miss pulling themselves up to 11,930 feet to the Sandakphu trek. Snuggled between West Bengal and the Indo-Nepal border.
Known for its beauty, you can’t miss the view of the world’s highest peak of heaven. Nepalis call it the Sagarmatha, and we call it Mt. Everest.
You can reach the top only by these vintage vehicles. Very famously known as The Land of Rovers. Nestled in the mountains, this village has rugged terrains and roads straight up, difficult to ride on. The steeper the terrains, the tougher the Rovers.
A small town of Darjeeling has a classic collection of Land Rovers used as taxis. The people and chauffeurs of Manebhanjyang take pride in owning Land Rover Series 1,11, and 111.As the day peeps and the dawn breaks, these aluminium retro-built series glint and shimmer with the sunrays. They are quite eminent amongst other mountain vehicles. But how did they end up here!
Well, They Are a British-Era Land Rover
Curated and designed by the chief engineer of the Rover Car company, Mr Maurice Wilks. These iconic and historic vehicles made their debut in 1948 at the Amsterdam Motor Show. The series 1,11, and 111 were manufactured between 1948 and 1985 during World War 2. These off-roadsters were all-purpose workhorses. Made with a unique aluminum alloy body. It was built with magnesium and aluminum, as there was a mere shortage of steel. It is considered iconic for its abilities and durability.
These wartime jeeps are rustproof and were curated by the British Rover company, by Maurice Wilks in England, but later by British Leyland. In the year 1948, the first Land Rover Series 1 was launched. Later, with the evolutionary changes, Series 11 was styled by David Bacth in 1958, followed by Series 111 in 1947 by upgrading its modern dashboard and synchromesh on all the gears.
During the British era, it became a part of their outdoor culture. It became a common pick for the royals, and the army later also became part of commercial activities.
A Legacy in India, The Land Rovers
Rovers entered India post-independence. The British tea planters brought these classic icons. Later, Shahwar Hussain, a fan of heritage vehicles from Assam, Guwahati, briefed the South China Post that these cars were perfect for mountain terrains. It will be easier to traverse in the region where the roads are craggy and in precipitous areas.
Where Are These Land Rovers Now
The British mainstreamed and curated a specific avenue for trade. They aimed to increase trade to the mountain tea plant areas and reach villages like Chitrey, Meghma, Tonglu, and Tumling, but this was only possible by using the tough rovers. The only way to go to these villages was through a snuggled village called Manebhanjyang.
In the 70s, the British started exiting, and the locals started showing keen interest in buying these Rovers. The value of these sturdy vehicles on rugged terrains was of utmost importance to these villagers, and they were of great use. With the benefits the car was giving the mountain communities, they invested in them by purchasing it for Rs 20,000-Rs 25,000/-.
Manebhanjyang-Land of Land Rovers
Manebhanjyang is situated in the Okhaldhunga District in the Koshi Province in Nepal. It also falls in the Bhojpur district in Nepal. It has a population of 19,597 and has 9 wards. It used these cars earlier for the tea planters’ business, salt, rice, lentils, flour, and potatoes. Earlier, they used mules for the same with a lot of hard work and toil.
The Land Rovers are used as taxis by the locals. There is a vital transport link between Maneybhanjang and Sandakphu in West Bengal. The beautiful village of Sandakphu is 3636 mt, which has ferocious, steep, and rocky roads. These steep roads can only be conquered by these tough Land Rovers.
So it’s Very Fondly Known as “ The Village of Land Rovers” in The Himalayas.
The villagers are using Series 1, Series 11and Series 111 to transport people and goods to various rural villages nearby. Especially trekkers and mountaineers can’t reach Sandakphu base camp unless they hop into these rovers. These vehicles play a vital role in the village’s economy.
The rovers are a great cultural identity for the people of Maneybhanjang, as they depict the historic journeys and resilience the chauffeur possesses. It has seen several generations, and the youth of the village proudly say they drive a Land Rover.
In the early years, there were about 300 Rovers on the hills during the British Era. It’s become a lucrative business for the villagers now. The Rural villagers eagerly wait for their Rovers to arrive with rations, medicines, and domestic animals. The chauffeurs have great skills to take these rovers over stones, boulders, and streamlets that run down the slants. The Land Rovers have great abilities to cross the tough mountain weather, giving safe rides on the roads. Swiftly moving through heavy rains, snowfall, and frozen black ice, the rovers make it through. This mountain track is myriads with tourists to Sandakphu. You can’t miss watching the magnificent views of Lhotse, Makalu, Kanchenjunga, and Mt Everest from a distance. It’s the most comfortable car for tourists.
This is Their Home – Land Rover of The 1950s
One of the world’s oldest utilitarian Rovers is a soul to this sandwiched village.
Features and Attributes
Land Rover Series 1 is a jagged and pragmatic 4X4 car that was created in the 1948 and 1958. Considered a versatile and multi-purpose, and lightweight industrial vehicle.
It has an 80-inch wheelbase and a petrol Rover P3 engine with a 1.6-liter capacity. As times changed, so did wheelbases from 80 to 86 inches, and 107 inches were added in 1954. They also added a larger engine to it, and later, diesel was added to it in later production.
Boxy panelled body that was brimabrights with an aluminum and steel ladder frame chassis. It has a two-speed transmission box with a four-wheel drive. This model was later replaced with Series 11.
Land Rover Series 11
A bit tougher than series 1, it was upgraded with a 2.25-liter petrol engine. In 1958 it was rethought about its blueprint and design. It was made more rounded in body and was super popular in the 1960s for its authentic and raw driving experience. It did not add any modern features like air coolers or mechanisms, keeping it classic and tough.
The more the curves, the more modern the look. Windows and rounded roofs made it look more wow. Its performance was good on tough roads yet again. Many countries, including Australia, had demands for this model. With straight-cut gearboxes, it gave good driver engagement. A legend on the road, it’s had its evolution and has endured in its appeal.
It was revamped from the series 1 and 11 from the years 1971-1985, and a 4-speed transmission was added. Gasoline and diesel engines with 4-cylinder engines have been added. Later models had soundproofing, tinted glasses, and comfort added.
Key Challenges of Rovers at Altitude! Let’s Save Them!
These rovers are epic, but they do face issues with maintenance and modern needs. The altitude and rural spaces don’t have enough access to mechanical wear, corrosion, and repairs get way too expensive. There are about 40 functional Land Rovers left due to multiple issues. The engines are replaced by modern ones. Chassis corrosion, oil leaks, wear and tear of the brake system, the steering box wears out over time, the delicate electric system, mechanical clutch becomes weaker, which needs constant maintenance.
The struggle to get the old vintage parts is tough and has seen a decline. The Local government and court have come out with a regulatory issue for the vehicle to phase out soon, as it has aged. The tourist also prefers modern vehicles over these Rovers.
Singalila Land Rover owner’s welfare association came together in 2004. Its main aim is to help preserve and support the iconic vehicles. The Land Rovers are celebrated here. In 2018, the Land Rover officially visited the village to celebrate the 70th anniversary. The trek was publicized, and the community came into the limelight with its documentary film. But the company hasn’t promised any support for this village yet. Well, the welfare association is trying to get permits and revive these vehicles, but the future still looks uncertain. But the welfare aims to build a strong stance to preserve these vehicles.