Wandering On Nature's Lap

Annapurna Circuit/Parikrama--A Salute To Goddess Annapurna

noreply@blogger.com (amitap) — Thu, 27 May 2010 18:51:00 +0000

Day 1......Besisahar - Khudi - Bhulbhule -Ngadi - Bahundanda 17 km....Beginning of the trek...

One of the reasons why this trek is so popular is because although the zones visited are among the most remotes in the world,there’s always accommodation available.

Besisahar proves to be a big village. It takes half an hour before we finally pass the last houses. The pavement turns into a dust road. The world around us is green. The valley is still quite wide and is full of trees.

Marsyangdi River between Besi Sahar and Khudi

Beautiful Terraced Hillsides

Suspension bridge in Khudi (790m)

Suspension bridge on Khudi Khola(790m)

In Khudi the jeep track ends. From now on we will walk over a footpath. The next village Bhulbhule is the entry point for the Annapurna Circuit. The paperwork is done within a minute and we walk on. After a few minutes we can look into a side valley and we see the Himal Chuli towering seven thousand vertical meters above our heads. The mountain is 7.893 meter high.

Himal Chuli 7.893 m

The rice terraces near Bahundanda.

Another reason why this trek is so popular is the diversity of cultures and landscapes that the region offers. This zone is administered by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, which works to preserve the cultural and natural resources.After Ngadi the trail ascends for the first time. We are passing through lush green rice fields and atmospheric villages with wooden houses, adobe houses and stone houses.

Marsyandi River close to Besisahar.

The way to go following the Marsyandi

Day 2: Bahundanda - Ghermu - Jagat - Chamche - Tal 17 km........

Continued.......

Annapurna Circuit/Parikrama--A Salute To Goddess Annapurna

noreply@blogger.com (amitap) — Thu, 27 May 2010 09:57:00 +0000

In Kathmandu........

Bhaktpur--Bhaktapur has its gem in the Durbar Square—a World Heritage site listed by the UNESCO. Strewn with unique palaces, temples and monasteries best admired for their exquisite artworks in wood, metal and stone, the palatial enclave has bewitched pilgrims and travelers for centuries. Yet, they are not all though. Adding to the mesmerizing environs is the holy Himalaya that makes the backdrop of the city. Stretching all along the township, the panoramic Himalaya levitates in the skyline as if to keep vigilance on the city’s enviable beauty and splendor.

Darbar Square With Batsala Temple

Batsala temple-Bhupatindra Malla Statue

Bhaktapur, at 1,401 meters above sea level, spreads over an area of 6.88 square kilometers. It grows from a collection of villages strung along the old trade route between India and Tibet. The capital city of the Greater Malla Kingdom till the 15th century AD, Bhaktapur was founded in the 12th century by King Ananda Malla, but it was only in the early 18th century that this city took its present shape. It was at that time that many of Bhaktapur’s greatest monuments were built by the then Malla rulers.

-Nyatapola Temple on Taumadi Tole

Bhairavnath Temple

Rice terraces Everywhere around Besisahar

From kathmandu we traveled to Besisahar, on the southside of the Himalayas at only 800 meter elevation.From there it follows the Marsyangdi River, passes through the complete Himalaya range and subsequently turns westward, where the trail parallels the Himalaya Range and climbing ever more up along the Marsyangdi river to finally reach the Thorang La, the 5.417 meter high pass that divides the Marsyangdi Valley from the Kali Gandaki Valley. After a long way down, the trail reaches the Kali Gandaki Valley and turns southwards. From there the trek passes again through the Himalayas in the deepest gorges of the world and makes one more big ascent to Poon Hill, a viewpoint mountain. From there the trail goes down south and reaches the final destination of Nayapul.

Road beyond Besisahar

A Nepal normal visa only allows you to visit Kathmandu, Pokhara and the Royal Chitwan National Park. If you want to make a trek that lasts more than one day you’ll need the permit, which you can only obtain in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Continued..........

Annapurna Circuit/Parikrama--A Salute To Goddess Annapurna

noreply@blogger.com (amitap) — Wed, 26 May 2010 16:54:00 +0000

"Silence seeks the center

of every tree and rock,

that thing we hold closest,

the end of songs."<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;lley,pisang,annapurna,circuit,poon hill&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=path0d-20&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;o=1&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;p=8&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;l=bpl&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;asins=B002NX0TEE&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;fc1=070210&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;IS2=1&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt1=_blank&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;m=amazon&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lc1=E11010&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;bc1=000000&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;bg1=5A1CEB&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;f=ifr" style="padding-top: 5px; width: 131px; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" align="right" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Annapurna Circuit trek is a most scenic and adventurous trek which includes the most fascinating sun rises,sunsets,beautiful valley views,landscapes.

An ancient bed rock of kali Gandki River where Shaligrams Can be found

The Annapurna region is that north of Pokhara in Central Nepal, and includes some of the world's highest and most beautiful mountains. These include the Annapurna range, Dhaulagiri and Machhapuchhre - the famous fish-tail mountain that dominates the skyline above Pokhara. In addition this area boasts the Kali Gandaki, the world's deepest gorge
.

A Suspension Bridge

The receding glacier

Annapurna region is most happening trekking destination of Nepal.The trek starts from Besishahar and goes along the Marshyangdi River,with great view of Manashlu,Himal Chuli to the east. This magnificent trek leads to fine villages inhabited by a wide diversity of people from different ethnic groups,with spectacular,majestic views of the Himalayas. As it continues to the north of the main Himalayan range on to the high and dry Tibetan Plateau, the scenery is equally breathtaking.

Rice Fields Everywhere

A Small Settlement of Lupra

Maryasangdi Khola(River)

The highest point of the trek is Thorungla pass at the top of the valley at 5416m high. Due to the difficulties of crossing the pass, the circuit is usually walked in a counter clockwise direction.

Sunset Over Manang Valley

A Beautiful Terraced Settlement

Continued.......