Around Manasulu and Annapurna circuit

Around Manasulu

The Manasulu circuit is one of the best remote trekking area in Nepal. The most prominent of the peaks are Baudha himal, Gorkha Himal and Himal Chuli. the area is bordered by two major river systems .to the east Budhi Gandaki and to the west Marshandi Khola . most attraction of this treks are the views of the Manaslu range and the Annapuna ranges and the forest and bird life along the ridge. The course starts from Gorkha. The ancestral seat of the reigning Shah dynasty, and the temple of Manakamana, one of the most popular pilgrimage sites for Hindu devotees. The route follows the rugged gorge of the Budhi Gandaki river through wild Gurung country. As the land rises the people change to more Tibetan-influenced Bhotia, and the first of many extensive mani walls appears before crossing the Larkya pass. It is one of the easier high passes in Nepal. But heavy snow can make the route difficult especially on the western side where deep snow drifts are likely to be found.

Flora and fauna
The range of geographical and climatic regions has led to a diverse variety of flora and fauna with in this region. these parts of area are heavily cultivated and the landscape is terraced paddy fields for most of the year.the higher up in the hills the natural vegetation changes from the tropical species to more temperate stands of forest trees including oak, beech and rhododendron. There is not a large variety of animals will be spotted although barking deer and Himalayan marmots may be spotted above the tree line. Pheasants may be seen in the jungles just below the tree line and all of the usual alpine birds including ravens, coughs and various birds of prey.

People and culture
The most prominent ethnic groups in this region are the Gurung, Braman, chetri, Manangba, Tamang and Tibetan. Above the tree line near Larke Pass, people of Tibetan origin inhabit several villages. A number of large Buddhist monasteries are to be seen in the upper reaches of the Budhi Gandaki.

Part of Annapurna Circuit

Annapurna area is the most popular trekking region in Nepal, every year visited by 70 percent of trekkers, and for good reason. the deep valleys and high mountains encircling the giant Annapurna himal embrace a wide range of peoples and terrains, from subtropical jungle to a geographic extension of high, dry , Tibetan Plateau. The scenery is superb mix of lush vegetation, mountain peaks and an endlessly changing procession of people.

The course is called the Marshyandi trail. It goes upstream along the Marshyandi river. Trek through canyons and gorges and move on the north side of Himalayas pass Manang. Which was once kingdom.Cross Palace, people that live in the villages on this route are the Brahman, Cheetris, Newars, Tamangs, Gurungs and brought about by Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism.you will also see the climatic and environmental distinctiveness of the both in the south and the north of the Himalayas.

The course is called the Marshyandi trail. It goes upstream along the Marshyandi river. Trek through canyons and gorges and move on the north side of Himalayas pass Manang. Which was once kingdom.Cross Palace, people that live in the villages on this route are the Brahman, Cheetris, Newars, Tamangs, Gurungs and brought about by Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism.you will also see the climatic and environmental distinctiveness of the both in the south and the north of the Himalayas.

Flora and Fauna
As can be imagined, the range of geographical and climatic regions has led to a diverse variety of flora and fauna within the Annapurna region. Both Pokhara and Besishahar are below 1000 meter elevation and their climate is quiet tropical. These parts of area are heavily cultivated and the landscape, therefore, largely consists of terraced paddy fields for most of the year. The area is also famous for its winter crops of oranges, which can be purchased fresh from the trees along the trails in the foothills. As you progress higher up into the hills the natural vegetation changes from the tropical species to more temperate stands of forest trees including oak, beech and rhododendron. These finally give way to coniferous forests of pine and, ultimately, juniper just below the tree line. In the rain shadow, to the north of the mountains, the landscape is quite barren being an extension south of the Tibetan plateau. Here there are only stunted bushes and shrubs except for close to the rivers where irrigated cropping is possible.

Native animals to be seen include many birds the most obvious being the pika, blue sheep and Himalayan Tahr.

People and culture
The most prominent ethnic groups in the Annapurna region are the Gurung, the Thakali and the Manangba. The Gurungs are the most widely distributed being found from the hills of Gorkha district to as far west as Palpa. There heartland, however, is centered on the hills and valleys between the Marsyandi river and the kali Gandaki. The Thakali come from the upper kali Gandaki valley around Jomsom where their traditional farming has being supplemented by trade and, in particular, hotel and restaurant businesses. The Manangba are found in the upper reaches of the Marsyandi River and are in many ways similar to the Gurungs to whom they are possibly related. They are skilled traders and trace their roots back to Tibet. Religiously, the Manangba and the Gurungs of the upper hills is Buddhist with traces of their ancient, shamanistic faith still apparent. The communities live further south are predominantly Hindu.

All of the communities, particularly the Gurungs are famed for their cultural performances, which are easily seen while trekking in the region. Many villages along the trails will arrange performances for trekkers during the main seasons.

Trekking styles:
Most of the trekking routes in the Annapurna region are well serviced by teahouses for most of their length. This is particularly true for most popular treks-the Jomsom trek, the Annapurna circuit and Annapurna base camp treks.

Trekkers should be aware, however that there is always the risk of being stranded by bad weather or injury/sickness between teahouses, particularly in the more remote parts of the trek itineraries. a good example is on the Annapurna circuit where there is one very long day when the high pass of Thorong La has to be crossed. There is little or no shelter available for most of this day and some trekkers have been caught unprepared by bad weather and altitude problems.

The treks in less developed areas, particularly the Dhaulagiri circuit and the trek east of Lamjung, definitely require trekkers to be self sufficient in food and shelter.

The classic trek in the Annapurna region is the Annapurna circuit. The complete circuit has only been possible since mid 1980’s when the Manang area was officially opened up to non-Nepali visitors. For and all-round experience of the scenery and culture of Nepal this trek has a lot to offer. Starting in the lush Marsyandi valley, that separates the Annapurna range from that of Manaslu, the scenery is composed of lush cultivated fields with dense forests on either side. In the winter season, orange tree are laden with fruits and fragrant frangipani blossoms cast their scent along the trails. As you travel higher the valley becomes more rugged until the villages and forests finally give way to the arid hills of Manang. The Thorong La pass, at 5416 meters, marks the highpoint of the treks after which the trail joins the kali Gandaki river that flows through the deepest gorge on earth.

This is a challenging trek that is not without some risks. The crossing of Thorong La can be dangerous at times, especially during unexpected snowfall so potential trekkers must make sure that they are well prepared and equipped for all eventualities. The trek can be completed in a minimum of fifteen days, starting in Kathmandu and finishing in Pokhara. If a few extra days are allowed for it is then possible to enjoy several of the possible side trips and add immeasurably to the experience. And entry permit for the Annapurna conservation area project (ACAP) is needed for this trek.

The first few days of the trek follow the Marshyangdi through scattered farming communities by a mixer predominantly composed of Gurungs but with a sizeable numbers of Brahmin communities. The crop range from rice and wheat at the lower elevations to corn, millet and barley as the altitude increases. Above the valley floor the hills are cloaked in forest with the occasional clearing indicating human settlements. Higher still, the snowy peak of the Annapurna and the Manaslu ranges dominate the skyline. A feature of this section of the trek is the number of high waterfalls that cascade down into the main river. The valley rises slowly slow altitude sickness is rarely a problem at this stage.

After a four days on the trail the river, which has been flowing from the north changes its course and flows from the west. At this point the landscape changes with steep rocky gorges on its side and large stands of pine making up the forest cover. By the time the district headquarters of Chame has been passed the hills are becoming more and more barren and the people predominantly Manangba. Look for a number of ancient temples, some of which represent the pre-Buddhist, Bon religion.

The tree line is reached a few hours before arriving at mustang where a compulsory rest day should be taken for acclimatization to the increasing altitude. There are a number of possible side trips from Manang that can be taken on the acclimatization day. Perhaps the most spectacular is to the west, across the river and up to the Gangapurna glacier with its deep blue lake formed by the melting glacial ice. The Himalayan rescue association clinic is located in Manang village and holds afternoon awareness lectures for trekkers warning of the dangers of AMS. These lectures are well worth attending.

From Manang, the trial passes through high alpine pastures until the small cluster of teahouses at Thorong Phedi id reached. An early morning start from here will allow you to reach Thorong La by mid morning and then start the long descent across the scree slopes to Muktinath before the afternoon cloud sweeps in. the whole section have no permanent settlements and shelter is hard to find. For safety, trekkers should never travel alone this section.

Muktinath, a famed pilgrimage site for both Buddhists and Hindus, is the first major settlement reached after the crossing of Thorong La. Be sure to visit the temples here and especially look for the eternal flame, fuelled by natural gas, which can be found in the small Buddhist temple below the main shrine.

From Muktinath the views of the west are now of the Dhaulagiri range while to the north can be seen the arid hills of upper mustang. The trial Leeds down through villages inhabited by people of Tibetan stock until it reaches the banks of the kali Gandaki River, the home of Thakali people. A further four days trekking down through this, the deepest valley on earth, brings you to the road head at Beni from where buses to Pokhara can be found. Settlements of particular interest below Muktinath are Jomsom with its airport, a possible exit point to Pokhara,