|
Full Day
Excursion
( Drive + Hike )
(A)
Naudanda – Lumle –
Chandrakote – Birethanti
After breakfast cross the Begnas lake by Shikara boats. At the Begnas
bazaar we will switch over to cars or a minicoach and drive towards
Pokhara, near the city entrance we take the bifurcation road towards Beni
and Baglung, hill towns west of Pokhara valley. The drive is very
interesting as we cross small Tibetan settlements of Hyangja and Suikhet
along the Yamdikhola river bank. The road then runs steep and winding as
we rise from the valley floor of 800m to Naudanda village at 1455m. The
mountain views from here are simply breathtaking. Straight ahead is the
famous Machhapuchare (6993m), to its right is Annapurna South (7219m) and
to its left, Annapurna II (7937m). The road then runs along the Naudanda
ridge offering a bird’s-eye view of Pokhara city and the Phewa lake. We
disembark at Lumle, an agricultural research centre funded and established
by the British government. From here we commence our hike westward along
the ridge which offers magnificent views of the surrounding countryside. A
short walk away is Chandrakote, a small village astride the eastern flank
of the Modikhola river, which cascades down from the Annapurna Base Camp.
From here one can have an uninterrupted view of Annapurna South and the
adjoining peak of Hiunchuli. Walk down steep stone steps to cross the
Modikhola river at Birethanti, a large trading village where pony caravans
are loaded to carry essentials such as kerosene, cloth, sugar, salt etc;
to remote mountain villages in the upper reaches of the Himalaya as well
as trading items across Mustang valley to Tibet. You may stop for lunch at
one of the good restaurants here. Explore this interesting village then
take a short walk down to the roadhead at Nayapul where your vehicle would
be waiting to take you to Begnas. (Total driving time 3hrs, walking time
3hrs) |
