Tag: trekking

Annapurna is the series of mountain including Annapurna I 9091m. The Annapurna panoramic Himalayan range is known as the most beautiful mountain range in the world. The Annapurna circuit trekking is one of the best trekking in the world. The beauty of Annapurna is snow fun in the winter and full blossom of Rhododendron flower in spring. The other attractions are fresh water lake (Tilocho Lake at an altitude 5000m) the highest lake in the world, world’s deepest gorge (Kaligandaki gorge 4.8km deep), the barren mountains, Himalayan peaks attracting to the tourist.
In 1992, Annapurna Conservation Area is established to conserve the flora, fauna, culture and its nature and ecosystem. This is the biggest conservation area which covers 7629 sqkm with different climate, geography and starts from 760m to 8091m. Annapurna conservation are harbor 1400 different types of plants, 128 spices of wild animal, 518 spices of birds, 40 spices of reptile, 23 spices of amphibians and 350 spices of butterfly.
Annapurna glacier flourish Marshyangdi river to the north east, Kali gandaki (holy river) to the west south, Seti river, Modi river, Madi river to the east south. All the river combines and form as Narayani river when they arrive done to Terai (Narayanghad) south. The damodar Kunda (holy lake) and Muktinath Temple is also considered a sacred site to the Hindus. Approximately 100000 people live within the park. There are around 1000 lodges to supply the food and accommodation to the tourist. The lower village, there are mixed type people (Bramin, chhetri, Gurung, Magar etc) live and in the higher village Tibetan Bhotias (Gurung and Thakali) are the major resident. The lower village people cultivate rice, wheat, corn and also have farming and small business where as the upper village people do yak and sheep farming and logistic business to their living.
There are nice and tiny lodges and available good food to the tourist. There are small village with lodges and tea shop in every one-hour distance. From Manang to Muktinath has limited village to serve the tourist. The lodges are fully occupied in tourist season and the average is 40% busy within the year. The average expenses are about 10-15US$ per tourist for food and sleep whereas they spent US$39 per tourist (permit, transport, meal, sleep, guide, porter etc) per day.
Annapurna Conservation Area Project running training to the local, building trails, maintaining and motivation program to conserve the wildlife and nature. Even though, the environment issue is getting tougher. One study said that one tourist produces 1kg non bio degradable garbage per day and the local are consuming more and more firewood for cooking and etc. The highest number recorded more than 200000 tourists per year including domestic.
After COVID 19 pandemic, one study said that over 20000 guide loses their job, hundreds of tourist agency close their business, 230000 jobs are badly affected. Thinking of the crisis whether it is about nature conservation or earning or creating more jobs and earning, there should be a master plan. The lodge standard could be upgraded and the trekking guide and porter could have refreshment training. It seems like that should have to be done soon.
Trekking in Annapurna
Trekking in Annapurna is not very demanding as it there are lodges for accommodation and can buy a food from lodges. The trekking can be hard or serious even life threatening if any one do not care enough before start. It requires a proper clothing, enough information about the recent changes, personal physical condition, and good knowledgeable guide.
The major trekking itinerary are as following
I. Annapurna circuit trekking (12-15days)
II. Annapurna base camp trekking (7-10 days)
III. Ghodepani trekking (4-5 days)
IV. Upper Mustang trekking (12-15 days)
V. Mardi Himal trekking (7-9 days)
VI. Jomsom Muktinath Trekking (7-10 days)
VII. Kopre Ridge Trek (7 days)

The above mention information and statistic are taken from ntnc.org.np and an article from The Kathmandu Port 13/10/2022.