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The Annapurna Conservation region is the most geographically
and culturally diverse protected area anywhere in the World.
Nowhere else in Nepal can one meet and experience such a
wide variety of human culture. There are seven ethnic groups
living and working the region, from Hindu farmers to Tibetan
Lamas. Due to the extremes of elevation the region contains
a remarkable diversity of flora; from sub-tropical lowland
forests of oak, bamboo and rhododendron in the south to
the high alpine meadows and windswept desert plateaus in
the north, bordering Tibet
Beside the Everest region, the area around the Annapurna
massif is perhaps the best known trekking destination in
Nepal. Based on sheer numbers of trekking visitors it is
certainly the most popular. As the title suggests, the centre
piece of this part of Nepal is the range of mountains that
includes Annapurna I, the first of the 8000 meter peaks
to be climbed. Also included in this general area is another
8000 meter giant, Dhaulagiri , which is located west of
Annapurna I. Between these two mountains runs the valley
of the Kali-Gandaki River, the deepest gorge on earth. Combine
this with lush, fertile farming land, stands of undistributed
natural forest and a mixture of different ethnic inhabitants
and you have a diverse range of experiences that makes this
area one of the most satisfying trekking destinations in
Nepal.
The fact that the main Himalayan range runs south of the
border with Tibet means that that the northern parts of
the area are in the rain shadow and are considerably drier
than the southern slopes of the mountains. This leads to
unusually diverse landscapes.
Permits and Fees
For most of the Annapurna trekking area, no trekking permits
are required. The exception is upper Mustang where a fee
of US$700 per person is levied for a ten-day visit. Additional
restrictions relating to Mustang will be outlined later.
Most of the area discussed in the trek descriptions is within
the area controlled by Annapurna Conservation Area Project.
Entry to this area is controlled and an entry permit has
to be purchased. The permit must be purchased before starting
the trek and can be obtained in Kathmandu or Pokhara . The
proceeds of these fees are largely used for the local community
development within the project area.
Getting There
Regardless of the trek chosen it is most likely that Pokhara
will be either starting or ending point of your trek. Pokhara
is located 200 km. west of Kathmandu and can be reached
by road in five to six hour or by air in 30 minutes from
the capital. For road travel there are a number of tourist
buses available daily from Kathmandu and from Chitwan.
There is no shortage of tourist facilities to be found in
and around Pokhara. The main center for tourists is at the
side of the largest of the three lakes in the area, Phewa
Tal. The suburbs of Lakeside and Damside both provide a
wide range of accommodation and restaurants along with the
usual variety of trekking and traveling agencies and suppliers
of souvenirs and trekking equipment. For those trekking
in the eastern side of the Annapurna massif the most likely
starting point will be Besishahar, the district headquarters
of Lamjung district. Buses from Kathmandu, Pokhara and the
Terai arrive and depart here on a regular daily basis. The
bus trip from Kathmandu to Besishahar takes around four
to five hours but, at this time, there are no tourist bus
services available.
Most treks starting or ending in Pokhara will require the
use of buses or hired cars to reach the trailheads. Specific
details appear in the trek descriptions.
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.
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.
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.
When to visit?
As with most of the trekking areas in Nepal, the best time
to visit are during spring and autumn. Spring is the time
for rhododendrons while the clearest skies are found after
the monsoon in October and November. At these times the
weather is generally mild and there is little rainfall.
Unlike other parts of Nepal, the monsoon, from June to September,
is the ideal time to visit pats of the region that falls
in the rain shadow. In particular, upper mustang is the
perfect destination during the rainy season. The winter
months provide good trekking conditions throughout the foothills
but some of the higher passes will be closed due to snow.
Hiring Staffs
If you have not traveled from Kathmandu with your staffs
then you will be able to make all of the necessary arrangements
in Pokhara through one of the many trekking agencies that
have offices in lakeside. This is generally only place where
such arrangements can be reliably made although porters
will often be found at centers such as Besishahar at the
start of the Annapurna circuit.
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