There are two suspension
bridges across Bhurungdi Khola, which you should pass
by. The trail still passes few lodges & after one
hour reaches to Hille, then again 15 minutes walk takes
you to Tirkhedhunga for the night halt.
Day 02: Tirkhedhunga-Ghorepani 2750m
5-6 hrs
Today the walk is almost through the stone steps up
to Ulleri. After the last suspension bridge at Tirkhedhunga,
more than 3000 stone steps stand between you and the
breath taking views from Ulleri. This pretty slate roofed
village is largely comprised of Magar People. They are
Tibeto-Burman in origin & very skilled craftsmen
in stone & wood. From here you can have the good
views of Annapurna South and Himchuli as well as the
Bhurungdi Valley below. Now the trail climbs less steeply
and after an hour reaches to Banthanti where few tourist
lodges are situated, after the last lodge the beautiful
rhododendron forest begins, which is really spectacular
in March & April. About two hours gradually ascend
the trail reaches to Ghorepani, surrounded by Rhododendron
Forest & this village is inhabited by the Magars
(ethnic group).
Day 03: Excursion to Poon Hill 3 hrs
3193m/ TrekGhorepani-Tadapani.2595 m 4 hrs
Wake up early in the morning 0500 hrs for the excursion
to Poon Hill (3193 m), you can hear the sounds of trekkers
preparing for the pre-dawn assault on Poon Hill. Take
great care on the path up the hill, as it can be slippery
in places. It takes about an hour to climb the top.
As the sun rises, the views are literally breathtaking,
a wide Himalayan panorama stretching from Dhaulagiri
8167m (the world's seventh highest peak) to Manaslu
8156m (the world's eighth highest peak) in the east,
with the mighty Annapurna range in between them. Then
come back to Ghorepani, have breakfast & start the
walk towards Tadapani. The walk to Tadapani passes through
the forest of Rhododendron and several ups & downs
& reaches after about 4-hrs walk to Tadapani for
the night halt.
Day 04: Tadapani-Chomrong 2170m 5
hrs
Leave Tadapani on the path that begins from Grand Guesthouse.
After short distance, this trail veers to the north
and comes out into a small clearing before dropping
steeply through the rhododendrons. After another clearing
you follow a wall, cross a stile and reach Chisapani.
The trail then drops steeply to Chiukle, where few lodges
are located. A maze of small paths leads down through
the terraced fields to the big suspension bridge, over
the Kimrong Khola. From the bridge, the trail climbs
past the school and along the terraces to the little
village of Klisigo Chiukle . After sometime is series
of waterfalls. From here the trail climbs a little &
contours along the terraces to join the main Ghandrung-Chomrong
route.
Day 05: Chomrong-Himalaya Hotel 2920m
6 hrs
From the lower part of the village, you descend to the
suspension bridge over the Chomrong Khola and climb
steeply at first. After Sinuwa the trail also changes
from the wide path to a surprisingly narrow path enveloped
by mixed rhododendron forest, which sets the valley
ablaze during April. After 4-hrs walk in this trail
reach Kuldigar. The path from here to Bamboo (30 min)
is steeply downhill and you soon enter the damp bamboo
forest from which the collection of lodges takes its
name. From Bamboo the trail climbs steadily, crossing
first the bamboo Khola and then several small streams,
until eventually it reaches three lodges in a forest
clearing to Dovan (1.30 hrs). The next stretch of forest
from Dovan to Himalaya Hotel is the sacred home of a
deity Panchhi Baraha. About half an hour from Dovan
is situated this shrine. Next door to the shrine is
a view of an impressive waterfall. Passing the Modi
Khola the trail goes steeply up to Himalaya Hotel &
reaches for the night halt.
Day
06: Himalaya Hotel-Machhapuchre Base Camp 3700m 5 hrs
About one hour distance from Himalaya hotel stands the
huge rock that forms Hinku Cave. A favourite camping
shelter and landmark for mountaineering expeditions,
the teahouses here are no more. This is still a pleasant
place to rest. About 30 minutes from Hinku Cave is Deurali.
Between Hinku Cave & Deurali is an area of boulders
and low scrub (no trees), an unmistakable sign of an
avalanche area. The gully is also prone to avalanches,
which thunder through the deep gash in the mountainside.
It is rare that there isn't avalanche debris here. After
Deurali the trail crosses several streams, all of which
experience avalanches. You now enter the sanctuary itself
and you cross a small stream on a wooden bridge to a
junction, where few numbers of lodges are located.
Day 07: Excursion to Annapurna Base
Camp 4130m & trek back to Himalaya Hotel. 6 hrs
The path up here is not particularly steep. And you
will find this stretch very pleasant, a gentle uphill
stroll along the river, through the tranquil meadows
with many boulders to rest upon and gaze in awe at the
surrounding peaks. From here the panorama is breath
taking. Annapurna I rear above rubble covered glacier
while to the south Himchuli and Annapurna South loom
behind. Machhapuchre (Mt. Fishtail) is magnificent and
even Annapurna III can be seen. For a view of Gangapurna
climb the moraine with a few rock cairns to the south.
Have a complete rest & the lifetime views of the
Annapurna Ranges trek back the same way back to Himalaya-Hotel.
Day 08: Trek back the same way Himalaya
Hotel-Chomrong. 5 hrs
Day 09: Chomrong-Pothana 1900m 5 hrs
Leaving Chomrong follow the main trail of Upper Chomrong
to Summit View at Daulu. 45 min away down a steeply
descending path is Jhinu Danda dotted with teahouses.
Continue the descend & cross the bridge over Khumrong
Khola after an hour reach to New Bridge. Drop briefly
to a set of lodges and the large suspension bridge over
Modi Khola. Now the trail to Landrung continues through
the trees along the river before gaining height, passing
through terraced rice fields. After crossing a small
suspension bridge take the stone steps to climb to the
first few lodges to Landrung. Between Landrung and the
pass, Bichowk Deurali, the trail winds around two sides
of valleys and climbs 550 m. After sometime , the trail
reaches to Tolka. From Tolka the trail continues on
the level until it reaches to the remains of the old
suspension bridge at Bheri Kharka, after which there's
a stiff climb through the trees to pass & reaches
Bichowk Deurali. There are views through the rhododendrons
in several directions, and Dhaulagiri is visible from
here. The path, now partly paved, descends gently to
Pothana. We stop at Pothana for the night halt.
Day 10: From Pothana trek about
for two hours through the beautiful landscape and reach
to Dhampus 1650 m & then drive to Pokhara for about
2 hrs.
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