Sunday, November 20, 2011
Manaslu Trekking
HIGHLIGHT OF THE TRIP:
Exciting Bamboo Bridge to cross - Familiarizes to the multi-ethnic villagers of the region - Scenic views of Tibet and an insight into Tibetan way of living through various monasteries and Tibetan settlements - An exciting climb to Shyala for a panaromic view of Himalchuli - Trekking in ankle-deep snow - Wonderful passes "Larkhya Pass"
PLACE COVERS: Aarughat / Ghap / Samdo / Lho / Dharamashala / Larkya La pass (5213m), Besishar
Fact of the Trek Tour Destination:
- Manaslu Trek Duration: 20 days
- Activities: Cultural tour/ Trekking
- Maximum altitude: 4190m
- Best season: Sep/ Oct/ Nov/ Feb/ March/ Apr/ May/ June.
- Trip starts/Ends: In Kathmandu (Capital of Nepal)
- Accommodations: 2 nights Hotel in Kathmandu, 2 nights in Pokhara at 3 stars level & 9 nights Tea-house in trekking.
- Meals includes: 19 Breakfasts/ 17 Lunch/17 Dinner.
- Transport: By tourist bus from Kathmandu/ Arughat/ Beshishar/ Kathmandu.
Manaslu Trekking is yet untouched trekking trail in Gorkha, Nepal and it is located in the western part of Nepal. Mt. Manaslu at 8163m (26, 775') is the eight highest peaks in the world which was opened for the trekking purpose only in 1992. It is located near to the border of Nepal and Tibet.
The name Manaslu means "The spirit-mountain", the local dialects refer it to be the benevolent and strong deity that dwells within. It is a well-known and well-loved trekking trail in Nepal Himalaya, as that provides perfect views of mountains, combination of rich cultural heritage, genuine adventure trekking experience, incomparable beauty and biological variety. It is no doubt that the trekking in Manaslu Himalaya region is one of the delightful adventure trekking in Nepal, as it provides spectacular beauty along the border of Nepal and Tibet. Mt. Manaslu located in the east of Annapurna Himalaya range and the trekking in Manaslu is a controlled one which is called restricted area trekking as well. Therefore, the permission must be taken prior to organize trekking in the adventure route.
However, the trekking to this area has been considered to be one of the finest tourist destinations in Nepal for those looking for adventure trekking and the cultural heritage as well, as one can enjoy with the panoramic views of the majestic Himalayas stretched across the area, in between the route consists of cultural diversities and natural scenery with high altitude romantic glacier lakes and fascinating floras and faunas, these all the features have made the route one of the best adventure trekking Region.
The trekking in Manaslu begins from Gorkha along with Larke pass (5420 m.) after passing the Pass, we continue our trekking to the Annapurna trails to Besisahar then drive back to kathmandu. Basically, the trekking in this region has to be organized in camping style however guest houses are started to built along the route so, small groups can do the trekking in this region on basic tea house style as well, we organize both styles as for the camping for those groups looking to have real experience of camping trekking as basic tea house for those who are happy with basic facilities. We frequently departure this trip for those looking for group, and private trek can be arranged any time as per your requirements, These types of departures are suitable for couples, families, charity and small groups of friends.
General Itinerary
| Day 01: Arrive and visit our office for details information. O/N at the hotel in Kathmandu. |
| Day 02: Make a permit and basic preparation of the trek. O/N at the hotel in Kathmandu. |
| Day 03: Drive to Arughat (700m). Driving 5:30 hours |
| Day 04: Trek to Sati Khola (815m). O/N at Tented Camp |
| Day 05: Trek to Labu Besi (900m.) O/N at Tented Camp |
| Day 06: Trek to Jagat (1250m). O/N at Tented Camp |
| Day 07: Trek to Ngyak (1950m). O/N at Tented Camp |
| Day 08: Trek to Ghap (2050m)O/N at the Tented camp |
| Day 09: Trek to Lho (3148m). O/N at Tented Camp |
| Day 10: Trek to Samagompa (3517m). O/N at Tented Camp |
| Day 11: Trek to Samdo (3738m). O/N at Tented Camp |
| Day 12: Trek to Dharamashala( 4480) O/N at Tented Camp |
| Day 13: Rest and acclimatization. O/N at Tented Camp |
| Day 14: Larkya La pass (5213m), and trek down to Bhimtang (3890m). O/N at Tented Camp |
| Day 15: Trek to Tilje (3010m). O/N at Tented Camp |
| Day 16: Trek to Tal (1725m). O/N at Tented Camp |
| Day 17: Trek to Syange(1175m). O/N at Tented Camp |
| Day 18: Trek to Besishar(825m). O/N at Tented Camp |
| Day 19: Drive to Kathmandu. O/N at the hotel in Kathmandu. |
| Day 20: Departure from Nepal |
Hotels in Gorkha
 The Gorkha Crown Resort (P) Ltd., Gorkha is to be found perched on a ridge at an elevation of 1000m above sea level and only 33 km. away from Manakamana Cable Car in Kurintar. Nestle in the Himalayas, Nepal has been described as "The Country Where Mortals Minge With Deities". Gorkha, its timeless 'Old Capital' is a melting pot of Himalayan Culture and offers some of the most spectacular views of the diverse Natural Beauty of this Himalayan country. Gorkha is also synonymous with Bravery as the famous Gorkhali Soldiers hail from here. Gorkha is also the Ancestral Seat of the Shah King Dynasty from where the country was unified as One Nation. The Gorkhalis feel everyone should visit Gorkha at least once in their lifetime to truly know the ... more | ||
 Gorkha Hill Resort, Keyman is situated 132 Km west from Kathmandu. All 24 rooms come with attached bathroom, hot and cold water, wall to wall carpet. Restaurant serving Nepali, Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisine. Gorkha is the Palace where the late King Prithi Narayan Shah was borned and unified the whole Nepal. It is famous for the Palace called 'Gorkha Palace', mountains, one can see the beauty of Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, Himalchuli, Peak 29 etc. Gorkha is an interesting town midway between Kathmandu and Pokhara. The surrounding area is fantastic. Gorkha is 25km north of the road between Pokhara and Kathmandu. There are some interesting walks in the area. Not many tourists visit here. Prithvi Narayan Shah became the king of ... more | ||
 Bandipir and The Old Inn - In the warm heart of Nepal. 'Trust your sixth sense, Visit Bandipir and indulge the other five'. The enchanting paradox of Bandipur is that although it is the definitive mountain town there is in fact nowhere else quite like it. You’ll love its eagle’s nest location, its lazy walks through orange groves, its simple architecture and you’ll never forget the utterly stunning pink-tinged Himalayan skyline of dawn – and another before twilight. Its sense of history is unique too for it was a centre of exotic trade between lowland and highland and between British India and independent Tibet and it is this fact of history that explains its prosperity and faded grandeur. Its location, between Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan, further ... more | ||
 Gorkha District, a part of Gandaki Zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal, a landlocked country of South Asia. The district, with Pokharithok, later known as Prithivi Narayan Nagarpalika as its district headquarters, covers an area of 3,610km² and has a population (2001) of 288,134. It is the location of the Manakamana Temple.[citation needed] Also, the temples of great sage Gorakh Nath and goddess Gorakh Kali temple is located in district, after which the district got its name. Four major rivers run within and along it, they are Chepe, Daraudi, Marsyangdi and Budhi Gandaki. Also view the palace building, one of Nepal's historical landmark, some buildings have interesting wood carvings portraying various romantic scenes. Also viwe the temple of Goddess Gorakhkali residing on the west side of the palace. To view sunrise from the palace, climb very early in the morning.Gorkha is an interesting town midway between Kathmandu and Pokhara. The surrounding area is fantastic. Gorkha is 25km north of the road between Pokhara and Kathmandu. There are some interesting walks in the area. Not many tourists visit here.There are some budget places there the Gorkha bus station.
 Prithvi Narayan Shah became the king of Gorkha in 1743 and two years later started a 25-year campaign to eventually take over the Kathmandu Valley and the rest of Nepal. After conquering Kathmandu Valley in 1769, Prithvi Narayan Shah moved the capital of Nepal to Kathmandu. By the beginning of the 18th century Gorkha had become a minor town.The area around Gorkha is a place of Maoist insurgents, and there have been some problems in the area. The police may be having a 10 pm curfew.A 25 kilometer road off the main highway connecting Pokhara and Kathmandu brings you to an ancient Gorkha - the untouched and captivating town of Nepal! Some 300 years ago, Nepal was divided into 50 tiny states, and Gorkha was one of them. King Prithivi Narayan Shah, the founder of `Shah Dynasty' which runs Nepal today, unified Nepal into one kingdom. His Gorkha palace resides on top of a hill at an altitude of 3281 feet (about 1000 meter) The King would watch-over his people as far as his eyes could see from the tallest palace in the very center of Nepal! Gorkha is also the home of Gurkhas - the legendary brave warriors who fought with knives against guns. Village Development Committees VDC's & Towns of Gorkha District:
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Restaurant review: DC Diner, Coventry The gimmick of housing a diner in an old plane rather appealed to our critic… until the food started arriving
Restaurant review: DC Diner, Coventry
The gimmick of housing a diner in an old plane rather appealed to our critic… until the food started arriving
In restaurants, themes are not necessarily a bad thing. Lots of good restaurants pretend to be French brasseries, Italian trattorias, Spanish tapas bars or retro American burger joints: nothing wrong with that. The customer immediately understands what they are trying to do, and can calibrate their expectations accordingly.
Gimmicks are different. A gimmick can all too easily take a restaurateur's eye off the ball. Aureole in Las Vegas, for instance, stores its wine in a four storey-high transparent tower: to fetch your bottle, "wine angels" – young women in skintight catsuits – don a harness, are towed up in the air and descend with your plonk. I know a few people who have been to Aureole and no one has ever mentioned the food. That's the textbook sign of a gimmick – that it's the only thing about a restaurant that you notice or remember.
The gimmick at DC Diner isn't the "diner" part, it's the "DC". The restaurant is in a plane, a McDonnell Douglas DC6 that took its last flight in 2006 and now lives permanently at Coventry airport. (This is at the opposite side of the airport from the free Midland Air Museum.) This plane rolled off the production lines in 1958, and the last thing it did was take part in the filming of Casino Royale; long before that, it belonged to the CIA airline Air America and was involved in covert activities in south-east Asia. If this plane could talk, it would specialise in telling alarming stories in a gravelly, bourbon-and-cigars voice. It probably knows who killed JFK.
Diners have a tradition of being made from adapted and improvised structures – railway carriages and the like – so there's no reason a plane shouldn't work. I like planes but hate flying, so it was a perfect setup for me. It was nice to sit in a plane, but in a comfortable, non-plane seat at a comfortable, non-plane table, and thank the heavens that I wasn't at 30,000ft, gibbering with fear. At least, I wasn't gibbering with fear until the food arrived, and I realised that I was meant to eat it.
Where to begin? Maybe with the chicken and mushroom pie. This looked plausible until we took off the pastry lid and found nothing there. A short, determined search eventually located the filling, which had migrated underneath the soggy chips, presumably during the trip from the kitchen – which is outside, down the steps and along a polytunnel, not far from the loos. (Outside those loos, a marketing slogan proudly boasts about being "Number One In Number Twos". Just the thought you want rattling round your head as you sit down to eat.)
Burgers? Terrible, like the worst burger you ever got a third of the way through at a motorway service station: an ice-hockey puck of overcooked mystery meat. Also sinister were my younger son's chicken nuggets. There is an evolutionary scale of nuggets, ranging from the organically sourced and lovingly made down to specimens that leave you tearful with relief when your children refuse to eat them. These were that second type. The one dish that was sort-of OK was a seafood spaghetti in tomato sauce. It was heavy on the fishsticks and the parmesan (which Italians never eat with seafood), but it was at least edible. The garlic bread with it was also OK. It's hard to screw up ice-cream out of a tub, and they didn't, though Mövenpick is pretty ordinary stuff. Treacle pudding was thick and floury and oversweet. We went at lunch; the evening menu looks similar, but the website says the diner "becomes a more intimate restaurant, oozing elegance and style". The word that stays with me there is "oozing".
With two glasses of wine, two mineral waters and two Cokes, all this came to £38. I was reminded of Elizabeth David's maxim that bad food is always expensive, and it was slow, too – we were in there for more than an hour and a half. Since airline catering is such rubbish, I suppose you could just about argue that it's consistent with the theme idea for the food to be so poor. It's sad, though, to see so much care lavished on the old planes and so little on the customers.
Gorkha district
Gorkha district, a part of Gandaki zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal, a landlocked country of South Asia. The district, with Gorkha as its district headquarters, covers an area of 3,610 km² and has a population (2001) of 288,134.
The famous Manokamana temple is in the Gorkha district
A 25 kilometer road off the main highway connecting Pokhara andKathmandu brings you to an ancient Gorkha - the untouched and captivating town of Nepal! Some 300 years ago, Nepal was divided into 50 tiny states, and Gorkha was one of them. King Prithivi Narayan Shah, the founder of `Shah Dynasty' which runs Nepal today, unified Nepal into one kingdom. His Gorkha palace resides on top of a hill at an altitude of 3281 feet (about 1000 meter) The King would watch-over his people as far as his eyes could see from the tallest palace in the very center of Nepal! Gorkha is also the home of Gurkhas - the legendary brave warriors who fought with knives against guns.
Gorkha is a picturesque hill- town that has a rich ancient history of its own. The palace is situated on a smallmountain at the height of 3500 feet and offers a magnificent sightseeing of the Himalayan Peaks. King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who unified the Kingdom of Nepal during eighteenth century and got an upper hand over the Ranas, was born here. Actually king Drabya Shah founded this kingdom in the year 1560 and since then, the place has acted as the den for the Shah dynasty. In the war of throne with Ranas, the Gorkhas had the last laugh as the Gorkha soldiers succeeded in conquering the Kathmandu valley. The capital of the Nepal was shifted to Kathmandu since then. But this beautiful township has always remained as the center of attraction for many Nepalese as well as foreign visitors.
Among the sites to visit, Gorkha Durbar tops the list. This historical palace is a one-hour walk from the downtown Gorkha. The palace is strategically located over a fortified hillock. On the southwestern side of palace lies the temple of Goddess Gorakhkali. A cave that claims to shelter the statue of Gorakhnath, the Tantrik sage, adjoins it. The place is picture-perfect to have a view of Mansalu and Himalchuli peaks of Himalayas. Nevertheless, the best place to have a view of the palace and peaks is Upallokot, a viewpoint made on a pedestal over the hill at the height of some 5000 feet.
Among the sites to visit, Gorkha Durbar tops the list. This historical palace is a one-hour walk from the downtown Gorkha. The palace is strategically located over a fortified hillock. On the southwestern side of palace lies the temple of Goddess Gorakhkali. A cave that claims to shelter the statue of Gorakhnath, the Tantrik sage, adjoins it. The place is picture-perfect to have a view of Mansalu and Himalchuli peaks of Himalayas. Nevertheless, the best place to have a view of the palace and peaks is Upallokot, a viewpoint made on a pedestal over the hill at the height of some 5000 feet.
Places to Visit and Things to do in Gorkha
Gorkha Palace:
Visit the Gorkha palace here to begin your sightseeing of the region.Climb the palace steps from the bottom of the hill, all the way to the top, climbing about one thousand seven hundred steps (1700), in about two hours. That's some hiking to do! If you get tired sit down on a step or think how much easier the trip down will be! You will be glad you got to the top. On a clear sky day, you can view Himalayan range including spectacular view of Manaslu and Himalchuli Mountains, and panoramic views of the valleys.
Also view the palace building, one of Nepal's historical landmark, some buildings have interesting wood carvings portraying various romantic scenes. Also viwe the temple of Goddess Gorakhkali residing on the west side of the palace. To view sunrise from the palace, climb very early in the morning.
King Prithivi's Birthday Celebration
On King Prithivi's birthday, which is a national Nepali holiday known as Prithivi Jayanti , various celebrations are held throughout Nepal, one of which is held in Gorkha bazaar located at the foot of the hill. So if you happen to visit Gorkha on that day, observe that event as well. Prithivi Jayanti is on 27th of January 2005 (1st of Poush 2060, according to Nepalese Annual Calendar).
The King's statues are found in many places in Nepal which many visitors find of interest to observe. Many places are dedicated to his name, for example Prithivi Chok (Cross Road) in Kathmandu, Prithivi Chok in Pokhara, Prithivi Chok in Bharatpur, and the Highway connecting Kathmandu with Pokhara and then to Baglung is called Prithvi Highway. Photos and Portraits of the King have his right-hand's first finger pointing up, signifying that Nepal is one kingdom (or in Nepali, the meaning is `We all come together as one'). His statues have that characteristic.
Dashain Jamara Procession
During Nepal's popular festival Dashain, Jamaras are brought from the Gorkha palace to the modern Narayan Hiti Palace in Kathmandu. The King Prithivi Narayan Shah had moved the capital of Nepal from Gorkha to Kathmandu, and he is the founder of the Shah dynasty. Jamaras from Gorkha are used by the Royal family as a blessing from the King and above! On the Dashain Fulpati Day, there is a Royal Army parade, Fulpati procession to Gorkha Durbar and other activities of religious and cultural interests which visitors may find interesting to observe.
Popular Trekking from Gorkha
If you seek to trek from Gorkha, there is no where a better place to taste some of Nepal's hillside experience than from Gorkha. You can chose to trek from Gorkha to Kathmandu or Gorkha to Pokhara, However, the most popular trekking from Gorkha is from Gorkha to Pokhara, which is of 10 days. First day, arrive at Gorkha Bazaar, complete sightseeing of the Gorkha palace, then from the second day onwards start trekking from Gorkha - Luitel - Hirmantar - Tarughat - Besisahar - Ghattekhola - Gharpokhari - Rupatal - then arrive Pokhara on the 10th day, then extend a few days of trekking or sigtseeing in and around Pokhara.
It was said, that if anyone was seeking justice, no ruler was as fair and just as the King of Gorkha. The Gorkha kingdom was established in the year 1560, by the legendary King Drabya Shah. From the year 1604 to 1641, the Shah dynasty would become famous and rule over Gorkha. Today, the reminders of this era stand proudly in the form of the Gorkha Royal Palace, the Gorkha Bazaar and Gorkha Durbar.
The Gorkha Royal Palace was the birthplace of Prithvi Naraya, who was born in the central palace named Dhuni Pari. Prithvi Narayan Shah is known for gathering his Gorkha soldiers and battling to unify all of Nepal by taking control of the Kathmandu. After his amazing victory, in the 18th century, Kathmandu became the capital of Nepal.
To tell someone that the Gorkha Palace is located in the east side of the Gorkha Durbar would be deceiving. Most visitors are more than awestruck when they look up at the palace on the hill and the approximately one thousand seven hundred steps that lies between them and palace. The climb to the Gorkha Palace might be challenging, but the view is rewarding and the way down is a lot easier. Most of the palace remains the same as in the days of Ram Shah, but kings and rulers that followed did make a few minor changes during their reigns. Restoration work to this beautiful sight in Nepal has kept the palace in excellent condition, and although it is not always open to visitors, especially not the second floor, much can be seen through the latticed windows. The architectural style of the palace is known as Newari-style, and when peering through the windows visitors will be able to see the throne of Prithvi Narayan. Also visible is the “eternal flame” that has been burning for many years, as it was lit straight after the uniting of Nepal, at the hands of Prithvi Narayan. The detailed woodwork and spectacular carvings make the Gorkha Palace a treasured piece of history and a popular sight in Nepal.
On clear days or early mornings, the view from the palace is just short of a visual miracle of nature. The panoramic views of the rolling green landscapes, snow capped Himalayas and the town below is spectacular. From this vantage point visitors will be able to see the Goddess Gorakhkali Temple, the Himalchuli Mountain, Manaslu Mountain, Annapurna and Ganesh. It is a view and a moment in time that visitors are unlikely to forget.
How to reach Gorkha?
Gorkha, located midway between Kathmandu and Pokhara, can be reached from either cities by taxi or public bus. For accommodation and dining, there are hotels, guest houses and restaurants located in Gorkha to satisfy your preferences. Transporation Cost should not cost you $2 to $3 by bus, about $20 by Taxi from Pokhara, and about $30 by Taxi from Kathmandu, and accomodation is relatively inexpensive here.
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