- Five proposals, with more or less effort, to contemplate the summit of Everest and the Annapurna massif in Nepal, among other great mountains.
ago 60 years since Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Everest for the first time in history. Since then, The ascent to the peaks of the Himalayas is one of the attractions for traveling to Nepal. Those who are not great mountaineers do not have to suffer: There are many other ways to contemplate and enjoy the roof of the world. All over Nepal there are exceptional panoramic views of the Himalayas and the five we have selected are, definitely, some of the most spectacular, especially at dawn.
The great spectacle of the Himalayas: Daman
The people of Daman would be one more of Nepal if it were not for the fact that they can boast of having, probably, the most spectacular views of the entire Himalayas: an impressive panorama that encompasses 300 kilometers of mountain range, from the Annapurnas to Everest. Daman is just 222 meters above sea level but there they are, almost within reach, summits of more than 8.000 metros; It is truly unforgettable to look north, west or east and contemplate the roof of the world in all its grandeur. At the Daman Mountain Resort there is a viewing tower that offers a complete panoramic view.: from Dhaulagiri to Everest.
In addition to being enraptured by the contemplation of the mountains, In Daman it is advisable to take a walk through the Mountain Botanical Garden, which occupies more than 78 hectares of forest. The best months to visit are February and March, when rhododendrons bloom, the national flower of nepal. Another option is to walk the path to the tiny Shree Rikheshwar Mahadev Mandir temple, consecrated to Siva. It is reached by a path that heads west from the south of the town., and on the way you can make a stop at a beautiful gompa (monastery) located in a clearing.
Stinged, eight thousand from bed
Proof that great summits can be enjoyed without great effort, we have it in Nagarkot. It is in the surroundings of Kathmandu, to some 32 kilometers from the Nepalese capital, at one end of the valley, and from there you can enjoy the best mountain views, visible from the bed of many of its hotels. This place is also a good excursion from the capital through the Kathmandu Valley which, beyond Bhaktapur, begins to rise and reveal the walls of the Himalayas, not visible from the bottom of the valley. Technically, most of the following towns are outside the valley, on the roads to Langtan or on the Tibetan border, but it's easy to visit them on a day trip (or making night) from Kathmandu.
Really, The only interest in Nagarkot is the views, but ¡what views! From any clear spot on the ridge you can see a panorama that stretches from Dhaulagiri, to the west, up to mount everest (little more than a distant dot on the horizon) and the Kanchenjunga to the east, in addition to the Ganesh Himal (7406 m), el Langtang Lirung (7246 m), el Shisha Pangma (8012 m), the Dorje Lakpa (6975 m) and Gauri Shankar (7146 m).
The most popular place is the viewing tower, on a ridge of 2164 m, with sensational views of 360 degrees at dawn. It is an hour's walk south of the town. (4 kilometers), but there is also a bus that leaves at dawn from Nagarkot Guide (250 NPR). Another good observation point is the Mahakali temple, on a small hill near the hotel zone.
Nagarkot is packed with lodges that are clustered on a ridge that overlooks one of the widest views of the Himalayas. For example, el Hotel Green Valley (loveghishing_e55@yahoo.com), with a stunning location providing fantastic views of the Himalayas (even from bed).
Pokhara, Annapurnas viewpoint
Pokhara is about 400 meters of altitude below Kathmandu and has as a backdrop the imposing Annapurna massif. Among its nearby peaks, Mount Machhapuchhare stands out. (Isinglass, in nepali) whose triangular profile rises above the city. It is the only virgin mountain in Nepal, as climbing is prohibited.
De oeste a is, the Hiunchuli line up (6441 m), el Annapurna I (8091 m) el Machhapuchhare (6997 m), el Annapurna III (7555 m), el Annapurna IV (7525 m) and Annapurna II (7937 m). Although the landscape is spectacular, It must be taken into account that in the monsoon season, cloud covers can cover the mountains completely and for days.
The Phewa Tal is the landmark of travelers in Pokhara and the second largest lake in all of Nepal. In contrast to the great tourist activity of Lakeside, the steep southwestern shore is populated by dense forests, like Rani Ban (queen's forest), that give the waters a deep emerald green tone. Calm days are perfectly reflected on its surface, as if it were a mirror, the peaks of the Annapurna massif. Many people walk or bike along the shore or hike to the hill where the World Peace Pagoda stands., offering stunning views of the lake with mountains as a backdrop.
Fly over the roof of the world
From Kathmandu, many visitors do not give up getting as close as possible to Everest and other great peaks. One way to do it (and increasingly popular) are the panoramic flights through the Himalayas, that allow you to see the great peaks of the Himalayan spine very closely.. All major local airlines offer these hour-long flights (for some 170 dollars), on airplanes between 6 and 30 seats in which all passengers have a window seat. The quality of the views depends on the weather. If the flight is canceled due to weather reasons, the airlines refund the full amount or reserve a place on the next.
Everest from base camp
Probably, everyone who goes to Nepal wants to see the highest mountain in the world, and if it's close, better than better. That's why, The excursion that leads to Everest Base Camp is one of the most requested routes, but it's worth it, If only to say we've been there. The trek starts from the village of Lukla, to which you return from 14 a 20 days later, after contemplating (if time permits) the highest mountain on the planet: The best time for this is from October to December., after monsoon season. This is a busy and popular route with spectacular high mountain landscapes., allows you to get closer to the Sherpa culture, It has excellent shelters along the way and offers impressive images, like the southwest face of Mount Ama Dablam, of 6.856 meters high.
The walk takes us through villages and gompas (monasteries) precious, and the friendly Sherpa people of the Solu Khumbu region make walking through the area a wonderful experience. Almost the entire journey takes place through the Sagarnatha National Park (Nepalese name of Everest), declared World Heritage by UNESCO. Musk deer live here, red pandas, snow leopards, Himalayan tasks, Tibetan bears and several species of pheasants.
The round trip route, from the eerie landing strip of Lukla airfield, requires at least 14 days, although it is recommended to have one more week to include some of the incredible surrounding valleys in the itinerary, less visited. If you have time, one way to avoid the masses is to walk from Shivalaya or Jiri and fly from Lukla. If you fly direct to Lukla, You have to schedule a few days of acclimatization in Namche and Pheriche to avoid altitude sickness. A shorter walk, one week, from Lukla, could be a circuit through Namche Bazaar, Thame, Khumjung and Tengboche Monastery.
The route reaches its highest point at Kala Pattar (5545 metros), a small peak offering views of the dark southwest face of Everest, Changtse neighbors, Lhotse y Nuptse, as well as the Khumbu icefall, just above base camp. The best landscape of the route is surely in the neighboring Goyko valley, off the main path.
