Pokhara, a renowned lake city of Nepal is a paradise of Nature in terms of Natural beauty, Mountains, Lakes, and Trekking trials. Situated at the altitude of 800m this city is rich in its landscape, people, and traditional ethnic groups of Nepal. The city is nestled in between hills and mountains and has several natural lakes. It has become the place of the adventure sports like paragliding, Heli Jumping, zip line, and Cannoning. Several treks can be started from Pokhara either that is Annapurna Base Camp/Annapurna Circuit or Poonhill Trek. These trekking trials are most popular and packed with tourist whereas there are other less popular ones equally beautiful and less strenuous in comparison to them. Here is the list of Top 3 “must-do” Trekking trial from Pokhara,
- Mohare Danda Trek
- Mardi Himal Trek
- Panchase Hill TreK
Mohare Danda Trek
Mohare Danda Trek lies Annapurna-Dhaulagiri region of western Nepal. It covers the area of three districts of Nepal Myagdi, Parbat, and Kaski. This trekking trail is an eco-trek managed by community residing in this area and the contribution from the tourism benefits the village community, school, and health care center.
Mohare Danda View Point and Annapurna South
This trekking trail passes several villages of Myagdi and Parbat district with the stunning view of mountains, green hills, Kali Gandaki River, Villages and terraced Farmland, green chir pine and rhododendron forests, high hill yaks pastureland and finally to the top of the Mohare Hill at 3300m. The breathtaking views of the mountain range from Dhaulagiri to Buddha up to Manaslu range. On the clear days you can able to see the Dhaulagiri 8167m, Nilgiri 6839m, Tukuche Peak 6920m at the North-west side and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) 6993m, Annapurna I 8091m, Annapurna South 7219m, Hiun Chuli 6441m, Mardi Himal 5553m, Annapurna III 7555m on the North-East side.
View of Mountains from Nagi Village
You can buy wonderful handmade Nepali papers and cotton/woolen products as a gift made by local villager’s women at Nagi Village community Lodge. Taking a bus or jeep ride of a two-and-half-hour from Pokhara to reach Beni, Mohare Danda Trek can be started from Galeshowr or from Beni Bazar.
Starting Point of the Mohare Danda and Kopra Ridge Trek- A small town of Beni and bridge over Kali Gandaki River
On the first day, we can pass our night on the community lodge in the Banskharka Village popularly known for orange production. The second-day trial leads us to Nagi village with a secondary school and health care center with small eco-friendly Nepali Paper Production center.
Rhododendron forest and flowers on March, April in Mohare Danda Trek.jpg
On the third day, the trail leads in a community chir pine and rhododendron forest for six hours and then there is some high hill pastureland with the stunning view of the beautiful mountains up to Mohare Hill. On the fourth day, the route joins with most popular trekking destination of Poon Hill section of Annapurna Base Camp.
Sunset over the Annapurna Range from Mohare Danda viewpoint
You can finish your trek either from Ulleri village that joins Nayapul, a traditional route to Annapurna Base Camp or from Ghandruk, Landrung route where the trek ends at Dhampus Phedi in two more days.
2. Mardi Himal Trek:
Mardi Himal Trek was once a popular camping route in the Annapurna region. There were not any facilities for the trekkers except few a tea house on the base camp. Compared to other trekking trials in Nepal, Mardi Trekking is one of the easiest (less difficult) trekking route to reach at the base camp of the Mardi Himal measuring 5587m which is situated at the ridges of the Mount Fishtail (Macchapuchhere).
Mardi Himal Trekking offers a splendid view of mountains Fishtail-6997m, Annapurna South 7243m, Mardi Himal, Annapurna ranges, and Gangapurna Peak. Since 2015/16 new tea houses have started their service on this route and the number of visitors are in rising trend but less in compared to Annapurna Base Camp or Poon Hill Trekking. The trekking route can be started from Kande or Dhampus Phedi of Pokhara that leads us to Pothana or Deurali on the first day.
On the second day, one can able to reach Forest Camp at 2550m in or at low camp. From forest camp, it takes 6 hours to reach high camp at 3500m. Now you can able to find several new tea house lodges in between low camp and high camp. There are three lodges at high camp where you can stay overnight and the fourth-day walking two-and-half hour leads to the base camp of Mardi Himal at 4500m.
During first, second, and half of the third day you will be walking in between the Rhododendron Forest and after third day a walk in high mountain yak pasture land with the splendid view of the mountains leads you to Mardi Himal. To return from Mardi Himal, you have to follow the same route till low camp and after that, there are two roads that one leads us to Siddhing-Kalimati and another leads us to Deurali-Dhampus Phedi.
You can either stay in Siddhing village or Kalimati. Both villages are wonderful while Kalimati village is a large village in compare to Siddhing. You can enjoy breathtaking views of terraced fields, valley, and Mount Macchapucchere from Kalimati and Siddhing. The last day of the trek leads us to the ethnic group Gurung’s village of Lwang. Lwang is a popular destination for many hikers. The community home stay in Lwang is popular for beautiful traditional stone roof topped house and tea garden on the top of the hill. Staying overnight in this village gives you the taste of the traditional foods, organic tea, and it is a golden chance to vis-à-vis with the lifestyle of the villagers. On the final day, there is a direct jeep service from Lwang village to Pokhara takes a two-and-half hour.
3.Panchase Hill Trek:
Panchase Hill is in North-West Part of the Pokhara valley. This hill is a fantastic place for trekkers and hikers of all age group. This trek is a three-day trek, the best alternative to see the mountains, religion, and people. It is an area enriched with natural beauty, flora, and fauna and there is a low flow of tourists in this area. From the top of the village, the view of Lake Phewa, Pokhara Valley, and Mountains looks awful. It is also a place where sunrise and sunset over the Annapurna ranges look more fantastic.
Panchase Base Camp, Settlement of Tea House
One of the great benefits of the Trekkers is that TIMS card and ACAP permit is not required to enter in this area. The maximum height of the Panchase hill is 2550m. There was a view tower on this hill but it has been destroyed and people are waiting for another view tower. On the top of the hill, there is a Lord Shiba Temple and on the base, there is a holy pond.
To reach Panchase hill one can start from the South West Bank of the Phewa Lake or it is better to take a bus ride up to Thade Khola from Pokhara city. It will take 1.30h to arrive at Thade Khola where the trek starts. The trek begins from here and the first-day destination is Bhumdi Village, a village famous for Gurung. It takes a two-and-half-hour to arrive Bhumdi village. You can either have lunch in Bhumdi village or on the way. The villagers produced rice, barley, wheat, soybean, potatoes, green vegetables, and some are also dependent on poultry and goat farming. It is a good chance to meet the local people residing in this village far away from the city life.
The second day is an important day for the trekking. The trekking route is marked well in different places but in some place, you have to be alert not to go out of the trekking route. The route passes through the community forest rich with Rhododendron, Oak, Chirpine tree. Be careful in some part of the path, it is slippery because of humidity. However, with the chirping of bird sound, some open pastureland with the view of the mountains, and a memorable picnic for lunch break one can able to reach on the Panchase Base Camp in six hours.
To return from Panchase, you can arrive in Bhadure for the lunch and then walk for two hours which leads to Kande- Base station to climb Australian Camp. From Kande, drive to reach Pokhara in Taxi in one hour.
If you enjoy walking or hiking in the nature alone or with friends then these three treks would be the best options during your stay in Nepal.
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