The Annapu a Base Camp/Sanctuary Trek In Nepal

The Annapu
a Sanctuary

The Annapu
a Sanctuary is the name given to the huge glacial basin which lies to the north of Pokhara. Surrounded by eleven of Nepal’s major peaks the Annapu
a Sanctuary is accessed by a deep gorge that cuts through this mountain . The sanctuary is considered holy by the Nepalese people as they believe the Hindu goddesses, Annapu
a and Gangapu
a reside there.

The Sanctuary was first discovered in 1957 by Jimmy Roberts, who used it as the base camp for the Machhapuchhre Peak climb. The Annapu
a Sanctuary is also known as Annapu
a Base Camp.The team led by Jimmy Roberts were able to climb within 50m of the summit of Machhapuchhre peak .They did not complete the ascent as they had promised that they would not set foot on its actual summit, which is considered sacred by the Nepalese people. The Machhapuchhre peak is now closed to climbers.

The trek to the Annapu
a Base Camp goes up the Modi Khola Valley and into the heart of the natural amphitheatre. The trek descends deep into the gorge of the Modi Khola before giving way to a steep rise of the mountain walls. For a while all views are lost. But as the trek progresses, the vastness of the deep amphitheatre reveals itself. The wide amphitheatre ringed by giant walls of ice and rock which makes up eleven of Nepal’s major peaks, is a sight to behold. At the centre of this grand scene is Annapu
a’s massive South Face.

The base camp lies below the south face of Annapu
a (8091m). In 1970, Chris Bonington and his party used the amphitheatre as a base camp to conquer Annapu
a-I through the south face. The amphitheatre a part of the Annapu
a Sanctuary, is under the protection of the Annapu
a Conservation Area Project The sunrise from the camp is spectacular. The sun gradually illuminating the peak of Annapu
a-I makes a breathtaking sight.

Though the trek to the Annapu
a Sanctuary is relatively short, one should always be careful while taking this trek The trail is narrow and sometimes dangerous. The walls of the Modi Khola are often precipitious and hidden by dense, damp forests and bamboo groves. The upper section of the trail,betwee
Hinko’s Cave and Machhapuchhre base camp, is prone to avalanches .One should always be careful while trekking during early spring or after a heavy snowfall.Except during monsoon and winter, the trek can be done anytime of the year.

The trek to the Annapu
a Base Camp is one of a lifetime. The scenery on the way up the hike and the views of the snow-capped mountains will stay with you forever. The feeling of wonder and awe on reaching the amphitheatre has made it to the top of many a trekkers’ memorable moments list.

Information about the Annapu
a Base Camp Trek

The trek to Annapu
a Base Camp takes around sixteen days .This is a moderate trek, that starts at Phedi,which can be reached after a short drive of about 45 minutes from Pokhara. It takes around five hours to reach Pokhara from Kathmandu by road. There are lots of buses, vans and taxis plying between these two places.By flight it takes less then an hour.

The trekking trail passes through several traditional of Gurung, Magar and Thakali villages. The return walk is even more interesting as it follows the different ridges towards Ghorepani. There are superb views on this trail. The dawn breaking over the Annapu
a and Dhaulagiri peaks is simply mesmerizing.The trek will be more interesting in Spring as the rhododendron forest along the trail is filled with red, pink and white blooms. This trek can be done during spring and autumn.

There is no need for any special trekking permit to travel in the Annapu
a region, but you have to pay an entrance fee of Rs.2000(NRC) to the Annapu
a Conservation Area Project (ACAP).It is advisable to pay the fee at the ACAP offices in Pokhara or Kathmandu. If you pay the entrance fee at the entrance to the conservation area, you will have to pay double the amount, Rs.4000 (about $56).When paying the entrance fee, two passport photos and a photocopy of your passports are needed.

As there are plenty of hotels, tea houses and lodges along the way, food and lodging won’t pose any problem on the trek. As the trail goes up, the price also increases. Therefore it is worthwhile to buy mineral-water bottles at the start of the trek.

A good and warm sleeping bag will see you through any uncomfortable sleeping arrangement at the lodges. An the beginning of the trek you may find running water, but as you climb, they will become more and more scare. You may need a porter (carrier and guide) that will carry your baggage with the equipment. It is better to hire one from a reputed agency to ensure that the person is reliable. Sometimes, if the porter can communicate well he can also act as your guide. You can use one porter for two persons, but avoid overloading him. Try and meet your porter before leaving for the trek to get to know him better. n