TREK TO POONHILL

              The famous trek to poonhill, the second most important trekking route of western Nepal after the Annapurna Base Camp is famous beyond the borders of Nepal. Poonhill is the preferred destination for those tourists who are unable to take on the long trek to Annapurna Base Camp or those planning for a shorter stay in Nepal. It is possible to complete the trek in 3 days in short but the normal duration is 5 days. Natural diversity and the unrivalled view of the mountains are the main attaractions of this trekking route. The adventureous journey to poonhill passing through various other tourist hotspots of Kasaki district is pleasure beyond explanation. The trek to Poonhill involves an ascent from 1070 m to 3210 m above the sea level. Throughout the trek, one can observe the unmatched beauty of mountain ranges, traverse the virgin widerness of lifestyles of the native communities living in the diverse villages lying along the route. It is mandatory for the tourists to get the ACAP card and TEAMS card before entering the trekking route that falls under the Annapurna Conservation Area Project. You can take the support of the Nepal Tourism Board or any other travels and tours operators. It is advisable to hire an experienced guide for the trek. The route of the  trek to Poonhill can be categorized and described as follows:-

KATHMANDU-POKHARA

       There are two alternative routes  to reach Pokhara from Kathmandu. The flight to Pokhara airport takes 40 minutes while the road journey takes about 5-6 hours. Local buses and Micro buses are available at Kathmandu's Kalanki, while luxurious tourist coaches leave to Pokhara at 7 am every morning from Kathmandu's Kantipath. There is no shortage of hotels or Lodges in Pokhara. One can choose from simple lodges to five star hotels in Pokhara for accomodation. After reaching Pokhara, it is better to stop for a while for the trek. You can find all the necessary items for the trek at Pokhara's Lakeside. It would help a lot if you plan for the next day the same evening. The road distance from Kathmandu to Pokhara is about 200km.

POKHARA-GHANDRUK

        The first day of trek from Pokhara is full of fun and cheer for the trekkers as the prospect of treking to the world famous Poonhill is an exciting proposition in itself. The trek starts from Nayapul which serves as the gateway to the trek. It takes 2 hours on bus and 1 hour on taxi to reach Nayapul from Pokhara. However some tourists even choose to arrive here directly from Kathmandu. Likewise, there is also an alternative route starting from Fedi some 20 km away from Pokhara that leads to Ghandruk passing through Pothana and Landruk. The altitude of Nayapul is 1070 m while that of Ghandruk is 2000 m. It takes about 5-6 hours to reach Ghandruk from Nayapul, walking along the banks of Modi Khola. The mountain ranges, including Annapurna South, Annapurna-I, Himchuli,  Gangapurna, Annapurna-II and Machhapuchhre, can be observed from Ghandruk. There are enough restaurants and eateries on the way to take meals during the trek. Just over a dozen lodges are in operation in Ghandruk that provide both accommodation and food.

GHANDRUK-TADHAPANI

         It is better to set off on the journey right after the breskfast, after returning from viewing the sunrise and the mountains. Tadhapani also has a huge potential to attaract tourists. With an altitude of 2650 m Tadhapani is also famous for viewing the sunrise. An uphill climb from Ghandruk that cuts across the amber green wilderness takes to Tadhapani within 4-5 hours. There are 7 lodges in Tadhapani that provides accommodation and food to tourists. The number of mountain peaks visible from Tadhapani is more tha Ghandruk. The environment is clean and quiet due to the location surrounded by wilderness. It is quite cold in the winter and snowfalls heavily during the coldest period of the season. Mountain ranges, including the magnificient Annapurna South, Himchuli, Gangapurna, Annapurna-II, Machhapuchhre, Lamjung and Ganesh Himal ranges could be observed from here. A walk through Siktyu and Bhainsi Kharka cutting across dense forests takes to Tadhapani from Ghandruk. Although the route is frequented by trekkers, alone journey is not considered safe, thus not advised.

TADHAPANI-GHOREPANI

        Ghorepani at an altitude of 2874 m is located at the base of  the famous Poonhill. It is suitable to start the walk to Ghorepani after observing the morning view of the mountains at Tadhapani. A 5-6 hour uphill trek from Tadhapani takes to Ghorepani. The path ascends till the pass at Deurali, 3100 m in altitude, followed by a gradual descent that ends at Ghorepani. Ghorepani is famous for its natural beauty and unmatched view of the mountains. The memory of  trip to Ghorepani characterized by the equisite natural beauty and walk through the dense forests lasts for ever. Deurali is a suitable place to take launch during the day. The Gurung Hill located near Deurali is also known for observing the beauty of the surrounding environment. Some even compare Gurunghill with Poonhill. There are 3 lodges operating at Deurali that offer both accommodation and food. Deurali is also the border between Myagdi and Kaski disrict. It is colder in Ghorepani than Tadhapni. But the dining rooms of all the lodges in Ghorepani are provided with fireplaces that keeps the trekkers warm, a facility not available in Tadhapani. Some 17-18 lodges provide accommodation and food for the tourists at Ghorepani. It is also possible to travel to Jomsom from Ghorepani.

 POONHILL

            Poonhill's fame is spread arround the world as an ideal place to get lost in the wonders of the nature. Poonhill lying in the Ghara village of Myagdi district at a 3210 m altitude is a favourite place for tourists from both in and out of Nepal. A series of mighty Himalayan peaks including the Gurja peak, Dhaulagiri, Tukuche, Dhampus peak, Nilgiri, Annapurna-I, Annapurna South, Himchuli, Gangapurna and Machhapuchhre stand tall extending from one side to another. The first lights of the sun illuminate these mountains with such splendor  that is beyond anyone's wildest imagination. Poonhill is also famous for its assortment of natural diversity, the traditional culture of the native Magar community and the numerous species of flora and fauna. The period between Septembr to March is regarded appropriate for a visit to Poonhill. The row of mountains peaks is covered entirely  with snow during this part of the year and the view allures anyone. Poonhill is actually just a hilltop near Ghorepani and there is a wide open ground on top of the hillock. A view tower has also been constructed at the middle of the plateau. The hustle and bustle of the crowd suddenly stops and an eerie silence befalls the crowd of the tourists just as the first rays of sunlight hits the mountains. Then after, those in a hurry return back after the day break while many choose to stay there untill their thirst for beauty is satisfied.

           Finally, the trek to Poonhill ends with the walk from Ghorepani to Pokhara. The last phase of the journey involves longer walk than the previous ones. One has to walk hard for 8-10 hours in order to reach Pokhara in one day fron Ghorepani. Otherwise, it is better to spend a night at Ulleri or Tikhedhunga and take a rest. There is however is no need to climb up anywhere along the walk from Ghorepani to Nayapul. But the steep slope from Banthanti to Tikhedhunga is frightening to some. One should climb down the slope slowly as walking fast downhill hurts the legs. To reach Nayapul from Ghorepani one has to walk past Ulleri, Bhanthanti, Tikhedhunga, Hille Bazaar,