ANNAPURNA SANCTUARY

"Annapurna Sanctuary" as the place is known to the Nepalese is considered sacred, though there is no documentation to show how long this state of affair has prevailed. It is, however, certain that it was so, long before the first trekkers appeared. The Annapurna Sanctuary forms a natural amphitheater, ringed by Annapurna South and I, Varahashikhar, Gangapurna and Machhapuchhare or "Fish Tail" as it is commonly known.

The Sanctuary falls within the area managed by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project and is an exercise in environmental and cultural protection accommodating the needs of both the visitors and the local inhabitants.

There is a good mix of high mountains and Himalayan culture on this trek. The Annapurna Himal lies between the Kali Gandaki and Marsyangdi river valley, forming a solid, mountain bastion. In its span of 40 miles, it encompasses some twelve peaks higher than 7000 m./ 22960 feet and numerous others over 6000 m/ 19680 feet. And, as rhododendron forests give way to bamboo groves which in turn vanish into the high, desert landscapes, people of Aryan stock give way to those of Mongoloid stock and the dominant religion changes from Hinduism in the lower reaches to Buddhism higher up.