Nar And Phu Annapurna

The Annapurna region of Nepal contains some of the greatest trekking trails in the world and has served as a destination for many an adventure seeker. None so than the Annapurna Circuit or the “Around Annapurna” trek which has often been called “the greatest walk in the world.” Many of the people who enjoyed the beauty of the Annapurna circuit first started their trek in Dumre on the highway from Kathmandu to Pokhara and then walked through the lowland Brahmin and Chettri villages, sub tropical forests and then higher to emerge at the high desert region across the Himalayan range. Most walked a total of 27 days from Dumre to Baglung or the relatively shorter 24 days from Dumre to Phedi. Then development came. Roads were extended into the more remote reaches and newer air strips were installed such as the one at Jomsom making a Circuit of the Annapurna range possible first in 20 days and then 17 days. Lodges were built, showers were installed and better lodges were built. Now one can trek from Besisahar to Jomsom and on to Beni without having to once spend a night “out doors”. This has taken away some of the romance and charm associated with a trek in Nepal where everything was once taken care of. All you had to do was be prepared to spend your nights in a tent. Recent changes in rules by the government of Nepal has now made it possible get away from the main trail of the Annapurna circuit and yet, enjoy the stunning scenery of the original trek by taking some small detours. One of the bonuses of the detours is that it is now possible to visit the villages of Phu and Nar which had been forbidden to trekkers and had only been visited by some people pretending to climb Pisang Peak from the north!