Nepal 97 Travelog : The Machhapuchre and the Pokhara Valley (22/24)

<BODY BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT = "#ABCBBE"> <PRE>The Pokhara Valley, situated at an altitude of 800-900 meters from sea level, is one of the most picturesque spots of Nepal.Once upon a time, Pokhara was part of the trade route between India and Tibet. Today, mule trains can be still seen in the outskirts of the town, bringing goods from remote regions of the Himalaya. Compared to Kathmandu, there are few historical or cultural endowments. The most stunning sight of Pokhara valley is the magnificent panorama of the Annapurna massif which forms its backdrop. And this mountain range has rightly gained the reputation of being one of the finest trekking regions in the world.<P> We arrived just for the sunset and, under an incredible clear weather, we quicly climbed to the roof of the hotel, in order to get this shot of the Machapuchare, which is the archetypal snow-capped, needle-pointed mountain. Also called the Matterhorn of Nepal, the Machapuchare (which means "fish tail"), immediately to the north of Pokhara, is not the highest peak of the Annapurna range ("only" 6993 m), but it is for sure one of the most spectacular mountains I ever saw. The beauty of the valley is enhanced by its lovely lakes (Phewa, Begnas and Rupa), which have their source in the glacial region of the Annapurna Range We stayed in one of the numerous guesthouses of "Lakeside", which is the eastern shore of the Phewa lake : this place, very popular for backpackers, gathers together most of the interesting bars, restaurants and handicraft shops of Pokhara. On top of the world famous views on the himalayas and emerald lakes, the thick forests and gushing rivers of the valley surrounding Pokhara are the land of the Magars and Gurungs, hardworking farmers and valorous warriors, who have earned worldwide fame as "Gorkha" soldiers.</PRE> </BODY>