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ANNAPURNA REGION

Situated in the center of the Nepalese Himalaya, Annapurna regionl is a large region, occupying about 80km between the Marasyandi River in the east, the Kali Gandaki River in the west and Mustang, the forbidden kingdom veiled in mystery until recently, in the north. Eleven high and steep peaks soar up, including the hump-like Annapurna I(8091m). The rocky Annapurna II(7937m), the snowy Annapurna III(7555m), etc. Annapurna means “goddess of fertility“ in the Sanskrit language. It is a female name in Nepal. Pokhara, a mountaineering base, is a good starting place for short treks. Also Mustang is geographically a part of the Annapurna region, but because treks to Mustang are subject to special restrictions, this is described on a separate page, about treks in restricted areas. The first ascent of Annapurna I was accomplished by a French party in 1950, from the North Annapurna Glacier. It was a brilliant achievement as man’s first climb of an 8000er and the golden age of Nepals Himalayan mountain climbing began. Annapurna II was first climbed in 1960 by a joint party of India, Nepal, and the U.K. Just like in the Khumbu region, there are many popular trekking routes in the Annapurna Himal, such as the circular course visiting Ghorepani and others like the Annapurna Sanctuary or the famous ABC Trek(Annapurna Base Camp), Jhomsom, Muktinath etc. About two-thirds of the trekkers in Nepal visit the Annapurna region. The area is easily accessible, hotels in the hills are plentiful, and treks here offer good scenery of both high mountains and lowland villages. On these trails the chance of getting altitude sickness is relatively small.