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© Richard Bull
© Richard Bull
The Annapurna region is one of Nepal’s best known regions and visitor numbers here are second only to Everest. After the long stretch from the tea houses of the Everest region, this is where you again get to enjoy the delights of beds and showers along with apple pie and other bakery products and quite a lot of foreign company.
The Annapurna Himal is named after the Hindu Goddess of Grain and Abundance. The Annapurna range dominates central Nepal, with Annapurna 1 being the highest at 8091m, followed by Annapurna 2 at 7973m, Annapurna 3 at 7555 and Annapurna South at 7219m. Other high peaks in the area include Tilicho Peak at 7134m and the simply stunning, sacred Machapuchhare (Fishtail Mountain) at 6993m. To the south lie the lush valleys around Pokhara in one of Nepal’s highest rainfall areas and to the north is the high altitude desert and highly erodible ‘badlands’ of Mustang, part of the Tibetan Plateau. To the east is the Marshyangdi River and to the west lies the world’s deepest gorge, carved out by the wild waters of the Kali Gandaki River.
The Annapurna region is rich in cultural heritage and so is a great place to experience Nepal’s incredible cultural diversity. You will encounter Gurung culture in the lowlands, Thakali culture around Jomsom, Manangi culture in the east and Loba and Tibetan culture in the arid north.
This area has been enormously popular with trekkers over the years and while there are now roads along much of the previously ‘must do’ Annapurna Circuit trail this also opens up new levels of accessibility to the more remote parts.
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