Central Nepal is dominated by the Massif Annapurna Himal, Dhaulagir Range and other numerous mountain Peaks as well Pokhara city and beautiful villages dominated Buddhist and Hindus Religion, Culture. Dense Rhododendron Forest and orchids makes this area more fascination during spring while flowers bloom. There are three major trekking routes in central Nepal: Jomsom Trek , Annapurna Sanctuary, Annapurna Circuit, Ghorepani Poonhill and Siklis Trek and other numerous trek.. Pokhara is also a good starting place for short treks of one to four days, including the "Royal" trek, which is described here. Mustang is also geographically a part of the Annapurna region, but because treks to Mustang are subject to special restrictions, this is described it in the separate page on restricted area treks. 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.

Best Season : September to May
Access : BY Road or By Air
Highlights : Nature mountains, Culture, vegetation & Flora, Birds, Please and adventure.

Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP)
ACAP was established in 1986 under the guidance of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation. The project encompasses the entire Annapurna range, more than 7600 sq km. In an innovative approach to environmental protection, it was declared a "conservation area" instead of a national park. A large number of people live within the protected region, but traditional national park practices dictate that few, if any, people reside within park boundaries. In an effort to avoid any conflicts of interest, ACAP has sought the involvement of local people and has emphasized environmental education.

ACAP projects include the training of lodge owners, with an emphasis on sanitation, deforestation and cultural pride. They have trained trekking lodge operators and encouraged hoteliers to charge a fair price for food and accommodation. ACAP encourages the use of kerosene for cooking throughout the region, and requires its use above Chhomrong in the Annapurna Sanctuary and on the route between Ghandruk and Ghorapani. ACAP is supported by a "conservation fee" of Rs 650 that is collected from all trekkers who obtain trekking permits for the Annapurna region.

ACAP has encouraged the construction of toilets throughout the area; use them no matter how disgusting they are. ACAP has also made provision for the supply of kerosene in those parts of the conservation area where the use of firewood by both trekking groups and hotels is prohibited.

MANANG
Over the Himalaya is a hidden valley. Surrounded by the 8,000 m-plus Annapurna range and the great peaks of Pisang and Chulu, the valley is wild and wonderful. Nomadic Tibeto-Burman people, moving across the mountains hunting and gathering food, found and settled the valley centuries ago.

Today, the Manangi people, with support from the late King Mahendra, have become prosperous traders, hoteliers, and businessmen. Many have moved down from the harsh and beautiful valley in north central Nepal down to Kathmandu.

The weather is dry and desert-like. The Annapurna range creates a rain shadow that stops the monsoon clouds from crossing over. This harsh climate ensured that the Manangi people never lost their nomadic roots. Horse-riding and archery were the most popular tools used by these people for gathering food, and these abilities continue to remain important for the community, and are celebrated each year with festivals.

The settlers did put down some roots, though, and took up agriculture, cultivating buckwheat, maize, and oats. There were herbs in the jungles, and sheep and yak could give milk and meat, and help transport goods from beyond the valley. The settlements grew more sophisticated, and so did the culture, festivals and architecture. Buddhist, Bonpo, and animistic traditions created traditions unique to Manang, or Nyeshang, as locals like to call it. And yet the people remained simple, hardworking, and generous, even in hardship. Along with the yak and sheep caravans, hard days, and tough journeys, tales of the Nyeshang people aso crossed the Annapurna.

Greatly interested, King Mahendra came to the valley in the ate 1950s and, seeing the hard life of the settlers, as well as their strength and determination, declared that the people of Manang need not pay the government duties if they wanted to import and export goods from Nepal. The people of Manang prospered, but as always such prosperity is a double-edged sword, threatening the traditional ways of communities.

However, unlike many cultures of the Himalaya, the Nyeshang people realized the need to preserve their ways, and fiercely protected their traditions. Today, deep within the mountains, in the hidden valley of Manang, survives a unique Himalayan culture fueled by horseriding, archery, yak and sheep caravans, trading, and many other things else that similar worlds have long stopped weaving into their day to day lives.

TILICHO LAKE
Tilich Lake - anyone been through recently? Posted by Philip on May 06, 2001 at 22:16:36: Has anyone been to Titlicho Tal (Lake) recently and can comment about crossing over to Jomsom?. I still say that was too easy," grunted the powerful Tilich. " I mean, I'm not a smart guy like Zama Odessa Silverburg?" asked Tilich. Mastaba nodded his head. The Reasoned Directory: resources for Paul Tillich. Peace Action, formerly SANE and the Freeze, is the nation's largest grassroots peace group. Benjamin Spock, Bertrand Russell, Pablo Casals, Roger Baldwin, Paul Tilich, and Erich Fromm. If God is your ultimate concern, you have absolute faith in Him. Paul Tilich. Dynamics of Faith. "Reverencing Life In The Thought Of Paul Tilich For A Deep Environmental Ethic". Van Der Leeuw --, Paul Tilich --, Thorkild Jacobsen --, Hartley Burr Alexander --, Mircea Eliade --, Joachim Wach. Can someone give me any tips about trekking Manang-Tilich Lake-Manang : Can someone give me any tips about trekking Manang-Tilich Lake-Manang.