A South Col team trekked the Annapurna foothills in the last week of December 2019. Our route was Pokhara-Kande- Australian Camp- Pothana- Tolka- Landrung-Ghandrung- Tadapani- Ghorepani- Poon Hill- Banthanti-Ulleri-Hillay-Birethanti-Pokhara.
Some useful updates from the trek.
- The road from Pokhara to Nayapul and Birethanti has now been pushed up beyond Ulleri to lower Banthanti. Though we did not see any jeeps on the road we were told by the locals that the road is ready and jeeps can be hired from Pokhara to drive up to Banthanti. We fear that the road will reach Ghorepani in the next one/two years thereby ending another beautful trek. Many would not want to continue to climb or descend the 3280 steps.
- As the road goes all the way to Ghandrung now we found many more day trippers there driving up from Pokhara - many of the lodges had localswho had come up to enjoy the view enhanced by loud music, drinks and snacks - just like a party!
- Landrung on the other side of the valley is also connected by jeep now to Pokhara.
- The ACAP checkpost which was at Pothana has now been moved to Australian camp.
- Birethanti now has both the ACAP and TIMS checkposts.
- The entire trail now is well connected with Nepal Telecom phone and data connectivity.
- Tadapani has a new Nepal Telecom tower so connectivity there has improved greatly.
- Almost all lodges on the route now have wifi connectivity - most of them are free with Rs 100 at the Namaste lodge in Tolka and Rs 200 at Panorama Point in Tadapani.
- Ncell is still sketchy with connectivity in Ghandrung and Ghorepani only.
- Phone and battery charging is now free in almost all lodges.
- The trekking numbers are still quite impressive despite the roads - see the statistics from the ACAP office Birethanti below 2019 is expected to touch 60,000 trekkers!
For information on our treks and photoworkshops do visit www.southcol.com
For photographs from the Himalaya do visit www.sujoydas.com
No comments:
Post a Comment