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Climbing
Peaks - Machhapuchhre |
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Guide > The Himalayas
> Climbing Peaks |
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The
Machhapuchhre (6,977m) peak is not easily forgotten by tourists
visiting Pokhara. It dominates the valley like no other mountain.
It falls within the Annapurna Sanctuary and is one of the first
you encounter. The twin peaks shaped like the tail of a fish,
give it the name Machhapuchhre (Machha = fish. Puchhre = tail).
The second peak is visible only as you go higher up the hills
to get a different angle. Though smaller than the Annapurna
peaks, this mountain appears taller by virtue of it close proximity
to Pokhara. Looking at it from Pokhara, the early explorers
called it the Himalayan Matter horn because of their similarity
in shape.
The Annapurna Sanctuary was discovered by.J.O.M.(Jimmy) Roberts
during a reconnaissance trip for the British Machhapuchhre Expedition
of 1956. While passing Hinko, Roberts found the local Gurungs
reluctant to let anyone carry buffalo, pork or chicken meat
beyond this point. Moreover, even women were stopped from entering
the sanctuary of the mountain, which they revered as a female
deity. Thus Roberts came up with the name "Sanctuary"
for the sacred basin. Since then this region has been known
as the Annapurna Sanctuary and is the most popular trekking
area in Nepal.
An attempt was made to climb Machhapuchhre in1957 under the
leadership of Roberts. Wilfred Noyce turned back from 60m below
the summit. Since then no one has been up that high and the
Nepalese Government has banned the climbing of this sacred peak
in keeping with local sentiments.
Many people trek up to the Machhapuchhre Base Camp at 3,720m.
The trek route is the same as for the Annapurna Sanctuary starting
from Phedi and takes five days. Phedi is an hour's drive from
Pokhara.
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