Tourism(Visit Nangi)

An adventurous trekking route through the rural domains of Nepal provides a viable medium for interaction with the indigenous people there. One of the most profound centres where such an experience is distributed without any accessory charges is amongst the eye-catching Nepal Himalayas, the Annapurna. With a height of over 8000 metres, it is a prominent site for trekking- hence the Annapurna Dhaulagiri Community Eco- Trekking Route was established here. The Magars, the dwellers of this region are famous for their eccentric way of life, their bravery and their hospitability to the outsiders. The Magar villages form another protuberant destination for village and ecotourism that has been practised since over a decade here. It’s a treat to feast upon for the eyes… an extravagance in itself.

The visitors in the Annapurna region visit quiet, peaceful villages in periphery where they savour the magnificent natural beauty. Accommodation is in the village homes and we can enjoy local family meals along with the hospitality of the local villagers. These undertaken treks do not reach high altitude but traverse through the hill regions of Pokhara Valley- the "Panchase Trek" offers wonderful views of the Annapurnas as does the "Royal Trek", where Lamjung is also visible. Both of these treks are open to the Moderately Fit and can be completed in 3-6 days. A new rural trek (Annapurna Dhaulagiri Community Eco- Trekking Route) lasting for a duration of 4 to 12 days offers access to the Nangi village(situated between the Beni and Poon Hills), and Khopra (to the north of Ghorepani) in the Annapurna region. Nangi Village is the location of a vibrant development project providing formal and vocational schooling as well as wireless internet access to the community. Khopra is a remote, isolated village offering panoramic mountain views of the Annapurna range. The very best time for trekking: October to May.


Introduction to Nangi

Nangi village is located in upper region of the western Nepal residing in the lap of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges of the Himalayas. Dhaulagiri I (8,167m, 26,795 ft) is the 7th highest peak of the world where as Annapurna I (8,091 m, 26,545 ft) is the 10th one.

Location of Nangi Village

To reach the Nangi Village usually requires 2 to 3 days of travelling from the capital city Kathmandu. From Kathmandu, a 7 hours bus ride or 35 minute plane trip to Pokhara which the second largest city in Nepal, followed by a 3-4 hour bus ride to Beni(the nearest bus-accessible town to Nangi) will be the best route to reach Nangi. One can, of course, directly go to Beni from Kathmandu which requires 10 to 12 hours bus ride. From Beni, it is a long hike that takes us to our destination. The hike into Nangi usually takes between six to nine hours, and includes an ascent through several mountain villages and forests. The elevation of Nangi village is about 2,260 m. (7,345 ft).


Life in Nangi

Nangi itself has a population of roughly 800 people, almost all of whom have the same last name of “Pun”; this also serves as an indication of their caste. The villagers are largely self-sufficient; every family grows their own crops and has their own buffalos, goats, and chickens. A majority of the men are retired or active Gurka soldiers in the Indian, Singapore, or British armies. These army jobs tend to command high salaries and are therefore very desirable. To sum it up, life here is simple and natural.

Accommodation

As a drive to enhance the tourism industry , Nangi started the custom of “Home Stay” as the name suggest , Home stay accommodates the tourists that come to visit Nangi. Why is it different from the tourist hotels that also accommodates tourists?

Well with the service like of a hotel, home stay has a special quality. It gives you the feeling of being home. You not only get the service , but you get to experience the culture and tradition. Simply, you get to live there life for few days. Furthermore you get this wholesome experience in a very affordable price. The fare per night in all the home stays are around Rs 100 only.* Nangi adapted this concept almost a year ago with the help of the principle of Himanchal High School.

Along with the home stay, Nangi also has a community lodge accommodating around 20 people at a time. The rooms are well furnished and ventilated and has two common toilets. The fares for community lodge is slightly expensive than the home stay; With fooding and lodging the fares comes to be around Rs 300* for domestic tourists and Rs 500* for Foreign tourists.


* The fares are approximate value and are subjected to change.

Feartures of Annapurna Dhaulagiri Community Eco- Trekking Route