THE HIMALAYA REGION

The Himalaya, Sanskrit for “Abode of Snow” is the youngest and highest mountain chain in the world, encompassing the world’s ten highest mountains. Located in the heart of South Asia, the Himalaya passes through five nations, including India, China, Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan and attracts climbers and trekkers worldwide to its awe-inspiring power, beauty, and grandeur.

Google Earth - Get a bird’s eye view of Himalaya Region - Mt. Everest. If you have Google Earth installed, you can double-click on the linked Placemark file and it will fly you to Sequoia National Park. If not, you will need to install Google Earth first (available at http://earth.google.com).

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For a detailed collection of information for each peak, click here!

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HIMALAYAN REGION

Before planning a trip to a foreign country, be sure to check for current travel advisories.

TIBET HIMALAYA (The “Roof of the World”)

Tibet is situated on the Qingzang Plateau.  It is the highest plateau in the world with an average elevation of 4,875 m (more than 16,000 feet). The southern part of Tibet falls within the Himalayan region. Five of the world’s 14 highest mountains are in Tibet: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu and Shishapangma.  In 1964 Tibet became an Autonomous Region of China.  Its capital is Lhasa.

Best Time to Travel:  Flights operate from April to November, but July and August are generally the best months to travel to Tibet. Access must be made through organized groups. Non-Chinese passport holders must have an Alien's Travel Permit as well as a valid passport and a visa. A Chinese Visa may be obtained from the Chinese Embassy; the Alien's Travel Permit, issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau, must be obtained through an organized tour group.

TIBET TOUR GUIDE RESOURCES

Mountain Travel Sobek --Offers several treks to the Himalayan Region, including Tibet.

INDIAN HIMALAYA

The Indian Himalaya—with its high mountains, deep valleys, lush tropical forests, and dry deserts--offers some of the most superb trekking and mountaineering opportunities in the world.   It is also one of the most biological diverse and fragile regions, increasingly under pressure from human activities. 

The creation of the  GREAT HIMALAYAN NATIONAL PARK (GHNP) in the Kullu district of India's mountain state of Himachal Pradesh was recently created to preserve and protect this special region. Visitors coming to the park now have the rare opportunity to experience its pristine beauty, while helping villagers improve their livelihood options. The Park offers excellent opportunities for trekking,  bird watching and wildlife viewing, while the Kullu region also offers opportunities for rafting, climbing, and fishing. The Park has two facilities for tourists: a tourist center at Sai Ropa and an Information Center at Larjee

Visitors to GHNP must observe certain rules, including obtain prior permission to visit and paying fees for entrance and personal photography. All multi-day trekkers must be accompanied by certified guides and porters.  Always respect the villagers’ privacy. Ask permission before taking photos or entering property. Dress modestly and remove shoes, if requested, before entering religious sites.

"Mists shroud snowy summits, hanging in the deep pine valleys above the roaring river. Beams of light break from the heavens, illuminating an emerald-green valley and the ancient houses of stone and hand-carved beams that line it. It could be Switzerland but for the small brown ladies in headscarves and long skirts, adorned in red dots on their foreheads, bright bangles on their wrists chasing their animals up the road."

Jeff Salz - GHNP Explorer

GETTING TO HIMALAYAN NATIONAL PARK

By Air
The nearest is Bhuntar located approximately 50 - 60 km away. 

By Rail
The nearest major railhead is at Chandigarh, although there's a smaller rail station at Jogindernagar near Mandi (100 kms).

By Road
There are no direct roads that can make the access to the park easy. Two gravel roads from Ropa to Shangarh in Sainj Valley and from Gushaini to Ropa in Tirthan Valley will get visitors close to the park. A vehicle can be hired at Kullu to do the trip to Gushaini or Neuli, the end of the road. From here onwards, visitors need to go on foot, as no motor transport or horses are allowed.

Entry Requirements
Special permits are required to visit the Great Himalayan National Park. These permits can be obtained for a nominal fee from the office of the Park Director at Shamsi, or the range officers at Larji, Sairopa and Sainj. Charges for guides (who are provided by the park authorities, and are mandatory for anybody visiting the park) are extra, as are fees for cameras.

Visits to the Great Himalayan National Park are allowed only between sunrise and sunset. 

A qualified guide is mandatory for everybody visiting the park.  Guides may be hired at the park's office.  Also see resources below.

Closest Town:  Kullu, located about 60 km from the park.

Best time to visit:
The Great Himalayan National Park is best visited in early summer or autumn- April to June and September to November.  From December through April the weather is extremely cold with heavy snowfall that often blocks roads and trails. Monsoon season hits the park between July and September, sometimes resulting in landslides and muddy trails.

Accommodations
Accommodation within the Great Himalayan National Park is inexpensive, but limited to about a dozen forest rest houses scattered across the park that must be reserved well in advance by contacting the Park authorities. Bring your own bedding and food, as the facilities are minimal.

Other rest house accommodations lie outside the park's boundaries at Aut, Sainj, Sairopa and Shangarh. Reservations for these also need to be made well in advance.

For reservations and further enquiries, contact the Office of the Park Director:
Great Himalayan National Park
Shamshi District Kullu PIN 125126
Himachal Pradesh, India
e-mail: dirchnp@sancharnet.in
Phone: 910-1902-265320

RESOURCES and GUIDES to the Great Himalayan National Park

STILLWATER TRAVEL--Great Himalayan National Park: A true journey back in time to a place of profoundly open hearts, deep and genuine warmth, the kindest of smiles and incomparable generosity. 

Adventure 16 Slideshow:  Exploring and Preserving the Hidden Himalayas

NEPAL HIMALAYA

Nepal is a small independent kingdom, located on the southern slopes of the Central Himalaya. Nine of the world's fourteen 8000-meter peaks are concentrated in Nepal, including the loftiest peak in the world -- Mount Everest – as well as Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Nuptse,  Makalu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, and Annapurna. Another mountain in this region, Ama Dablam  "Mother and her Necklace" is a stunningly beautiful mountain  that captivates the views in the Khumbu.  The lower western peak of Ama Dablam is 5,563 metres (18,251 feet). .

Climbing in Nepal is encouraged but tightly regulated. Access is only allowed on government-approved peaks, and many of these peaks have such lengthy waiting lists that a trip must be planned years in advance. Both the amount of necessary bureaucracy and the price of climbing permit vary dramatically. Mount Everest is by far the most expensive.

Nepal is an intriguing country for sightseeing, with its vast diversity of people, long history, fascinating art and distinctive and varied architecture. The two predominant religions, Hinduism and Buddhism, are represented with a variety of gods and goddess, numerous temples, stupas and monasteries.

Getting There:

To get to Nepal you will have to fly from either India, Thailand or Singapore.
To get to New Delhi India try: 
Air India
British Airways
Air France
Air Canada
Kuwait Airlines
Qatar Airways
Lufthansa
KLM
Royal Air Nepal

Once you get to Kathmandu, your options include:
1 – One-hour flight on Royal Air Nepal to Lukla- -a small air strip about ten days from Everest Base Camp (eight from Ama Dablam Base Camp, allowing for acclimatization).
2 - Take a local mini bus to Jiri (if available) or hire a car. Jiri is a small village at the end of the road. From here it is about a 14 -16 day trek to the Khumbu region.

If you have the time, do the walk.  
1 - You will have a chance to walk through one of the most lush and beautiful lowland areas in Nepal. You will also cross over two high passes with excellent views in all directions.
2 - By taking 2 weeks to arrive in the Khumbu area, and having already crossed over two high passes, you will be better acclimatized once you arrive in the high peaks area.
3 - You will be following the historic route taken by most of the early expeditions.

Permits
The General Secretary,
Nepal Mountaineering Association
Post Box No. 1435,
Kathmandu.

Travel Notes:

Place names:  Many temples in Nepal are referred to by alternate names.  Vishnu Temple is also known as Jagannarayan or Charnarayan Temple.  Shiva Temple is also called Maju deval.  Different places may also share the same name.   In the same region you may find several villages all called Phedi or Chisopani, for example.

TIKA: The dot on the forehead is known as a tika and your visit to Nepal would not be complete without being offered one.  It represents the all-seeing, all-knowing third eye and is a sign of protection.

ARCHITECTURE:

Stupa—earliest were domed burial mounds.  They have evolved into simple structures over the centuries

Newar Pagoda Temple—tiered tower with multiple eaves

Shikhara Temple—tapering tower resembling a mountain peak

TRAVEL TIMES TO AVOID

Dasain, the most important of all Nepali celebrations, occurs for 15 days in September or October.  During many of these days, everything comes to a total halt, including transportation, banks and government offices.  Other days hotels, buses and other transportation will be crowded and fully booked by Nepalese who are returning home to celebrate with their families.

WORDS TO KNOW:

Namaste:  Hello/Goodbye.  Sometimes translated as “I salute the God in you.”

Himal:  Sanskrit work for mountain

sherpa: (small “s”) a generic term for a porter or guide

Sherpa: (capital “S”) Buddhist hill people. "Sherpa" means "person of the east." Although Westerners pronounce it "SHUR-pa," the native pronunciation is "SHAR-wa," "shar" meaning "east," and "wa" meaning "person." Most Sherpas are Buddhists of the Nyingmapa sect.

Sherpani:  female Sherpa

Khumbu:  region near Mt. Everest inhabited by Sherpas

Solu Khumbu: region that includes Mt. Everest, Sol, Pharak and Khumbu

Prayer Flag: colorful squares of cloth printed with prayers that are “said” each time the cloth flaps in the wind.

Sahib:  a westerner

Yeti: The abominable snowman

BHUTAN HIMALAYA

Best Time to Travel:  March to August

Bhutan is known as the last "Shangri-La" in the Himalayan region because of its remoteness, spectacular mountain terrain, varied flora and fauna and unique ancient Buddhist monasteries. It has pockets that are relatively unexplored.  Only a limited number of travelers, with special travel visa permits, are allowed to enter the country.

Mountain Travel Sobek --Offers several treks to the Himalayan Region, including Bhutan.

PAKISTAN HIMALAYA

Pakistan is a contrast of diverse cultures and landscapes ranging from expansive and dramatic plateaus to high mountain ranges that are filled with the longest glaciers outside of the Polar Regions.  Pakistan boasts some of the best trekking options in the world, including ascents of the world’s 9th highest mountain, Nanga Parbat. Travel warnings and safety concerns continue to be of issue.

RESOURCES for Pakistan:

--US DEPARTMENT OF STATE FOREIGN ENTRY REQUIRMENTS

--PAKISTAN VISA GUIDE

--VISA APPLICATIONS

MISCELLANEOUS LINKS TO THE HIMALAYAN REGION

Himalayas: Where Earth Meets Sky “Take an awe-inspiring tour of the world's greatest mountain range--the Himalayas. Through India, Nepal, and Tibet you can study the geology of these mountains, find why many feel "called" to trek this region, and look closely at the environmental challenges present.”

Mountain Travel Sobek’s  Ten Top Reasons to Trek the Himalaya

 FOOD DESCRIPTIONS

RECIPES FROM THE HIMALAYAN REGION

dZi FOUNDATION The dZi Foundation implements, supports, and funds projects to improve the basic quality of the lives of children, women, and men in mountain communities with a focus on education, health, culture, and welfare.  

They are dedicated to individual and community needs, and strive to work within the existing social framework, with particular sensitivity to indigenous culture and tradition. The dZi Foundations’ work is focused, but not limited to the Himalayan region of Ladakh, Nepal and Sikkim.

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When I am leading a group of travelers into the high Himalayas, I don’t have time to worry about my luggage and how it will perform and if It is going to work in a wide variety of situations.  I have 15 other people’s logistics to think about.  With Eagle Creek, I don’t have to think about packing, organizing and transporting my “stuff.”  Eagle Creek has already done that for me and come up with the most elegant solutions possible.  Now I can travel with grace, comfort and ease and there was only one decision that I had to make – use Eagle Creek gear. There.  Done.  Now I can pay attention to the fun stuff.

~Chess Edwards, Adventurer, Consultant and Photographer

As a general rule, when traveling to foreign places don’t drink tap water that has not been treated or filtered.  Do not use ice in foods or drinks. 

~Janet Higley, Adventure 16 Events Manager

On an Everest expedition, there are a myriad of things to worry about: altitude, storms, your own personal well being, your teammates...the list goes on and on. With that in mind, I always use Eagle Creek gear for my  expeditions worldwide. It's simple: Eagle Creek gear works, and works well. Tough, reliable, durable: I have one duffel from 1997 that has been on 7 expeditions to 8000 meter peaks in the Himalaya; it's been driven over by trucks, speared by ornery yaks, dumped in a river, and chucked onto and off of countless planes. It still works like new (with a few travel scars!), and will come with me on my next Himalayan expedition. I wouldn't dream of leaving for an expedition with anything other than Eagle Creek...with their gear, I know MY gear will arrive in one piece....and that's the peace of mind I need. --Jake Norton, Speaker, Climber, Photographer
MountainWorld Productions

Himalaya Traveling Tips

Tips for traveling to Mt. Everest Base Camp

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REGIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION

KATHMANDU WEATHER

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Lonely Planet Guides for the Himalaya Region—Available at Adventure 16: 

--Nepal, $21.99

--Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya, $19.99

--Trekking in the Indian Himalaya, $19.99

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RESOURCES AND GUIDES FOR NEPAL

Sierra Mountaineering International

Trekking in the Khumbu Island Peak 20,304 feet, Ama Dablam 22,493 feet, and Royal Chitwan National Park.  “A trek through many villages, past Buddhist monasteries, across suspension bridges above large rivers, and through forests. to reach Island Peak Base Camp at 16,305 feet.”

Ama Dablam climbers descend back down the valley to the town of Pangboche and then up to Base Camp.

The rest of the team will trek in other parts of the Khumbu region visiting Everest Base Camp, climbing Kala Patar for a great view of Everest, and much more

Stillwater Travel

--Mountains and Monasteries:  Designed for those who want to combine the magnificence of trekking in the Himalayas with the spiritual experience of the monastic culture of Nepal.

Trekking in Nepal - a helpful, although somewhat outdated link, about

Mountain Travel Sobek - Offers several treks to the Himalayan Region, including Nepal and Everest.

Trekking Agencies in Kathmandu - This list is several years old and has several broken links.  However, some links still work and may provide a starting point for booking a guide directly in Kathmandu.

CONSERVATION AND VOLUNTEER LINKS FOR NEPAL AND THE HIMALAYAS

--Global Vision International –Volunteer teaching positions in the Himalayas

--Global Crossroad - Volunteer teaching positions in Nepal

--Global Eco Spiritual Tours -- Volunteer teaching positions in Nepal and the Himalayas

--Institute for Field Research—Volunteer in Orphanage, Teaching, Health, and Conservation Projects (1-12 weeks) in Nepal

SEND A GREETING FROM ONE OF THE HIGHEST MOUNTAINS IN NEPAL

NEPALI FONTS

For Nepalese passport and visa information, contact the Royal Nepalese Embassy

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ALTITUDE SICKNESS

Altitude sickness occurs when you ascend in elevation faster than your body can adjust to the decreased amount of oxygen. Symptoms include: Loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting; fatigue or weakness; dizziness or light-headedness; difficulty sleeping. Descending to a lower elevation can relieve symptoms. Continuing to ascend with altitude sickness will worsen the symptoms and can even result in death in acute cases. For more information click here.

Travel Medicine Center

CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL

--South Asia

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

--Nepal

--Bhutan

--India

--Pakistan

--Tibet

CIWEC—TRAVEL MEDICINE CENTER:  Kathmandu, Nepal

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Hiking, backpacking, and other wilderness activities, are potentially dangerous and unpredictable.  Adventure 16 assumes no liability for injuries associated with the use of information provided on this site. The trails, activities and areas described on this site are to be used for informational purposes only and should not be your sole source of guidance.  Always thoroughly research any outdoor area you plan to visit using various resources--including contacting local ranger stations--to obtain the most up to date information for your destination. Contact your physician if you are unsure about your health or physical abilities.