This is the birthplace of Buddha, and only a few miles from the Indian border. It was a little disappointing at first as much of it is a construction site. Many countries have been building temples here since the 1970's, but many are still incomplete and are not open. However, there is still enough to pass an interesting day here, seeing all the different styles of temple together. Having moved down to the plains of Terai, it's hotter and more humid now, so I hav...

"Mountains are not Stadiums where I satisfy my ambition to achieve, they are the cathedrals where I practice my religion" - Antoli Nickolivich Boukreev, famed mountain guide who lived to tell the tale of the 1996 disaster on Everest featured in the film Into Thin Air, but perished in an avalanche on Annapurna, Christmas Day 1997. Annapurna Sanctuary is a magnificent natural amphitheatre with huge snow-capped peaks on all sides. At dawn it is like watching an e...

It was difficult to avoid the hike up Poon Hill this morning, as hundreds of trekkers were up at 3-30AM making lots of noise before heading up to the 3200m viewpoint for sunrise. Poon Hill is only a couple of days walk from Pokhara, so it is popular. But if I continue to the Sanctuary, I should also get a similar view from Deurali Pass. I say "if" because I'm starting to tire, and hiking every day with a heavy rucksack is beginning to take its toll on my back an...

There were a few big changes in store for us when we arrived in Muktinath, the first village on the other side of the Thorung La pass. Firstly, there were the motorbikes bringing elderly people down from the temple. This was the first form of motorized transport I had seen in two weeks, and a sign of things to come. Then there were the 8-page menus with all kinds of new dishes. We were like kids in a sweet shop, having been used to two page menus with only the ...

We arrived in Manang in perfect time for the Badhe (flag) Festival, which only happens once every three years. Between the singing and dancing, costumed men would charge at the crowd led by a man wearing an animal's head. This was some sort of re-enactment of King Kichhen defending his Manangi kingdom. It was all very jolly though, and the locals spent a lot of time laughing. Manang is at a height of 3540m, and today we hiked higher to Kicho Tal (ice lake) at 46...