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Damodar kunda yatra |
Damodar-Kund
is
situated
at the
lap of
high
Himalayas
in Upper
Mustang
area of
Nepal.
In the
column
of Barah
Puran;
Lord
Krishna
has said
that who
pays a
visit to
this
Kunda
and
takes a
deep-bath,
they
will be
freed
from all
the sin.
It is
also
mentioned
in Puran
that two
sons of
Kubers
were
suffering
from
their
wrongdoing
& sin,
which
they did
in their
previous
birth
but lord
Krishna
suggested
them to
take
bath in
this
Kunda
and
immediately
after
taking
bath in
this
Kunda
they
were
released
from all
their
sin.
A common
name for
three
lakes
Brahma
Kunda,
Rudra
Kunda
and
Ananta
Kunda,
Damodar
kunda is
located
at the
altitude
of
22,000
ft. in
the
remote
Himalayan
district
of
Mustang
in
western
Nepal.
There is
also a
large
meadow
of kusha.
As a
motherland
of
shalagram,
this
shrine
is of
utmost
importance
for all
Hindus
on the
earth;
Gandaki
River is
believed
to
originate
from
this
holy
lake. |
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Itinerary
In
Details |
Day
01 :
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Drive from
Kathmandu to
Pokhara (914m.)
which takes
about six hours.
You depart for
the six hours
drive to Pokhara
(915m,), 200
kilometers west
of Kathmandu. As
you climb out of
the Kathmandu
valley, only to
quickly descend
again to the
Trisuli River,
you follow
upstream to its
junction with
the Marsyangdi
River. You
follow the
Marsyandi gently
up through
heavily terraced
fields and small
hill towns to
the Seti River
that takes you
directly into
Pokhara. Having
pleasant
weather, Pokhara
is tourist's
paradise with
full of natural
as well as
cultural
heritage sites
such as lakes,
caves, temples
of Buddhist and
Hindus along
with mountains.
You can observe
views to the
north across the
hills and Phewa
Tal (lake) to
the white peaks
of the Annapurna
and Dhaulagiri
ranges. This
drive will take
most of the
morning, leaving
much of the
afternoon to
fall in love
with its beauty.
You can also fly
from Kathmandu
to Pokhara which
takes about 25
minutes.
|
Day
02 :
|
Fly from Pokhara
to Jomsom (2700
m.) and it takes
about 25 minutes
and trek from
Jomsom to
Kagbeni (2810
m.) which takes
about four
hours. You take
the early
morning flight
which again will
give close-up
views of the
Annapurna range,
Dhaulagiri and
nearby
satellites, 20
minutes flight
in a small
aircraft.
Directly north
of Jomsom is the
pretty village
of Kagbeni,
There are about
80 families
living here,
most of them
traders who are
the link in the
chain between
modern Nepal and
the Tibetan-type
people of
Mustang. Just
out of Jomsom
you cross a
small hanging
bridge and then
walk along the
banks of the
Kali Gandaki.
The trail is
quite barren
with craggy
rocks and sand
and is mostly
flat, which
makes it very
easy going. This
very easy,
enjoyable start
is at the same
time
picturesque,
with views of
big peaks all
around such as
Dhaulagiri
(26,794ft),
Tukuche
(22,703ft) and
in the west the
awesome mountain
above Kagbeni,
Nilgiri
(22,769ft). Over
to the south and
south-west can
be seen the
entire Annapurna
Massif. You are
more than likely
to meet Indian
pilgrims on
their way to and
from Muktinath
on this stretch,
and other
Europeans for an
hour or two who
will be on the
world-famous
Annapurna
Circuit. Upon
reaching Kagbeni
there is a taste
of scenes to
come in Upper
Mustang, what
with its narrow
alleyways and
tunnels,
irrigation
canals, green
fields of wheat
and barley and a
large red gompa.
At the police
check-post at
the north end of
the village
there is a sign
saying
‘Restricted
area, tourists
please do not go
beyond this
point’. Here you
will complete
your paperwork
formalities for
you to enter
this
long-forbidden
region of Nepal.
ACAP have set up
a very
interesting
information post
here with
displays of
Mustang
artifacts and
photos.
|
Day
03 :
|
Trek from
Kagbeni to Chele
and it takes
about six hours.
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Day
04 :
|
Trek from Chele
to Geling which
takes about four
hours.
|
Day
05 :
|
Trek from Geling
to Ghami (3490
m.) via Ghami La
(3520m.) and it
takes about five
hours. From
Geling the trail
climbs gently
through fields,
up the center of
the valley,
passing above
the settlement
of Tama Gun and
an imposing
chorten. You
then begin a
taxing climb
across the head
of the valley to
the Nyi La
[3840m]. The
descent from the
pass is quite
gentle and about
half an hour
further on we
come to a trail
junction; the
right trail is
the direct route
to Charang, the
left trail leads
to Ghami. Ghami
is a large
white-washed
village
sheltered by
overhanging
cliffs.
|
Day
06:
|
Trek fram Ghami
to Tsarang
(36200 m.) which
takes about five
hours. Today's
walk is through
perhaps the
driest part of
Mustang, and
much of your
energy will be
spent
negotiating
loose, dry soil.
However, the
magnificent
views of the
countryside,
from the gentle
contours of the
north to the
rugged mountains
in the east and
west, are a
source of
inspiration.
Finally, you
come to Charang,
a large
spread-out
village at the
top of the
Charang Chu
canyon. At the
eastern end of
the village is a
huge dzong
[fortress] and a
red gompa which
houses an
excellent
collection of
statues and
thangkas.
|
Day
07 :
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Trek from
Tsarang to Lo-Manthang
[Mustang](3730
m.) and it takes
about three
hours. You will
spend part of
the morning
exploring the
interesting
village of
Charang and its
large monastery,
before setting
out for Lo
Manthang. You
climb gently
above the valley
to a large
isolated chorten
that marks the
boundary between
Charang and Lo.
The trail then
broadens and
eventually you
get our first
view of the
walled city of
Lo Manthang. The
city has only
one entrance so
you
circumambulate
the wall to the
gate on the
north east
corner.
|
Day
08 :
|
Acclimatization
and explore
around Lo-manthang
Today is free to
explore the
fascinating city
of Lo Manthang,
untouched since
the 14th
century. The
city contains
about 150
houses, as well
as residences
for its many
lamas. There are
four major
temples within
the city and one
of these, Champa
Lhakang,
contains a huge
clay statue of
Buddha as well
as elaborates
mandalas painted
on the walls.
The king's
palace is an
imposing
building in the
center of the
city and is
occupied by the
current King and
Queen. Although
his duties are
largely
ceremonial, the
King is
respected by the
people and
consulted about
many issues by
villagers
throughout the
kingdom.
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Day
09 :
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Trek from Lo-manthang
to Yara which
takes about
|
Day 10 :
|
Trek from Yara
to Bas Khola and
it takes about
|
Day
11 :
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Acclimatization at Bas
Khola |
Day
12 :
|
Trek from Bas
Khola to Damodar
kunda (Lake)
which takes
about
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Day 13 :
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Trek from
Damodar Kunda to
Ghechung Khola
and it takes
about
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Day
14 :
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Trek from Chechung Khola
to Tange which takes about |
Day
15 :
|
Trek from Tange
to Muktinath and
it takes about
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Day 16 :
|
Trek from
Muktinath to
Jomsom (2713 m.)
and it takes
about 5 hours.
Today we
continue down
for early two
hours and then
walk through the
flat path till
we reach Jomsom.
Between the walk
lies Eklebhatti
village where
you find tea
houses and
lodges.
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Day
17 :
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Fly back from Jomsom to
Pokhara which takes about
35 minutes. The flights
are available during the
morning time. The strong
breeze blows during the
after and frequent change
of the weather prevent the
flight being landed and
taken off in the
afternoon. During the
flights in morning, the
sky looks very clear which
makes you able to enjoy
the splendid views of
different mountain peaks. |
Day
18 :
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Drive or fly
back to
Kathmandu
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