Káthmándú - Pokhara
The most frequently used road route by tourists in Nepal is probably more than 200 km long Prithvi Highway leading from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Moreover, there are a number of important branches on the way: to Arughat Bazaar (the basis of Manaslu trek), Bharatpur/Sauraha (Chitwan NP), Gorkha (the historical town and alternative start of the trek around Manaslu) and Besi Shahar (the basis of the trek around Annapurnas), so if you go back to Nepal, you will be familiar with it. Long driving time between 6–8 hours in often crowded bus is compensated by spectacular views of the verdant mountains of the Little Himalayas Mahabharat. There will be countless number of rice fields around you and if weather permits, the horizon will be dominated by the peaks of Ganesh and Manaslu. Most of the route leads along the beautiful river Trisuli, a paradise for rafters. If you want to enjoy this trip even more and take better photos than from the bus window, it is ideal to rent a bike. But it is a pretty risky business in the local traffic.
Behind Baad Bhanjyang
If you head directly to Pokhara, it is ideal to use tourist bus. The seat is guaranteed here and it is a little more comfortable and faster than local buses. For more than an hour you will be doing your way through the suburbs of Katmandu in the direction of „antenna“ pass Baad Bhanjyang (1 510 m asl). From here the road drops in long switchbacks to the valley. The traffic is so strong that there are long traffic jams.
Green mountain of Mahabharat
During the descent you will have beautiful views of the green two thousand high ridges in many places dotted with rice fields almost to the top.
Ganesh mountains
During the descend from the pass open in good weather views of the part of the main Himalayan ridge – not often visited six thousand meters high mountain Ganesh. The peak on the left Ganesh II (7 118 m asl), neighboring massive peak Pabil (7 104 m asl), behind the pass Salasungo (7 043 m asl). Then, due to the greater distance a little indistinctive highest peak of the whole massif of Yangra (7 422 m asl).
Driving in the mountains Mahabharat
Gradually during the descent into the valley begins to disappear the massif of Ganesh, but the surrounding landscape is still amazing.
Agricultural landscape
The road is still descending in farmland into the valley of the river Trishuli.
Valley of Trishuli
Trishuli River springs in Langtang Himal and is one of the most important Nepali rivers. You drive many kilometers along its flow.
Rice fields
Rice fields are ubiquitous. Any suitable place in the landscape is fully used.
Wild hillsides
Small houses at very romantic places are scattered even in the steep wild slopes towering directly from the river Trishuli.
Refreshments along the road
There are numerous possibilities for snacks along the road. Every driver has his own favorite place. Most of the stops are in the area around Mugling, which is approximately halfway.
Trishuli during monsoons
In the summer months (period of monsoons) are rivers quite brown. In high season there is considerably less water and it is nicely blue colored.
Suspension bridges
The road leads on the left side of the river. The right bank is thus connected by a variety of pedestrian suspension bridges.
The lowest point of the road is in Mugling (254 m asl), where is the confluence of Trishuli and Marsyandi, each with a different color of water. Here branch off the tourists heading to National Park Chitwan. The road then rises already along Marsyandi to Dumre, another significant crossroads and then in a little less interesting landscape up to Pokhara (835 m asl).
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