By Rup Narayan Dhakal : Kahphuche (Kaski)—Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) Western Regional Association Pokhara has come up with an unique and adventurous alternative trekking route that touches Kahphuche Glacial Lake which situates in lowest elevation from sea level, beneath the Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal in Nepal’s Kaski District.
According to TAAN WRA Pokhara Chairman Deepak Raj Adhikari, his organization launched an exploration tour along with the Global Positioning System tracking to develop a detail map of a week-long route that starts from Deep of Pokhara Lekhnath Metropolitan City and goes through Armala, Aantighar Mauja, Thak, Tara Hilltop, Sikles, Hugu to reach the Kahphuche that situates in the elevation of 2,450 meters from sea level, in Madi Rural Municipality- 1.
Picturesque Mountain view of Annapurna range, avalanches in Annapurna II, Gurung Culture, green forest with several species of birds, sacred points, wild honey-bee hives, hot water springs, wild lives with various flora and fauna are some of the attractions of that route which bases on camping cum home-stay. TAAN WRA Pokhara has also a long-run plan of extending this route up to 10 days, connecting Kori, Thurju, Doodhpokhari, Namun Pass, Danfe Chaur and Timang that touches world famous Annapurna Circuit trek in Manang.
TAAN WRA Pokhara former secretary and one of the exploration team members Binay Acharya informed that the formal opening of the Kahphuche route would take place following the printing of map and brochure. The concept of alternative route arose as numbers of existing famous trekking routes are being hard-hit by the road construction, said TAAN WRA Pokhara ex-chairman and TAAN Silver Jubilee exploration committee coordinator Narayan Prasad Sapkota.
Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) and Madi Rural Municipality are assisting to that exploration campaign while Nepal Tourism Board is said to be a promoter of that route. Dhan Gurung aka Maila who is also a tourism entrepreneur and Namaste Guest house’s proprietor stressed on repairing and widening of the Thak-Tara Hill and Sikles-Kahphuche trail sections before formally starting the route. However the number of domestic and foreign tourists is going up every year in Kahphuche which he likes to promote as a virgin ice-lake.
According to TAAN general member and trekking entrepreneur Bikash Gurung, Kahphuche is originally a Gurung language word that means the calmly leveled lake made of falling of snow. The lake which falls in the premises of ACAP region is also a major water source of Madi River. ACAP Ilaka Conservation Office Parchey in-charge Utsav Neupane pledged adequate support to operate the Kahphuche rotue cooperating with TAAN. TAAN WRA Pokhara vice chairman and program coordinator Bishwo Raj Adhikari claimed that his organization would like to operate that route in Eco-friendly manner.
At the same time, TAAN WRA Pokhara Executive Member Ram Chandra Adhikari informed that they are going to launch a familiarization tour cooperating with stakeholders, local bodies as well as ACAP and NTB before formally launching of the route.
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