04-15 Gandruk

View up the valley of the Modi Kola towards Annapurna
  1. Landruk – Ghandruk

There were no views of Annapurna or Machapuchre on this day. Everything was shrouded in mist and clouds. Never the less we made an early start at 8.15 in case it should start to rain before we arrived in Gandruk. Our route went steeply down through rice fields to the Modi Kola (river) at 1200m and then even more steeply up with thousands of steps to the village of Gandruk at 1940m. The sun had come out and it was hot walking. We saw water buffalo at close quarters and a local farmer ploughing his land with two oxen. The guide was right about the rain. It started just after we arrived at our lodge in time for lunch.

Ghandruk is the largest village in the area, stretched out across the hillside for a vertical distance of almost 200m. It is the home of the Gurung tribe who supply the Gurka soldiers for the British and Indian armies and since some retire here on their pensions it has given the village some prosperity. The room in the lodge was slightly more spacious than the previous ones and we even had an ensuite shower!

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