Dhaulagiri,
which can be literally tranlated as White Mountain, holds the status of the
seventh highest mountain in the world. A giant Himalayan massif, Dhaulagiri
lies in north central Nepal and is the highest mountain located entirely
within Nepal. Dhaulagiri region has four pyramid-like peaks, in addition to
the main summit, and all of them rise more than 25,000 feet altitude. High
passes and sweeping snow-clad vistas seem to challenge the trekkers who
would love to go on a off-beat trek. Trek in Dhaulapur region is replete
with peace, and on the other hand, excitement and adventure.
Overview
| Location |
North Central Nepal |
| Altitude |
8,167 m |
| Importance |
7th Highest Mountain In The World. |
| Other name |
Dhawalgiri |
| Mountain Range |
Himalayas |
| Region |
Dhaulagiri Himal |
| Best Trek Season |
April To May & Late September To October |
Striking Features
- Refreshing walks through terraced fields of millet and rhododendron
forests, past Buddhist chortens and colorful villages
- The exotic Mayangdhi river gorge which leads into the legendary
Hidden Valley, one of Nepal's wildest and most remote regions
- Several awe-inspiring glaciers like the Chhonbarden Glacier
- Adventurous passes like the French Pass and Dampus Pass
- An unforgettable climb to the Thapa Peak (19, 720 ft.) leading to the
deepest gorge in the world - the Kali Gandaki.
- An opportunity to see small villages, visit ancient temples, learn
about the mountain Sherpa culture, and enjoy the support of a wonderful
group of warm and friendly local porters and fine mountain cooks
The Dhaulagiri Trek
The trek trail is an extreme trip that rings the awesome Dhaulagiri, an
imposing peak west of the Annapurna massif. This trek familiarises the
trekkers to astounding varieties of Nepal's natural beauty and cultural
diversity. This is an ideal trip for those with mountaineering aspirations.
Day 01: Trek departure to Beni-900m (approx. 9 hr drive
from Kathmandu) and overnight camp
Day 02: Trek to Babiyochaur-1000m (5-6 hr)
Day 03: Trek to Dharapani-1500m (6-7 hr)
Day 04: Trek to Muri-1800m (5-6 hr)
Day 05: Bagar-1900m (6-7 hr)
Day 06: Trek to Dovan-2550m (7-8 hr)
Day 07: Trek to Italy Base Camp-3500m (7-8 hr)
Day 08: Rest at Italy Base Camp for acclimatization
Day 09: Trek to Dhaulagiri base camp-4650m (6-7 hr)
Day 10: Rest at Dhaulagiri base camp for acclimatization
Day 11: Trek to Dhampus Pass-5250m crossing over French
Pass-5360 (7-8 hr) via hidden valley
Day 12: Trek to Yak Kharka-2591m (6-7 hr)
Day 13: Trek to Marpha-2665m (3 hr)
Day 14: Trek to Jomsom
Day 15: Fly from Jomsom - Pokhara - Kathmandu, trip
ends...
Outlook
Mount Dhaulagiri (8167m) was first climbed by the Swiss in 1960. Its name
is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Dhavala' which means 'White' and 'Giri'
i.e. 'Mountain'. The mountain was discovered by British surveyors in India
in the early 1800s and was mapped by one of the secret Indian surveyors in
1873. The region remained largely unknown until a Swiss aerial survey in
1949. After its discovery in 1808 by the western world, Dhaulagiri was
thought to be the highest mountain in the world. This lasted for 30 years
before Dhaulagiri's place was taken by Kanchenjunga, and then Mountain
Everest.
Tit-Bits
- In 1960, the Swiss/Austrian expedition who first reached the
Dhaulagiri summit did so despite their airplane having crashed during
the approach.
- Dhaulagiri rises 7000m over the Kali Gandaki gorge to the southeast
in about 30km of horizontal distance.
- The South and West faces of Dhaulagiri both feature massive drops;
each rises over 4000 meters from its base, and each has been the site of
epic climbs
- Across the deep gorge of the Kali Gandaki to the east lies the
Annapurna Himal, home to Annapurna I, one of the other
Eight-thousanders.
