At the altitude of 3150 m, the dense forest that had surrounded us suddenly gave way to bushes and shrubs. From then on, we could enjoy unending views of the Himalayan giants. It was getting late and we decided to spend a night in the village of Upper Pisang, located 200 metres above the bottom of the valley. The lodges in Lower Pisang are much bigger and more comfortable but Upper Pisang has a unique, medieval atmosphere. A “lodge” is just a room or two in somebody's house. Houses are usually made of stone and living rooms and bedrooms are located on the highest level and accessible only by a ladder carved out of a log. The scenery was really spectacular. The gigantic body of Annapurna II (7937 m) dominated the landscape, which seemed to be only a stone's throw away. An even more beautiful view stretched from another village, Gyaru, located 400 m higher along a much less frequently used upper path. |
