| Mardi Himal | |
| Elevation M: | 5587 |
| Range: | Annapurna Himal, Himalayas |
| Listing: | Mountains of Nepal |
| Country: | Nepal |
| Region Type: | District |
| Map: | Nepal |
| Label Position: | left |
| Coordinates: | 28.4667°N 138°W |
| First Ascent: | 1961 by Basil Goodfellow |
Mardi Himal (Nepali: मर्दी हिमाल) is a 55870NaN0 peak beneath the much more prominent Machapuchare in the Annapurna region of Nepal, from which it is separated by a 5200m (17,100feet) col. It was first summited in 1961 by Basil Goodfellow.
In 2012, the Mardi Himal Trek was opened, following a ridge towards the summit, with lodges and teahouses open to an elevation of 3,550m, with a further climb to "Base Camp" at 4,500m. The peak itself is classified by the Nepalese government as a "trekking peak" and is offered by many expedition companies. The trek starts from the beautiful city of Pokhara and follows the route through the villages of Dhampus and Pothana, passing through dense forests of oak, rhododendron, and bamboo. The trail then heads towards the Mardi Himal Base Camp, which is located at an altitude of 4,500 meters, offering stunning views of the Mardi Himal, Annapurna South, and Himchuli peaks.
The Mardi Himal trekking trail is in the Annapurna Conservation Area in the middle of the Himalayas, and it's a new route for tourists. The group of researchers conducted two bird surveys in the winter and summer of 2019, starting from where the SETI-Gandaki River meets with Low Camp on Mardi Himal. The researcher counted birds every 100 meters while climbing from 1030 meters above sea level to 3050 meters above sea level and looked at how different factors like the environment affected the number and type of birds they found. They recorded 673 birds of 152 different species, with 72 species observed in winter and 80 in summer. They saw that as they climbed higher in the mountains, the number of species first increased, reached a peak, and then decreased again. This happened in both winter and summer. Factors like temperature, precipitation, distance to water sources, and distance to human settlements affected the richness of bird species with certain types of birds being influenced more strongly by climate variables. In Mardi Himal the variety of birds is influenced by different factors such as where they live, how hot and rainy it is, what food is available, and if there are any disturbances.[1]
The Mardi HIMAL trek is becoming popular because it offers a thrilling experience without being too risky or time-consuming. It's close to Pokhara, making it easy to reach, and it's flexible. People can do a quick 5-day trip or combine it with a longer circuit. The trek isn't too difficult, so even beginners can enjoy it. Along the way, there is stunning scenery like villages, forests, and snow-capped peaks. Unlike more crowded treks, Mardi HIMAL lets tourists explore off-the-beaten-path areas, giving them a unique adventure.
Interviews and watching what's happening show that there are now as many Nepalese tourists as there are international ones. The Mardi Himal trek is getting more popular with both local people and international tourists. It's estimated that there are now as many Nepalese tourists as international ones. It's believed that the number of visitors [2]
In March 2023, Nepal made new rules for trekking in its national parks. Tourists who are not from Nepal are not allowed to trek alone in places like Mardi Himal. They need to be accompanied by a guide who has a license or book trekking with a company. This change happened suddenly, right before the trekking season started, however, as of May 2024 the rule is not being actively enforced, and independent trekking within the Annapurna Conservation Area remains commonplace. The Mardi Himal trek is becoming popular because It's close to Pokhara city.[3]
There are three major villages between Pokhara and Mardi Himal. The first one is either Dhampus or an Australian base camp that has over 30 homestay and tea houses. Then, the next top is Forest Camp with 7-8 tea houses. There are two camps above that, Low Camp and High Camp. Among these High, Camp has a larger number of guest houses and accommodates a large number of tourists. [4]