TREKKING HISTORY

Colonel Jimmy Roberts, is the person who introduced trekking to the world in 1965. He spent many years of his life walking on the hills of Nepal. He created trekking as a package that included tents, Sherpas, guides and cooks. This made Nepal and the Himalayas open their doors to the world and it became an instant success. The same formula for trekking exists even today. People travel in groups through the hills and mountains, walking for five to six hours each day with all their equipments being carried by the porters or yaks. Good quality meals are provided along the treks with warm sleeping bags and comfortable tents. The trekkers only carry a personal pack with camera, day clothing and snacks. Walking for days, might sound daunting, but actually it is not that difficult. Anyone can trek and age is not a barrier! The most important attribute to enjoy the trek and Nepal, in general, is to have the right attitude and a positive frame of mind.

Bill Tilman was the first trekker in Nepal who took part in several treks including the Kali Gandaki, Helumbu and Everest. His feats are described in the Nepal Himalaya, mountaineering classic that has been reprinted by the Seattle Mountaineers as part of the Tilman collection, the Seven Mountain-travel books. Another early visitor was Maurice Herzog, who led a French expedition to the Annapurna in 1950.

During king Tribhuvan’s visit to India, the king met Boris Lissanovich, a Russian ballet dancer who was running a club in Calcutta. Boris convinced the king that people would like to visit Nepal and would actually pay for the experience. Soon, a few well- heeled ladies flew from Patna to Kathmandu Gaucharan (cow field) in an Indian Airlines Dakota. Boris accommodated them in his new establishment, the Royal Hotel. The women were charmed by Boris and the exotic kingdom of Nepal. Thus, Nepali tourism was born. The Royal Hotel and its Yak & Yeti bar became the meeting place for climbers from the 1950s until 1971- when the Royal Hotel was closed.

Jimmy Roberts, in Nepal attached with the British residency and accompanied Tilman on his first trek. In 1965, he took a group of ladies up the Kali Gandaki and founded Mountain Travel, the first trekking company of Nepal which became an inspiration for the adventure travel industry.

HISTORY OF THE NEPALESE HIMALAYAS

Forty million years ago, a collision between two plates of the earth’s crust resulted in the creation of the earth’s highest mountain- the Himalayas. The magnificent range of the Himalayas harbors breathtakingly beautiful scenery and dramatic environment. The high Himalayas, which constitute a spectacular mountain scope, is able to attract any one who is in search of challenge and grandeur.

The beauty, mystery and majesty of these mountains are mainly due to the thick layers of ice and snow that perpetually cover them up. Since time immemorial, the Himalayas have captured the dreams, desires and the imagination of human beings. Even the early Aryans looked up to these mountains as the abode of gods and goddesses and as extraordinary objects of beauty, scenic grandeur, peace and tranquility. These towering mountains have aptly been called the “Top of the World” and “The Third Pole” on the basis of the fact that they constitute the latitudinal extremity.

Nepal, renowned all over the world for its scenic and panoramic peaks, is the land of supernatural beauty and a real paradise for nature lovers.

In 1852, the highest mountain in the world was determined by and later named after Sir George Everest. Even after the determination of Mt. Everest, no climber had scaled the mountains of Nepal until 1949. There is no doubt that the history of trekking in Nepal started after people climbed mountains and took part in the various expeditions of many majestic peaks.

In 1949, the Swiss, who had been earlier refused permission to attempt to scale the Dhaulagiri, entered east Nepal through Darjeeling. The team, that was led by Sutter – Lohner, explored Ramtang Glacier, Kang Bachen peak (7902m), the triangle of Drohmo (7008m), Jongsang peak (7473m) and Nupchu (7028) on the Nepal – Tibet – Sikkim border. They also climbed Tang Kangma (6249m), on the outskirts of Drohmo, as well as the Dzange peak (6709m) before they returned to Darjeeling on the nineteenth day of their expedition.

In 1949, Nepal opened its frontiers to the outside world and within eight years, ten of the fourteen 8000m peaks were scaled. In 1950, Annapurna (8091m) became the first peak that was scaled, which was followed by Everest (8848m) in 1953 and Nanga Parbat (8125m). This played a vital role as the number of expeditions to Nepal from different countries of the world multiplied and by 1964, all the Himalayan giants were scaled, one of them being the Shisa Pangma (8046m) that was scaled by the Chinese in 1964.

Mt. Everest, the highest Peak of the world, and numerous other peaks have been climbed many times since then. In 1953, Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Edmund Hillary successfully scaled Mt. Everest and became the first to reach the top of the world. Sir Edmund Hillary stated, “Nepal is the only country in the world which is also one of the world’s great trekking paradises and one of the nicest countries in the world for trekking.”

Why trek in Nepal!

The amazing nature of Nepal squeezed within a tiny area of 147, 000 sq. km with the geographic diversity ranging from the Himalayan ranges to the very fertile flood plains of the lowlands is overwhelming. Nepal has proudly been established as one of the best adventure and trekking destinations in the world. Trekking is the best way to see and experience the real Nepal as it makes it easier to get access to any parts of the country. It also gives you the opportunity to witness the very unique and diverse cultural background of the Nepalese people in addition to the amazing mountain sceneries. Seeing the mountains up close makes one feel the awe-inspiring natural power and this is only possible through walking and trekking. It is a known fact that if you want to experience the true nature of culture, you have to visit the people and their surroundings and that is only possible through trekking. With the assistance of our professional, experienced and friendly staff, you can venture into any part of the country and still be assured that you are in safe hands no matter how wild and remote the place is. Further, encountering and experiencing the amazing variety of the wild and natural floras and fauna along the trekking trails will be sufficient to give you a great feeling!