Many trekkers book the Mardi Himal Trek knowing only that it starts near Pokhara and has spectacular views of Machapuchare. Understanding where it actually lies, and how the land around it is shaped, makes the trek far more meaningful. You will know why the ridge offers such wide views, which river is roaring in the valley below, which peak is which on the skyline, and how the trek connects to the rest of the Annapurna region. This guide explains the location and geography of Mardi Himal in plain terms. For the practical side of getting there, see Pokhara to Mardi Himal and Kathmandu to Mardi Himal.
Mardi Himal at a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | Nepal |
| Province | Gandaki Province |
| District | Kaski |
| Mountain range | Annapurna range, Himalaya |
| Protected area | Annapurna Conservation Area |
| Nearest city | Pokhara, about 25–30 km to the south as the crow flies |
| Peak height | 5,587 m |
| Trek's highest point | Base Camp, about 4,500 m |
| Neighboring peaks | Machapuchare, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli |
| Rivers | Modi Khola (west), Mardi Khola (east) |
Nepal and the Annapurna Region
Nepal stretches for about 800 kilometers along the southern flank of the Himalaya, between India and Tibet. It is usually divided into three broad zones: the flat, hot Terai plains in the south, the green Middle Hills in the center, and the high Himalaya in the north. Mardi Himal lies where the Middle Hills meet the high mountains, in the west-central part of the country, about 200 kilometers west of Kathmandu.
The Annapurna region, one of Nepal's great trekking areas, is centered on the Annapurna massif, a group of peaks including Annapurna I, at 8,091 meters the tenth-highest mountain in the world. The region also includes the Annapurna Sanctuary, a glacial basin surrounded by high peaks; the deep Kali Gandaki gorge to the west; and the Marsyangdi valley to the east. Mardi Himal sits on the southern rim of the Annapurna Sanctuary, just in front of Machapuchare. See the Annapurna Conservation Area.
Gandaki Province and Kaski District
Administratively, Mardi Himal lies in Kaski District, in Gandaki Province. Pokhara is both the district headquarters of Kaski and the provincial capital of Gandaki. The district stretches from the lakes and valleys around Pokhara north to the summits of the Annapurna range, taking in terraced hills, forested ridges, villages such as Dhampus, Ghandruk and Siding, and the high peaks themselves. It is one of the most visited districts in Nepal, thanks to Pokhara, the lakes and the treks that start nearby. See Kaski District.
Where the Peak Stands
Mardi Himal is a 5,587-meter peak on the southern edge of the Annapurna range. It stands directly in front of, and slightly to the south of, Machapuchare, the famous Fishtail mountain. Because Machapuchare rises nearly 1,500 meters higher behind it, Mardi Himal is easily overlooked from Pokhara, where it appears as a lower snow peak to the left of the Fishtail. Yet up close, from the ridge that bears its name, it is an impressive mountain in its own right, with steep snow slopes and ridges rising above Base Camp.
From Mardi Himal, a long ridge runs south toward Pokhara, gradually descending from the high snows through grassland and forest into the Middle Hills. This is the ridge the trek follows. See the mountains you see from Mardi Himal.
The Ridge and Its Valleys
The key to the geography of the trek is the ridge itself and the two valleys on either side. To the west lies the Modi Khola, a powerful river that drains the Annapurna Sanctuary and flows south past Chhomrong, Jhinu Danda, Landruk and Ghandruk before joining the Kali Gandaki. The trail to Annapurna Base Camp follows this valley. To the east lies the Mardi Khola, a smaller river that rises on Mardi Himal's slopes and flows south past Siding and Lwang toward the Seti River and Pokhara.
Between these two valleys, the Mardi Himal ridge stands high and open, which is why it makes such a fine viewpoint. From the ridge, you look down into both valleys, across to the villages on the far slopes, and up to the peaks at the head of the Sanctuary. See the Modi and Mardi Khola valleys and the Mardi Himal ridge.
Neighboring Peaks
| Peak | Approximate height | Position relative to Mardi Himal |
|---|---|---|
| Machapuchare | 6,993 m | Directly behind (north), towering above |
| Annapurna South | 7,219 m | To the west, across the Sanctuary entrance |
| Hiunchuli | 6,441 m | To the west, in front of Annapurna South |
| Annapurna I | 8,091 m | Further north, inside the Sanctuary, mostly hidden |
| Annapurna III and Gangapurna | 7,555 m and 7,455 m | To the northeast, beyond Machapuchare |
From the ridge, Machapuchare dominates the view, with Annapurna South and Hiunchuli forming a great wall to the west. Annapurna I itself is largely hidden behind other peaks from most of the trek. Everest, far to the east, is not visible. See Annapurna South and Hiunchuli and can you see Everest from Mardi Himal?
How to Spot Mardi Himal from Pokhara
On a clear morning in Pokhara, look north from the shore of Phewa Lake or from a rooftop in Lakeside. The most obvious peak is Machapuchare, its sharp, pointed summit standing out above the foothills. To its left, and noticeably lower and closer, you will see a broader snow peak with a rounded, sloping profile. That is Mardi Himal. Below it, a long, green ridge runs down toward the city; that is the ridge the trek follows. Further left, the great white mass of Annapurna South and the lower peak of Hiunchuli complete the view. Once you know what to look for, it is thrilling to trace the route of your trek from the city, and even more thrilling to look back at Pokhara from High Camp a few days later. The view is clearest in the early morning, before clouds build, and from viewpoints such as Sarangkot above the lake. See photographing Machapuchare.
The Annapurna Sanctuary Explained
You will often hear that Mardi Himal stands on the edge of the Annapurna Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is a high glacial basin, roughly oval in shape, enclosed by a ring of peaks including Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna, Annapurna III and Machapuchare. The only natural entrance is a narrow gorge where the Modi Khola flows out to the south. Annapurna Base Camp lies inside the basin, while Mardi Himal lies just outside its southeastern rim, in front of Machapuchare. From the upper Mardi Himal ridge, you look toward the entrance of the Sanctuary and the peaks that guard it, which is why the views from Base Camp feel so enclosed and dramatic. See Mardi Himal vs Annapurna Base Camp.
Distances and Travel Times
Although Mardi Himal is close to Pokhara as the crow flies, the journey on the ground is longer. From Kathmandu, it is about 200 kilometers by road to Pokhara, which takes six to eight hours by tourist bus or about 25 minutes by air. From Pokhara, the drive west to the trailhead at Kande takes an hour to an hour and a half. From Kande, trekkers usually reach Base Camp on the third or fourth day, and return to Pokhara via Siding a day or two later. In total, most visitors spend five days on the trek from Pokhara, or around nine days including travel from Kathmandu. Pokhara also has an international airport, so some visitors now fly in directly. See how many days you need and flying directly to Pokhara.
How Location Shapes the Weather
Mardi Himal's position on the southern edge of the Himalaya has a big influence on its weather. Moist air from the Bay of Bengal sweeps north during the monsoon, from June to September, and rises against the mountains, bringing heavy rain to Pokhara and the southern slopes, including the Mardi Himal ridge. Pokhara is one of the wettest places in Nepal as a result. In autumn and winter, dry air brings clear, stable conditions and the best mountain views. In spring, warming temperatures bring haze and afternoon cloud. Because the ridge rises steeply from the valleys, cloud often forms below it in the mornings, creating the sea of clouds that trekkers love. See the monthly weather guide and the sea of clouds.
Pokhara and the Approach
Pokhara, at around 822 meters, lies in a broad valley south of the Annapurna range, beside Phewa Lake. On clear days, the peaks rise dramatically above the city, only about 25 to 30 kilometers away as the crow flies, making Pokhara one of the few cities in the world with such a close view of 7,000- and 8,000-meter mountains. The Mardi Himal trailheads at Kande and Phedi lie west of the city on the highway toward Baglung, about an hour's drive away. From there, the trail climbs north onto the ridge. See the Lakeside guide for trekkers.
Climate Zones
Because the trek climbs from around 800 meters in Pokhara to around 4,500 meters at Base Camp, it passes through several climate and vegetation zones. The lower slopes around Pokhara and the trailheads are subtropical, with rice terraces, banana trees and warm temperatures. The middle slopes, from about 2,000 to 3,000 meters, are temperate, covered in rhododendron, oak and magnolia forest. Above about 3,000 meters, the forest gives way to subalpine shrubs and grassland, and above High Camp, the landscape becomes alpine, with rock, sparse grass and, in season, snow. See ecosystems by altitude and Pokhara weather vs Mardi Himal weather.
Geology
The Annapurna range, like the rest of the Himalaya, was formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, a process that began tens of millions of years ago and continues today. The rocks of the high peaks include sedimentary layers that were once on the floor of an ancient ocean, which is why fossils of sea creatures are found high in the Himalaya. Rivers and glaciers have carved the deep valleys and sharp ridges, including the Mardi Himal ridge. See the geology behind the Mardi Himal views.
Villages and Communities
The slopes around Mardi Himal are home to farming communities, with Gurung villages prominent along with Brahmin, Chhetri, Magar and other groups. Villages such as Dhampus, Pothana, Landruk, Ghandruk, Siding and Lwang lie on the lower slopes, surrounded by terraced fields and forests. The upper ridge, above the forest, has no permanent villages, only seasonal herders' shelters and the trekking lodges at Low Camp, Badal Danda and High Camp. See villages around Mardi Himal and Gurung culture on the trek.
How the Trek Fits into the Landscape
Putting it all together, the Mardi Himal Trek starts in the Middle Hills west of Pokhara, climbs north through forest onto the ridge between the Modi Khola and Mardi Khola valleys, follows the ridge up to Base Camp beneath Mardi Himal and Machapuchare, and then descends east into the Mardi Khola valley to Siding. It is a compact loop that takes you from subtropical farmland to the edge of the high Himalaya in just a few days. See the map and route guide.
Nearby Treks
Several other famous treks lie close to Mardi Himal. Annapurna Base Camp is reached by the Modi Khola valley to the west, and the two treks can be combined via Landruk. Poon Hill and Ghorepani lie further west, above the Kali Gandaki. Khopra Danda is a quieter ridge trek west of the Modi Khola. The Annapurna Circuit loops around the whole massif. See Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp, Mardi Himal vs Poon Hill and short treks from Pokhara compared.
Finding Mardi Himal on a Map
On a map of Nepal, find Pokhara in the center-west of the country, then look directly north to the Annapurna range. Machapuchare is usually marked prominently, and Mardi Himal appears just south of it. The trek route runs up the ridge between the two rivers flowing south from the range: the Modi Khola to the west and the Mardi Khola to the east. On a detailed trekking map of the Annapurna region, you will find the trail marked from Kande or Dhampus through Pitam Deurali, Forest Camp and Low Camp to High Camp and Base Camp, with the descent to Siding branching east. Phone apps based on OpenStreetMap show the trail and lodges clearly and work offline. See offline maps and GPS apps and how to read a trekking map.
Plan Your Trek to Mardi Himal
Now that you know where Mardi Himal is, the next step is getting there. See the 9-day Mardi Himal Trek from Kathmandu or the 5-day trek from Pokhara, and contact us to plan your trip.