Day 03 Manaslu Trek Itinerary

Day 03 Manaslu Trek Itinerary

School in village of Philim

Right after breakfast we hit the trail, as far as I remember it was some dangerous narrow uphill with raging Budi Gandaki River just down the trail. Although entire trail was not like that it is still risky. I’m writing this blog on 2014 November – Recently 1 French Trekkers Disappear from the same technical section as slip down to Budi Gandaki and snatched away. Just be careful nothing will happen as trail is good enough even for herds of mules with load, we are just small human being in compare to them. As we move ahead I forget the places but it was gently flat in most of the part. Right before arriving the Jagat valley get widen and stretched in between two giant hills where we can see Budi Gandaki flowing down on jig jag way. I had already mention it was late February weather was fine warm sunlight and bushes out there on wide sandy bank of river as well as on nearby cliff ridge was golden brown. Right after next to long suspension bridge Lowe Jagat came into our sight. There was one helicopter I think it was refueling because when I reach there helicopter already take off and head toward Kathmandu all I can see nearby helipad was empty gallons. There is one small welcome gate with “Welcome To Manaslu Conservation Area” before we reach village. After reaching there we came to know there is still another settlement up there named Upper Jagat. It was like ten to fifteen minute hike to village. We stop on Manaslu Shanti Guest House first one on the right hand side. They had offered us good delicious lunch; it was simple Dal Bhat but taste very good. Hotel owner was complaining me that you take your client very fast as generally people spent a night out here starting from Machhakhola in the morning. I said sometimes happen and we leave the guesthouse. There was first checkpoint for restricted pass. Official ask me to show the permits and I show it to them and request then had we are about to enter one day earlier and he was ok with that he made some correction on permit regarding the entry and exit date by shifting one day ahead. He ask are you single and I lied there actually I told him our Korean friend are coming we are together there are one guide and one porter left for Korean Friend and we are moving fast because we are fast. Official even wrote a recommendation letter about the situation so that I don’t need to explain in each and every checkpoint, it was very kind of him. We leave toward Philim from there it was supposed to be around two and half hour from Jagat. On the way I meet a local from Philim and he asked me where are you going, I replied we are going to Philim. He introduce himself to me his name was Sameer Gurung and he owned a guest house in Philim named “Rose Garden Guest House” and he was going to Arughat to buy goods for his lodges for season. As far as I remember now there are two or three small houses on Shridibas from where trail hike up a little bit and follow some minor up and down.

My Imaginary bridge when I'm lying to my friend, (Not taken at Philim)

It was my first time there when I take information from other we had been there before they told me before reaching a Philim there is uphill just follow the main trail you will reach there. I was following a main trail and there was one overhead suspension bridge just before one small checkpoint where “Temporary Police Check Post” was painted. I had never imagined that we need to cross the bridge and Philim is on next bank of river instead of heading to checkpoint and follow big trail next to checkpoint. When I reach on checkpoint there was no one out there. I though it was ok so we move ahead. After like ten minutes of walk I met a local girl and I ask here “Sister how far is Philim from here” and as a response she laugh and told me “Laa Daju Tapai to arkai bato aaunu bhayo Philim ta tyo pari patti ko gaun po ho ta, yo bato ta Pangsing bhanne gaun jancha”. She told me “Oho brother you are on different way, actually Philim is next village we can see on next bank of river after crossing that suspension bridge. This trail actually lead to village of Pangsing”. I was outraged, as my friend doesn’t know that I had not been here before. Suddenly an idea strike my mind, I turn back to my friend and replied according to this girl there is no shortcut wooden bridge on Budi Gandaki which is very shortcut for way to Philim no we need to return to that suspension bridge and follow summer trail to Philim.

(It was my luck that we had seen some of board on the trail before mentioning Summer Trail and Winter Trail, where summer trail used to be little bit longer with rigid suspension bridge when normally river used to bigger. While on the other hand winter trail is short and through temporary wooden bridge as well as generally river used to be very small during winter)

We cross that suspension bridge and hike up to Philim, stayed on Rose Garden Guest House. It was beautiful Gurung Village with house of stone mostly totally different than what we had seen in Arughat up to Jagat. Philim was little bit developed there was television and local satellite phone. Late afternoon we just walk around school build by Japanese, it is worth to visit even if you don’t stay overnight on Philim just pay a short visit during your lunch break in Philim.