Kagbeni

Kagbeni is situated in the valley of the Kali Gandaki, This river is ne of three who cross the Himalaya. The Kali Gandaki was one of the major trading routes between Tibet and India. The traders brought the famous salt from Tibet and barley, spices and clothes from India.  After the chinese invasion in Tibet the trade came to an halt and many of the rich villages lost their revenue and later many people. Nawerdays, there is again a some trade, but also now the income from Tourism.

Kagbeni is just a 2 hour sidetrek from the shortest route from Muktinath to Jomsom. But it is one of my favorite villages in the whole Annapurnaregion and it really a pitty, if you miss it.

Kagbeni means litterally” bolt at the two rivers” and formaly controled the trade.One can see this past as a fortified village, as all the houses are build in a common rectangel wich a common outer wall and just three little entrance doors. The former fortress is nowerdays in ruins.

North of Kagbeni starts the upper Mustang where you need a very expensive permit.

The valley of the Kali Gandaki with the Nilgiri mountain (7061 m)

Viev from the river to Kagbeni with thorong la

The Kagbeni Gompa with folded sea-sediments

In one of the little norther streets you can find this protecto statue. To show all the bad spirits, that “he” is a strong protector, the gave him a clearly male part. have a look to the lower part of him,

Its just nice to sit in the warm sun, chatting and knitting

Inside the new Annapurna lodge, wich is within the old village center. In their big kitchen many people can sit, drink butter tea and listen to the beatuiful songs, the sisters are singing. T%hey would love, if you have also some songs. The Annapurna lodge is definitively my favorite lodge on the whole circuit andmany people stays for days, even when they havend even planned to stay at all before.

The mother of the annapurnalodge

Her elder daughter Yanyum is now in Banglore studying Hotelmanagement

The joung sisters Dölma and Katsang in 1998

a girl from Kagbeni

The kali Gandaki between Kagbeni and Jomsom. From Kagbeni to Kalopani there will be nearly every day a strong and dusty wind blowing up the valley. so its a good idea to stay overnight in Kagbeni and to start in the morning to Jomson, wich is just 2,5 hours away.