Jhinu Danda Hot Springs/Panchase Bhanjyang Trek

Jhinu Danda hot springs/Panchase Danda trek

This short moderate week long trek is suitable to any age groups. It has unique specialities of rural life, their unique own cultures, customs, traditions, rituals and beautiful traditional houses which all are photosenic. If you want to get know about the people of Nepal, their cultures, customs, traditions, rituals and daily agricultural life, this trek is for you. 

Most of the itinerary of this trek pass through several beautiful villages namely Ghandruk Village, Lundruk Village, Chadrakot Village, Bhadhaure Village and Bhumdi Village on the lap of Annapurna South (7219m), Hiunchuli (6441m) and Machapuchre - Fishtail (6997m).  

In this itinerary one can have memorable experience of home stay, natural hot springs bath on the bank of Modi River which is believed to cure all the skin disease at Jhinu Danda. Most importantly one can admire an absolute  streching 180 degree mesmerising view of mighty Himalayas from the highest elevation of this trek Panchase Danda (2513m). Name of Himalayas from  left to right Gurja Himal (7193), Dhaulagiri VI (7268m), Jirbang (6062m), Dhaulagiri IV (7661m), Dhaulagiri V (7618m), Dhulagiri III (7715m), Dhaulagiri II (7751m), Dhaulagiri I (8167m), Tukuche Peak (6920m), Nilgiri South (6940m), Nilgiri North (7061m), Annapurna Fang-Baharasikhar (7857m), Annapurna I (8091m), Annapurna South (7219m), Hiunchuli (6441m), Annapurna III (7555m), Machapuchre-Fishtail (6997m), Annapurna II (7937m), Lumjung Himal (6983m), Ngadi Peak (7871m), Himalchuli (7371m), Boudha Himal (6672m) and Ganesh Himal V (7104m). 

Panchase Danda is juction pilgrimage place for three districts Kaski, Syanja and Parbat. It aslo known for medicine herbs, rhododendron forest and orchid flowers. One can feel the herbal and pure oxygen of this bio-diversity forest. Try some 5-10mins meditation during your visit to realize. 

ITINERARY

Day 1: Kathmandu (1350m) - Pokhara (900m) - Astralian Camp (2220m)

Morning flight to Pokhara from Kathmandu takes 25 mins. You can walk around at Phewa lakeside Pokhara or take lunch at restaurant with good view of lake according to your choice. Pokhara is second biggest city of Nepal and door way to many famous trekking destinations in the Annapurna Region, Mustang Region and Dolpo Region. 

After lunch drive 1 hour north-west of Pokhara to Kande from where  you start your short day hiking about 2 hours to reach Australian Camp. Overnight at lodge.  

Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara takes 7 hours. Take lunch on the way to Pokhara or at Pokhara according to your time. Then 1 hour drive till Kande from where your first hiking about 2 hours start to reach Australian Camp (2220m). Overnight at lodge. 

Australian Camp

Day 2: Australian Camp - Landruk (1650m)

Get up early in the morning to admire the sunrise view with Annapurna South (7219m), Hiunchuli (6441m), Machapuchre - Fishtail (6997m) and Phewa Lake of Pokhara. After breakfast, start your trail of the day to Lundruk Village. After descending and little climbing about 40mins arrive at Pothana (1890m) After Pothana village, there are two trails to join Lunkdruk village. One climb up Pittam Deurali and descend at Bhichok which is classical trail and famous for beautiful view of landscapes and mountains. 

Another is motorable flat trail which is easy trail compare to Deuarali. It's you choice. It takes around 3h30 to reach Tolka (1850m) for lunch break from Astralian Camp. After lunch it takes 45mins to reach at Landruk Village, a beautiful Gurung Village. Overnight a lodge. 

lunch at Tolka

way to Landruk village

Day 3: Lundruk - Jhinu Danda (1800m)

After breakfast, walk down about 10 mins then take a trail on your right through agricultural field. Continue with little up and down to cross one small monkey bridge and walk down till Himalpani it takes 1 hour before crossing another monkey bridge over Modi River, walking upward about 25 mins to reach at New Bridge settlement for short tea or water break.  

Then trail goes with relaxing ups and downs to cross a wooden bridge over kyumrong Khola (River) around 1 hour. After the trail goes steep up about 45 mins through stone paved steps till the destination at Jhinu Danda. Take relaxing lunch break and some rest before heading down about 25 mins to a natural Hot Spring. Take a relaxing natural hot spring bath on the bank of Modi River. Back to Jhinu Danda and Overnight at Lodge.  

small waterfall

monkey bridge

Modi River

Hot Spring Bath

Jhinu Danda 

Day 4: Jhinu Danda - Ghandruk (1940m)

Morning sunrise view over Hiunchuli (6441m) and breakfast, take a same way down to cross wooden bridge over Kyumrong Khola (River) after walking 30mins. Then few minutes up and straight trail, take a easy natural villager's trail which go through agricultural field and offers beautiful landscapes view of Lundruk village on your left and ahead Ghandruk village. After trail goes towards down till the Iron bridge, to start steep climbing until Ghandruk Village. 3 hours walking  from the wooden bridge.

Ghandruk village is one of the most beautiful village of Asia on the lap of Annapurna South (7219m), Hiunchuli (6441m) and an amazing Machapuchre -Fishtail (6997m). After lunch, go to visit village where there are some beautiful museum of their culture, customs, agricultural materials, cooking pots etc of Gurung Ethnie. Gurung are called Gurkha, a brave army. Most of this enthie group still go for British army, Indian army as they are strong, brave and honest. Overnight at lodge. 

Breakfast at Jhinu

way to Ghandruk

Villager's trail to Ghandruk

beautiful Ghandruk Village

wearing Gurung dress

Day 5: Ghandruk - Chandrakot (1580m)

Amazing sunrise view of mountains, village and landscapes in the morning, take a breakfast with the stunning view. Then trek down to Syauli Bazaar (1400m) which takes about 2h30 for lunch break. 

After continue walking few minutes down, cross one bridge to start climbing up progessively until Chandrakot takes about 2 hours through beautiful village where every houses they have bee tranche. Well known for bee honey. Overnight at home stay lodge. 

lunch at Syauli Bazaar

famous village for Bee Honey

view from Chandrakot

Machapuchre from Chandrakot

Day 6: Chandrakot - Bhadaure (1300m)

Another beautiful sunrise with same mountains view from different hill and after delicious home stay breakfast, start walking down through beautiful villages, agricultural field, typical neapli houses, domestic animals, daily activities of villagers. Crossing one monkey bridge, passing through small village, arrive at Lumle Agricultural Reserch Centre, it takes around 2 hours. After visiting reserch centre and short rest, continue to Bhadure village which takes around 1h30  down ward to the village. Overnight at Bhadaure home stay. 

Agricultural Research Centre

  

Bhadaure Village

Dinner at Bhadaure homestay

Day 7: Bhadaure - Panchase Bhanjyang (2030m)

After organic breakfast, get pack lunch from home to start steep ascend on stone paved steps for about 40 mins. Then trail goes gradually up. Today is long way trek to Panchase Bhanjyang which takes 6-7 hours walking time. Find a beautiful natural place on the way for lunch break with view of mountains. Trail continue progessively up until Panchase Bhanjyang. Overnight at home stay. 

Climbing up toward Panchase Bhanjyang

Pack lunch break

Panchase Bhanjyang homestay

dinner at Panchase Homestay

Day 8: Full day for explore the Panchase natural beauty. 

Early in the morning at 5:00 am, start steep ascend to reach at Panchase Danda (2513m) for an absolute streching 180 degree sunrise view with landscapes and giant mountains. It takes 1h15 to reach the top.

Then steep down back to home stay for breakfast. As whole day is for exploration Panchase, take pack lunch with you and take left side trail which gradually climb up to reach Panchase Tal (lake) which takes around 2 hours. Lunch break on the bank of lake. 

Then climb up keeping your walking rythme towards Panchase Danda which takes 1 hour walking time. This bio-diversity forest is famous for herbal plants, orchids, rhododendrons and other botanical plants. Finally, after doing few minutes meditation at Danda and taking afternoon view photos, trek down to Panchase Bhanjyang. Overnight at same home stay. 

 

sunrise view

Breakfast at Panchase Homestay

Climbing up for day excursion

Panchase Tal (lake)

Dhaulagiri Range from Panchase Danda

Annapurna Range from Panchase Danda

Fistail, Annapurna II, IV, Lumjung Himal from Panchase Danda

streching view from Panchase Danda

meditation on Panchase Danda

Day 9: Panchase Bhanjyang - Bhumdi (1500m)

Take another beautiful sunrise photo before breakfast, then prepare for a 6 hours trek down to another beautiful village Bhumdi on the lap of Annapurna South (7219m), Hiunchuli (6441m) and Machapuchre -Fishtail (6997m). As trail pass through beautiful different village, stop for lunch break on the way to Bhumdi. Overnight at Bhumdi home stay. 

sunrise view Panchase Bhanjyang

sunrise view Panchase Bhanjyang

natural trail on the way

pack lunch break

group photo just before Bhumdi

Bhumdi village

Dinner at Bhumdi Homestay

Day 10: Bhumdi - Pokhara (820m)

Again an amazing view in the morning with snow-capped mountains and beautiful village, after home made organic breakfast, begin your hike gradually down to Pokhara on an easy motorable path. After 2h30 walking passing through different villages, arrive at World Peace Pagoda. It is a massive Buddhist stupa. This stupa is symbol of peace where the huge idols of Lord Buddha from Japan, SriLanka, Thailand and Nepal have been installed. From where you can enjoy a breaktaking view of snow-capped mountains, Phewa lake and Pokhara Valley. 

Then it remains 45mins steep descend through the shadow of sub-tropical forest until the lakeside.You can enjoy the lunch break in middle of your hike down for enjoying view with foods.  Then take a boat to cross the Phewa Lake. Meanwhile you can visit Tal Bhahari Temple (Hindu goddess temple) at an small island. Check in hotel at Pokhara. Visit lakeside Pokhara, choose a good restaurant for dinner or buy some souvenir, as this is the 2nd biggest and touristic city in Nepal after Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel.   

view of Lumjung Himal

agricultural field

beautiful village on the way

mountains and phewa lake

World Peace Stupa

Day 11: Pokhara - Kathmandu (1350m)

Fly back to Kathmandu or drive back to Kathmandu. If you fly back to Kathmandu, visit UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES, Hindu Sacred Temple "PASHUPATINATH TEMPLE" and  "BOUDHANATH STUPA" one of the biggest stupa in Asia. Before check in hotel. Lunch at rooftop restaurant at Boudhanath Stupa with overlooking view of Stupa. 

Fly back to Kathmandu

Boudhanath Stupa

If you drive back to Kathmandu, visit UNESCO WOLRD HERITAGE SITE, sacred pilgrimage place for Bouddhist "SWAYAMBHUNATH STUPA" also known as "MONKEY TEMPLE" after entering Kathmandu Valley on you way to Hotel. If the weather permit on your arrival enjoy the beautiful sunset view with snow-capped mountains, Kathmandu valley. Don't tease, give food near to monkey some of them are agressive. Overnight at Hotel in Kathmandu. 

Tourist Bus

Swayambhunath Stupa