| For
those who are restricted by time or other considerations from
going trekking, there are mountain flights that offer a panoramic
encounter with the highest peaks on earth. The plane departs
from Kathmandu and flies alongside the Himalaya to give you
eye-level views of the snow peaks and then brings you back
in one hour. Cruising close to the awesome massifs of rock
and ice, the flight presents a mind-boggling sight.
As the aircraft
takes off and heads towards the east, you don’t have
to wait too long to find out what's in store for you. First
to your far left, you see Gosaithan, also called Shisha Pangma,
standing at the majestic height of 8,013m. Immediately to
the right of Gosaithan, there appears Dorje Lhakpa (6,966m),
a mountain that looks like the number 8 lying down and covered
with snow. To the right of Dorje Lhakpa is Phurbi-Chyachu,
which looms over the Kathmandu Valley. |
 |
As
the plane glides along, the mountains come closer and closer.
Next on the vision is Choba-Bhamare, the smallest one of the
lot at 5,933 m but singularly stubborn as it has never been
climbed. Then appears the mountain the mountain that is not
only prominent in sight but also in spirituality Gauri-Shanker.
Lord shiva (Shanker) and his consort Gauri are said to protect
this mountain, at the proud height of 7,134m, and the summit
had a history of unsuccessful attempts till 1979. Gauri-Shanker
is sharp and very conspicuous during th amountain flight.
As the plane moves towards the land of rising sun, the eastern
Himalaya, a succession of glorious mountains follow. Melungtse,
a plateau-like mountain, stretches up to 7,023m. Chugimago
at 6,297 m is still a virgin, waiting to be climbed. At 6,956m,
Numbur mountain resembles a breast, the maternal source in
the sky providing pure milk Sherpas of the Solukhumbu. Next
is Karyolung, an intensely white mountain that at 6,511 m
gleams with the rising sun. Cho-Oyu is the sixth highest mountain
in the world. Reaching a height of 8,201 m, it appears stunningly
beautiful from the aircraft. |
