Pokhara to Annapurna Base Camp.(A.B.C)

While the Research and Study Club of Cosmos International College was having babbling talks about doing something effective in the society, one of my friends in the Club told me to organize a trek to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC).Indeed, that was the major striking moment for me and as well as for the club. Then and there, the club finalized the proposal as “STUDENTS ' TREK TO PROMOTE INTERNAL TOURISM”.
It was on 6th October 2006 that nine students, two co-ordinators along with two media personnel headed for the trek to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC).It was a 10 days package and the major objective of the trek was to promote internal tourism. For that the club was interested to know about the availability of the basic infrastructures over there, to collect informations and opinions of the local people, tourists, hotel owners, guides about the efforts and contributions being made by Annapurna Conservation Area Project(ACAP) to promote tourism.   
During the first four days of our trek before we finally succeeded to Annapurna Base Camp, all of us had a very nice experience. We could not stop the heart to acknowledge the supreme natural beauty of ABC. The perennial rivers on the way, many short suspension bridges, magnificent surroundings, thousands of stairs upright hills, the ice cold water, hostility of people on the way and typical foods of Ghandruk, Chomrong, Sinuwa, Bamboo, Dovan, Himalaya, Deurali, Machhapuchre Base Camp(M.B.C) and finally Annapurna Base camp were all truly fabulous. The splendid mountain tops and the magnificent surroundings were there as an added advantage. Finally ABC, our destination was even more mind-blowing. Can anyone imagine how would one feel to have huge and snowy mountains right by one's side? Infact that's unexplainable. Even words are not suffice to explain the natural beauty that ABC bears. That's truly amazing!
But looking at the flip side of the coin, people in the Annapurna area had some sort of problems regarding the availability of the basic infrastructures such as telephone, health services, transportations and many more. Local people over there were living low quality life albeit some merchants had standardized hotels. Most of the tourists revealed the complain that it would be even better if they could get the facility of hot shower in places at higher altitudes which was infact lacking. There was also a bit problem in lodging, especially in places after Chommrong village. I simply could not forget the incident in Dovan where we all had slept in a single room in rows lying next to each other.
However, that's what trekking is supposed to be. Little difficulties, great determination, patience and a hard work are the four important things which I think should be indispensable in those who have got the keen desire to go for the trek. Finally, on the 5th day we left ABC and marched our way back to Pokhara via Ghorepani which too was an exceptional beauty. So, it was really nice to be the part of the trek and I wish if I could get yet another opportunity to experience the thrill to go there once again.

Hemraj gurung
Pokhara