Narayanhiti Palace Museum in Kathmandu

Photo: Narayanhiti Palace Museum

I have just come back from an interesting afternoon visiting the old Royal Palace in Kathmandu. This was the scene of the royal massacre on June 1st 2001 and is now called the Narayanhiti Palace Museum.

The buildings where the killings took place have been knocked down however it is chilling to still see the bullet holes in the walls and markers showing where various members of the Royal family were shot. I remember that day well as I had just come back from an expedition to Everest and was shocked to read about the massacre in the Himalayan Times over breakfast in my hotel in Kathmandu.

The palace opened to visitors on February 26th, 2009 when Nepal became a Republic. The entrance fee for foreigners is 500 rupees and the ticket office is open from 11am to 2pm. It is not possible to take photographs in the museum so cameras and bags have to be left in the locker room near the entrance.

The Mountain Company will include an option to visit the Narayanhiti Palace Museum during our sightseeing tour of Kathmandu before or after your trek in Nepal.

Roland Hunter

www.themountaincompany.co.uk

Our November '09 group successfully reach Everest Base Camp

The Mountain Company's November '09 Everest Base Camp group arrived safely back to Kathmandu after a successful trek where seven people reached Base Camp.

I met the group yesterday in Kathmandu to hear more about the trek, I gather they experienced similar weather conditions as my group on Mera Peak however they had a sunny and clear day for the walk to Everest Base Camp. Many thanks to their Sirdar Jhire Rai for his help in leading this trek.

The Mountain Company has four Everest Base Camp treks scheduled for 2010 (March, April, October and November), please get in touch if you would like to join any of these groups.

Roland Hunter

www.themountaincompany.co.uk

An evening with Ian Parnell at RGS, London

We have just received an email from Porters Progress about their annual lecture, this year it will be given by leading alpinist Ian Parnell. If you are in London on November 24th then I highly recommend attending. I have copied the details below:

British style mountaineering: from Ben Nevis to the Himalaya Mountaineer and photographer Ian Parnell is probably best known for accompanying Sir Ranulph Fiennes on his successful ascent of the North Face of the Eiger, but he is one of Britain's leading alpinists, whose own climbs have attracted international praise, including an impressive four nominations for the world's most coveted mountaineering award, the Piolet D'or.

At this year's PPUK annual lecture, Ian will share the idiosyncratic secrets of 'British style mountaineering' and tell tales of his adventures on some of the world's toughest peaks (and worst campsites) accompanied by video footage and his outstanding photographs.

Fellow alpinist Andy Kirkpatrick describes Ian's approach: "I've seen Ian trim his mountain gear to the minimum, chucking out his sleeping bag just to squeeze in extra camera equipment. The fact that he's will to suffer for his ar means he brings back photos that few others can achieve."

Date: Tuesday 24 November

Time: Exhibition Road Doors open at 6.00pm. Talk from 7.00-8.30pm.

Where: Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR (nearest tube: South Kensington)

Pay bar: Before and after the talk in the Map Room

Fundraising event in aid of Porters' Progress UK www.portersprogress.org

Tickets: £10 each from World Expeditions (£2 refunded on the door for PPUK members)

Our November '09 group successfully summit Mera Peak

The Mountain Company November '09 Mera Peak expedition arrived safely back to Kathmandu this morning. Congratulations to the five members of the team (Ian O, Greg, Ian H, Richard and Karen) who successfully climbed to the summit of Mera Peak while experiencing very strong winds and cold conditions. A full expedition report will follow in due course.

Roland will lead his fifth consecutive Mera Peak expedition in November '10, please get in touch if you would like to join the group.

Our October '09 group successfully complete Manaslu Circuit

The Mountain Company's October '09 Manaslu Circuit group got back to Kathmandu yesterday after four members of the group successfully crossed the Larkya La pass and walked out to Besisahar (starting point of Annapurna Circuit).

I went for a meal with the group in Kathmandu last night to hear more about the trek and I gather they had great weather and good conditions while crossing the pass. Many thanks to their Sirdar Nurbu Tamang and the rest of the trek crew for looking after them so well.

We are organising two Manaslu Circuit treks for 2010, the first in April and second ater the monsoon in October.

Roland Hunter

www.themountaincompany.co.uk

Our October '09 group successfully complete Dhaulagiri Circuit

The Mountain Company's Dhaulagiri Circuit group safely arrived back to Kathmandu yesterday after successfully crossing both French and Dhampus passes from Dhaulagiri Base Camp over to Jomsom. Congratulations to all thirteen members of the group and thanks to the group leaders Gary Pfisterer and Jhire Rai. A full trek report will follow shortly.

Roland Hunter will lead our Dhaulagiri Circuit group in October 2010 please get in touch if you are interested in coming along.

Garden of Dreams at Keshar Mahal in Kathmandu

The Garden of Dreams at Keshar Mahal is located on the edge of the busy Thamel tourist area, however once you walk through the door into these gardens you are taken to a calm oasis away from the mayhem of modern Kathmandu.

The gardens and six pavilions were constructed in 1920s by Field Marshal General Kaiser Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana, however after his death in 1964 fell into decline and returned to jungle. In 1998 during the Visit Nepal year there were only two pavilions standing and at the last minute the decision was made to save the gardens and remaining pavilions. The project was taken on by an Austrian NGO Eco Himal and the gardens opened in 2006.

If you are visiting Kathmandu I recommend you take time to visit (the entrance fee is only 160 rupees), within the grounds there is also the Kaiser bar and restaurant operated by Dwarikas hotel group.

Photo: Entrance on Tridevi Marg

Photo: view of Basanta pavilion

Photo: view of Basanta pavilion with pond

Photo: statue of Laxshmi

Photo: statue of elephants

Photo: Kaiser restaurant