Your Window to the World
Only awe-stricken silence can come close to matching the
experience of going on a mountain flight to encounter the
tallest mountains of this earth. No wonder mountain fly-bys
have become a popular tourist attraction in Nepal. Four
airlines offer regular forges into the snow capped peaks of
the Himalaya.
Mountain flight appeals to all categories of travelers. For
those who are restricted by time or other considerations
from going trekking, these flights offer a panoramic view of
the Himalaya in just one hour. Even those visitors who like
the rigors of a trek still don’t miss the opportunity to
“conquer” the mountains in one fell swoop.
Travelers take off from Kathmandu in the early morning for
an hour’s worth of spectacular mountain scenery. As the
aircraft lifts up and heads towards the east, passengers
don’t have to wait too long to find out what’s in store for
them. There they are- the mountains, as they always have
been.
First to their far left visitors see Gosaithan, also called
Shisha Pangma, standing at the majestic height of 8,013m.
immediately to the right of Gosaithan, there appears Dorje
Lakpa (6,996m), a mountain that looks like the number 8
lying down and covered with snow. To the right of Dorje
Lakpa is Phurbi-Ghyachu, which looms over the Kathmandu
Valley.
As the place moves along, the mountains come closer and
closer. Next on the vision is Choba-Bhamare, the smallest
one of the lot at 5,993m but singularly stubborn as it has
never been climbed. Then appears the mountain that is not
only prominent in sight but also 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-Sanker is sharp and very conspicuous during the
mountain flight. As the place moves towards the land of
rising sun, the Eastern Himalaya, a succession of glorious
mountains follows. Melungtse, plateau like mountain,
stretches up to 7,023m. Chugimago at 6,297 is still a
virgin, waiting to be climbed. At 6,956m, Numbur Mountain
resembles a breast, the material source in the sky providing
pure milk to the Sherpas of the Solukhumbu. Next is
Karyolung, as intensely White Mountain that at 6,511m gleams
with the rising sun. Cho-Oyu is the eight highest mountains
in the world reaching a height of 8,201m, it appears
stunningly beautiful from the aircraft.
Next on the menu is Gyachungkhang, at a majestic height of
7,952m, considered an extremely difficult climb. To the
right of Gyachungkhang is Pumori (7,161m) as passengers get
closer to Everest, there’s Nuptuse (7,855m) which means West
Peak, signifying its direction from Everest. Finally there’s
Everest (8,848m) itself, known as Sagarmatha by the Nepalese
and Chomolungma by the Tibetans. Much has already been
written about Everest, but to actually witness it face to
face during a mountain flight is something else. Even while
it looms there in front of the eyes, it remains an enigma,
this highest spot on earth. |