Mountain
Flight
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-by have become a popular tourist attraction in
Nepal. Four airlines offer regular forages into the
snow-capped peaks of the Himalayan. Mountain flights
appeal to all category of travellers. For those who
are restricted by time or other considerations from
going trekking, these flights offer a panoramic view
of the Himalayan in just one hour. Even those visitors
who like the rigors of 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 Gosaikund
(The top Hindu's holy lake), also called Shisha
Pangma, standing at the majestic height of 8,013
m. Immediately to the right of Gosaithan, there
appears Dorje Lakpa (6,966 m). with snow. To the
right of Dorje Lakpa you can enjoy a panoramic view
of the Kathmandu Valley. As the plane moves 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 that
is not only prominent in sight but also in spirituality-
Gauri Shanker. Lord Shiva and his consort Gauri
are said to protect this mountain, at the proud
height of 7,134 m. and the summit had a history
of unsuccessful attempts till 1979. Gauri Shanker
is sharp and very conspicuous during the mountain
flight.
As the plane moves towards the land of the rising
sun, the eastern Himalayan, a succession of glorious
mountains follow. Melungtse, a plateau-like mountain,
stretches up to 7,023 m. Chugimago at 6,297 m is
still a virgin, waiting to be climbed. At 6,956
m, Number of mountain resembles a breast, the maternal
source in the sky providing pure milk to the 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 eighth highest mountain in the
world. Reaching a height of 8,201 m, it appears
stunningly beautiful from the aircraft.
Next on the menu is Gyachungkang,
at a majestic height of 7,952 m, considered an extremely
difficult climb. To the right of Gyachungkang is
Pumori (7,161 m). As passengers get closer to Everest,
there's Nuptse. And there's another mountain called
Everest (8,848m) known as Sagarmatha (Everest) by
the Nepalese and Chomolungma by the Tibetans. The
mountain flight takes an hour altogether.
