STEVE RAZZETTI MOUNTAIN PHOTOGRAPHY AND JOURNALISM

HIMALAYA: MANASLU

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we will not find it"

Ralph Waldo Emerson

A panorama looking north-west from the Bara Pokhari Lekh. This is a high spur rising to the east of Besisahar in the Marsyangdi valley. Manaslu (8125m) is the pyramid on the left, with Ngadi Chhuli (7835m) in the centre and Humalchuli (7893m) in the cloud to the right.Nikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Manaslu (8150m) and Ngadi Chuli (7835m) from the Bara Pokhari Lekh.Nikon FM2, 105mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Taken from a Twin Otter flying between Kathmandu and Pokhara, this panorama shows Manaslu (8150m) and Ngadi Chuli (7935m) on the right, and the vast whale-backed hulk of Himalchuli (7893m) in the centre.Nikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
     
  
The Ghurkha Himal at sunset, from just above the town of Ghorka. On the left is Ngadi Chuli (7935m), in the centre Himal Chuli (7893m) with its long south-east ridge shaply illuminated. On the right is Bhauda Himal (6672m).Nikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Manaslu (left) and Manaslu North, towering over the Manaslu glacier, from a ridge above Sama Gaon in the upper Buri Gandaki valley.Canon EOS 500, 80mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Unique to the Buri Gandaki valley, mani stones like this are the products of a family of master stone carvers from the village of Bih. They are more like carved thankas than the more common mani-stones found throughout the Buddhist Hialaya which simple bear the mantra om mani paddme hum. The favourite figure depicted hereabouts is the saint Milarepa, who is said to have meditated at several locations in the valley.Canon EOS 500, 80mm, Fuji Velvia
     
  
These people are from the village of Bih in the Buri Gandaki.Canon EOS 500, 28mm, Fuji Velvia
   
After an unexpected early morning chang (home-brewed beer) drinking session with monks in the village's tiny gompah, this fellow accompanied me along the trail for a couple of merry hours...Canon EOS 500, 50mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Villages in Nupri (the Buddhist upper reaches of the Buri Gandaki valley) have elaborate entrance chortens, and this is a detail of the mural in the archway under the one at Lho.
     
  
Two young boys from the village of Sama Gaon in Nupri.Canon EOS 500, 28mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Sunset light on Manaslu (8150m) and Manaslu North from a ridge above Sama Gompah.anon EOS 500, 28mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Canon EOS 500, 50mm, Fuji Velvia
     
  
Nupri is very close to Tibet, and even today a steady trickle of refugees make the difficult crossing of the Gya La pass into Nepal. These men got caught out in an unseasonal snow-storm, and arrived in the village of Sumdo with frostbitten feet.Canon EOS 500, 28mm, Fuji Velvia
   
A view back east across Nupri (the upper Buri Gandaki valley) to Pang Puchi from the ascent to the Larkya La. The Gya La route to Tibet is visible to the left.Canon EOS 500, 28mm, Fuji Velvia
   
A telephoto looking west to the Annapurnas from the Larkya La (5135m)Canon EOS 500, 80mm, Fuji Velvia
     
  
From the Larkya La (5135m)Canon EOS 500, 80mm, Fuji Velvia
   
A woman on the porch of her house in the largest village in Nupri, north of ManasluBronica ETRSi, Fuji Velvia, 150mm