Machhapuchhre – Nepal

Machhapuchhre – Annapurna Himal, Nepal

Shining through parting clouds, the twin summits of Machhapuchhre rise above forested valleys beneath the southern Annapurna Himal. The twin summits resemble a fish tail, and indeed that is the meaning of the Nepali name. At 6,993 meters (22,943 feet), Machhapuchhre is far from the highest mountain in the Annapurna Himal. That honor goes to Annapurna I, soaring 8,091 meters (26,545 feet) into the Himalayan sky. Because of its proximity to the low lying, populated valleys to the south, however, Machhapuchhre strikes a dramatic pose. The mountain is associated with the Hindu god Shiva and is considered sacred by many Nepalis. Machhapuchhre has been closed to climbers since the first attempt in 1957, when British climbers stopped short of the summit in respect of the Hindu religion.