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Mardi Himal
(5,587 m) lies less than 15 miles from Pokhara, and is the most
southerly peak of the Annapurna range. It is the lowest and the
least climbed or visited peak. Photographs of Mardi Himal taken
in 1953 by Baisl Goodfellow first drew the attention of western
climbers, and the mountain received its first ascent in 1961.
The first route was via the East Flank and is the only one used
so far.
The mountain separates the southwest ridge of Machhapuchhare as
a separate mass at right angles to the ridge and is best seen
from the south. The southwest face of the mountain has three
well-defined ridges rising from rock buttresses and separated by
hanging glaciers. Its east face is separated from the
Machhapuchhare ridge by a col at 5,200 meters. The normal
climbing route to the summit of Mardi Himal passes through this
col. The summit offers a splendid view of the Annapurna Range
and the Fishtail mountain - Machhapuchhare.
The valleys and ridges south of Mardi Himal are steep and
heavily wooded with bamboo and rhododendron. Alpine pastures
above the forest provide a good habitat for wildlife.
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