Kokhe Danda Trek: Underrated hidden gem of Parbat

Kokhe Danda Trek, an underrated gem in Nepal's Parbat district, offers stunning views of towering peaks like Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Machhapuchhre. Despite being overshadowed by popular trails, its serene atmosphere and breathtaking sunrises make it a

THERE ARE many trekking destinations in Annapurna region but usually the popular trails overshadow the lesser-known ones. It is similar in the case of Kokhe danda. It has been overshadowed by Poon hill and Mohore Danda trek which have been able to attract thousands of tourists every year. You can find all details and information about Poon hill and Mohore danda easily while Khoke still struggles to get the exposure it deserves. Kokhe Danda is located in Parbat district of Nepal. What makes it even better is that it is the highest point of Parbat, standing tall at 3309 meters. It offer breathtaking view of mountains over 8000 meters like Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Manaslu as well as other surrounding peaks. However, my favorite view from Kokhe is of Mount Machhapuchhre (fishtail). I trekked to Kokhe in October 202 with two of my friends. At that time, I didn’t expect much from this trek, I was not aware of what Kokhe had to offer. It was an instant plan as we had 2 day's holiday left of Tihar vacation. I had once seen video of Kokhe on Instagram, and I saved it to my go-to list. So, when we were looking for short trekking destinations from Pokhara-my hometown, Kokhe was the perfect choice.

We can complete Kokhe Danda trek in 1N/2D from Pokhara. There are multiple routes that trekkers can follow but the most common itinerary is to take early morning jeep from Harichowk, Pokhara to Banthati. Then trek to Kokhe via Taprang which takes around 4-5 hours. It falls under a low budget trek so hopefully many trek and travel enthusiasts can visit the place.  While trekking to Kokhe Danda I noticed there was a lot of rhododendron trees on the trail. I could imagine how beautiful the trail would look in March/April - during the spring season. The trail is steep uphill in the lust forest, going slow and steady is the key in this trail. We started our journey around 7 in the morning from Pokhara and by the evening we had already reached Kokhe Danda. Funny how conveniently we had escaped the city chaos in just few hours. The weather was cloudy that day, we did not see sunset or the mountain view. So, we were hoping to see a good view next day. A memory that I vividly remember is - we were having dinner at the dining hall, it was around 9pm and someone said the mountains have showed up. I was quite surprised; the last time I peeked outside it was gloomy and dark. So, I went out to check and when I turned to the north side my mind was blown. Mountains were glowing like diamond; stars were visible and the whole atmosphere felt like I was in another universe. It was not the first time that I had seen this mountain range, I had seen it from Poon hill, Mohore, Muldhe, Khopra and many other viewpoints but what was so different this time? Maybe the fact that there is only one hotel in Kokhe, and it was a cozy corner amidst the Himalayas with less crowd, making this place more special. It offers an unique perspective of the mountain range compared to other destinations. Kokhe makes you feel like you belong there.

The sunrise view from Khokhe is equally mesmerizing. I saw one of the most beautiful sunrises of my life here. The sun rising above the hill, its vibrant orange rays reflecting in the mountains, and the clouds flowing below the mountain made it feel like I was living in a painting. Since spring season has begun in Nepal, flowers have started to bloom and the climate is perfect to travel, make Kokhe your next trek destination.