Besisahar Bazaar

Besisahar Bazaar is the market heart of Besisahar, the headquarters of Lamjung district, set at around 760 metres on the Marsyangdi River in Nepal's green middle hills. It is a classic Himalayan roadhead — the place where the paved road ends and the great trekking routes begin — and its busy main street hums with the trade of the surrounding hills and the steady traffic of Annapurna Circuit trekkers.

What to expect

The bazaar strings along the valley in a lively ribbon of shops, lodges, jeep stands and produce stalls. Watch four-wheel-drives load up for the rough climb to Chame and Manang, porters shoulder loads for the trails, and trekkers organise permits, guides and last-minute supplies. There is little in the way of monuments down in the bazaar — the appeal is the energy of working Nepal and the green-hill setting on a famous mountain river.

Good to know

• Getting there: Besisahar is reached by road from Kathmandu or Pokhara via Dumre; it is the last major bazaar before the rough road into the mountains.
• Supplies: Stock up here before heading out — it's the best place on the route to buy trekking basics and sort Annapurna Conservation Area and TIMS permits.
• Nearby: Walk to the edge of town for the Annapurna Circuit trailhead, climb to the historic Lamjung Durbar, or catch the mountains at the Lamjung Himal and Gangapurna viewpoint. See where it fits in the top things to do in Besisahar and the wider picture of getting around Nepal.