Panchassee Hill is a destination of an ancient pilgrimage trail, climbing from the level of Fewa Lake to about 2,500m/8,200ft, from where excellent views of the Annapurna mountain range can be seen. There are wonderful trekking trails in every direction to the five peaks of this holy mountain. Thickly forested, Panchassee wears a garment of very lush vegetation – tree orchids, Rhododendron blooms, and colorful flowers.

One of the delights that trekking around Panchassee can bring is a visit to the tiny lake nestled in a jungle as if a jewel below the western summit. As a symbol for the “waters of our being”, this lake is a basis for the mountain’s motherhood. There are old, natural stone steps approach upon which we climb past grassland greens and further up to witness the abundance of yoga symbols for which this mountain is famous. Trekking in  Panchassee is a unique experience among natural scenery that provides inspiring vistas at every turn of the path. Panchassee means “Five Seats of the Divine Mother”. “Panch” means five, “as” is from the root word of asana meaning a seat or place, and the double “ee” represents the female gender. Just as Everest, Annapurna or Daulagiri – Panchassee is a divine mountain-mother to the local people, which can be best witnessed during the annual Mela celebration in November.

On Panchassee mountain there are also many “seats” of Yoga practice. There are some ancient ruins and a cave just above the village lodges, one hour below the peaks. Many sadhus (wise men) sat inside this meditation cave and meditated on the view before the eyes: the vastness of nature, symbolic in the Vedic culture for the divine female energy. A visit to this mountain is a return to an age when womanhood implied Shakti, an energy of love, strength, and force.

We will get to see a rock on which a mysterious sunray like pattern appeared after Siddha Baba meditated there at sunrise. The story has it that when the rising sun rays illuminated Siddha Baba’s Third Eye, the mysterious pattern was imprinted on the rock behind his head and can be seen there until this day.