Machhapuchhre and the Mahabharat Lekh range

Machhapuchhre towers in the background over the smaller east-west mountain range called Mahabharat Lekh, which shares its name with the Hindu epic Mahabharat. The area surrounding the three houses beneath the mountains show signs of deforestation. During monsoon terraced fields like those seen in the foreground of this picture are planted with rice, a staple food for most Nepalis.