Mountain valley, Khingor village in the background

Two mountain peaks above the valley where the Khingor village is located — en route from Kaagbeni to Muktinaath, Nepal. Some vegetation can be seen at the base of the mountains, but most of the mountains appear arid and barren. This region lies to the north of the Himalayan range. This area is called the rain shadow because the mountains block the monsoon rain clouds from the South. Water for consumption and irrigation is channeled out the nearby streams which are fed from snow melting off the mountains.