Gosainkunda

Gosainkunda Lake (4,300 m) in the Syabru VDC on the southern slopes of Jugal Himal , is a mini trek by itself and can be done in about five days. Gosainkunda is a sacred lake for Hindus and Buddhists alike, and is said to have had its origin when Lord Shiva swallowed poison to save the world. It is believed he pierced the earth with his trishul (trident) from where a fountain of water sprang forming a lake where the burning Shiva jumped to soothe the burning in his throat. There are 108 lakes in this region some of which are named Saraswati, Bhairav, Surya and Ganesh. Gosainkunda is considered one of the holiest pilgrimage sites in Nepal.

The trail to Gosainkunda climbs from either Dhunche or Syabru through lush rhodo­dendron hillsides to Sing Gompa.  East of the lakes Lauribina (4,600 m) pass leads to Helambu.  The trail descends to Tharepati, where it divides into two return routes to Kathmandu. The shorter way rides the ridge south through cool rhododendron forests passing several Tamang villages, and crests toward the Kathmandu Valley rim at Burlang Bhanjyang, some 1,100 m above Sundarijal. This ridge forms the divide between two of Nepal's major river systems - the Gandaki, which extends west to Dhaulagiri, and the Saptakosi whose tributaries extend east to Kanchenjunga on the border with Sikkim.

The other trail from Tharepati plunges 1,000 m to a tributary of the Melamchi Khola (river) and above it the sherpa village of Helambu. Stone houses scatter across the terraced fields above an old gompa (monastery) dressed with tall prayer flags. A gompa set on the ridge above Tarkeghyang com­mands excellent views of the Himalaya, looking north toward Ganja La pass and Dorje Lakpa (6,966 m) and a number of peaks over 6,000 m.

During Janai Purnima (full-moon festival in August), around 25,000 Hindu and Buddhists pilgrims visit the holy Gosainkunda Lake in about a one-week period. At this time jhankris (Shaman priests) come from all over Nepal to dance in an induced trance to all night singing and drum beating. The trail to Gosainkunda involves rapid ascent to 4,380 m, and therefore, it is best done after acclimatizing in Chandanbari, Lauribinayak or Tharepati.

Langtang National Park

The Langtang Valley was declared a national park in 1976 and remains the second largest in Nepal covering approximately 1,700 square km (660 square miles). Stretching up to the Tibetan border, it has a high level of biodiversity including 15 forest types, 3,000 species of flowering plants like oaks, fir, blue pine, spruce, and various species of rhododendron. The Park is also a rich area for medicinal plants. Extensive forests and varied vegetation types provide a habitat for approximately 32 mammals and 283 species of birds, including musk deer, snow leopards, red panda, wild dog, Himalayan black bear and the clouded leopard.

Twenty five percent of the Park's total area is covered by forest, starting at sub-tropical forests below 1,000 m to alpine scrubs and grasslands at the higher altitudes. The wild dog, red panda, pika, muntjac, musk deer, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan tahr, ghoral, serow, rhesus monkey, common langur, and the snow leopard among others have made the Park their habitat. 

Remote and practically unknown, the area had not seen a Westerner until H.W. Tilman visited there in 1949.  The next European visitor was Swiss Tony Hagen who carried out geological surveys in 1952.  His exciting descriptions of the area aroused the interest of Warner Schulthess, a Swiss agricultural adviser for the United Nations. Schulthess subsequently established a Swiss cheese factory in the valley.

Tamang Heritage Trail

The Tamang Heritage Trail takes you to verdant midlands of Nepal experiencing the beauty of this mountain region and the culture of the people who live here. The trail passes through traditional Tamang villages where life, culture, and crafts have remained unchanged since the beginning of the settlment. Warm traditional welcome hosted by the locals, their elaborate costumes, rich architecture of their mountain houses, and the ancient monasteries and places of pray add color to the experience of this trail. In addition to cultural experience, the trek also offers wilderness experience through beautiful landscapes of alpine terrain, flat meadows, and rhododendron forests.

This is a superb introduction to trekking in Nepal among some of the most beautiful scenery in the whole country, with rich tamang culture. Many years ago Nepal, fought with Tibet for salt and some of the biggest areas where this war took place is in the Langtang Region of Nepal, wherein lies the third most popular trekking trail in Nepal. This area is connected to Tibet and the trails in this region were used by traders from Tibet bartering in Salt and mountain goats for meat (changra) with foodstuffs from the south.

Developed by the Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Program, the "Tamang Heritage Trail" is the newly developed tourism product, off the beaten track, which highlights an ancient lifestyle combining it with picturesque scenery and healing baths in natural hot springs.

The people of this region are mostly Tibetans who came from Kerung in Tibet across the border and settled in Nepal. In earlier days, the citizenship of Nepal would not be offered to real Tibetans, so they changed their ethnicity to Tamang, which is what they still write till date. The cultural and traditions of these people are similar to the Tibetan across the border.

The trail starts either from Dhunche or Syabrubesi and passes through Goljung, Gatlang, Chilime, Thuman, Timure and Briddim. The trail may end back in Syabrubesi or follow the Langtang trek from Briddim village via Khanjim. Goljung and Gatlang are traditional Tamang villages. While Goljung has ancient monastery, Gatlang set high on a hillside among terraced fields is the Tamang settlement. One can also visit a Tamang monastery and the beautiful Parvatikunda Lake at Gatlang. From the viewpoint at Bahundanda near these settlements, one can also see a panoramic view of Lantang, Kerung, and the Ganesh Himal, Sanjen Himal ranges.

After the trek of several days, bathing in the hot, healing waters of the natural spring at Tatopani en route from Gatlang to Chilime is an exhiliarating experience. Brimdang offers cultural experience at community-run home-stay, while Nagathali in Thuman VDC is surrounded by beautiful views of Langtang, Kerung, Ganesh Himal and Sanjen Himal ranges. Nagthali used to be a popular meditation center for the local monks and priests. Next is Timure on the old trade route to Tibet. A fort at Rasuwagadi in Timure is a historical reminder of the Nepal-Tibet relations that has existed for many centuries. A suspension bridge here links Nepal and Tibet.

The trail ends at Briddim which lies on the lap of Langtang Himal. Briddim offers warm Tamang hospitality at the home-stays run by community members. In addition, visitors can also visit local monasteries of Dukchu Gomba (monastery) chosen as sacred site by the great Tibetan Lama - Guru Rinpoche and Chukla Khnaga Gomba.

Suggested Itinerary to Tamang Heritage Trail

Suggested Itinerary to Tamang Heritage Trail combined with Langtang Trail (10-12 days)

Briddim Village

Briddim is a Tibetan Buddhist village in the bosom of Langtang Himal. It is located at an elevation of 2229 m. Around 43 houses are spread in Z shape. Most of the houses are made up of stone and have roofs of splitshake. Though the inhabitants of this place are Tamang by ethnicity, they are largely influenced by Tibetan culture. It is a live museum reflecting the traditional culture of the Tamangs, and their lifestyle. Their lifestyle is an interesting facet of the village. The major features of subsistence of the villager include livestock production, agriculture and trade with Kerung (Tibet).