Langtang Region lies in the northern side of Kathmandu Valley in the Himalayas of Nepal. Bordering Tibet, Langtang Valley is also known as the “Valley of Glaciers”. This unique and natural phenomenon of Langtang’s glaciations process makes for one of the most beautiful destinations for trekking journeys. With the encompassment of Langtang National Park within its acreage, Langtang trekking presents a majority of Tamang people as its residents. Filled with rewarding sights of massive snowy mountains and sapphire glaciers, Langtang trekking presents a brim filled with natural pulchritude. Adorned with wide open florescent meadows, views of mountains like the stunning Langtang Lirung with an altitude of 7,246 meters, the ethnic valley of Helambu and the holy Gosainkunda Lakes, Langtang region is quickly becoming one of the most popular trekking destination for hikers, travelers and trekkers all over. In this article, we will have a look at some of Langtang’s highlighted destinations that are breath-takingly beautiful and present ravishing sights for the eyes to feast upon! Langtang Trekking is amazingly gorgeous.
Langtang National Park
The fourth national Park in Nepal established in 1976, Langtang National Park is the first Himalayan National Park of the country. The trekking trail through the park is ornamented with natural beauties of lush alpine forests and woodlands. The holy Lake of Gosainkunda also falls within the parameters of Langtang National Park. Exhibiting a high diversity of around 14 vegetation types ranging from Upper tropical forests to alpine scrubs and perennial ice, the park is a habitat to many endangered animals like Red Pandas and Snow Leopards. Animals like Thars, Ghorals, and Himalayan Black Bears are also found here along with 250 species of avifauna. Vast blooms of rhododendron trees line the trekking trail and provide a flowery canopy that are like thin gossamers of flower pastels. Needless to elaborate more, the trekking trail through Langtang National Park is absolutely beguiling.
Gosainkunda Lake
The alpine freshwater oligotrophic lake of Gosainkunda lies at an altitude of 4,380 meters within the Langtang National Park’s acreage. The lake tends to melt down and sips to form the Trishuli River and remains frozen for six months in winter. The Gosainkunda area has been delineated as a religious site for the Hindu people. The Hindu mythology attributes Gosainkunda as the abode of the Hindu deities Shiva and Gauri. Its waters are considered holy and of particular significance during the Gangadashara and the Janai Purnima festivals when thousands of pilgrims from Nepal and India visit the area. The creation of the Gosainkunda Lake has an interesting lore that depicts Lord Shiva thrusting his Trishul (the holy Trident) into a mountain to extract its waters so that he could cool his stinging throat after swallowing a poison that was threatening to destroy the world. The remaining crevasse then formed the Gosainkunda Lake. Langtang Gosainkunda Trekking provides the opportunity to see this holy lake among the tranquil of Langtang’s Himalayas.
Helambu
Helambu is a region of highland villages about 80 km from Kathmandu. Famous for its sweet apples and artistic Buddhist monasteries and pilgrimage sites, Helambu rewards trekkers with perfect pictures of ravishing natural beauty encompassed in a moderate climatic ambiance. The Tamang and Sherpa settlements at Helambu are rich with traditional cultures and customs of the people and Langtang Trekking is made more opulent as getting to observe these unique traditions of the people at Helambu is enlightening.
Rich Tamang Heritage
Langtang region is encompassed with the settlements of Tamang people as a majority. Because of this, trekking in Langtang provides an amazing opportunity to have a closer look at Tamang heritage in close proximity. The traditionally Buddhist Tamang are the largest Tibeto-Burman ethnic group within Nepal, constituting 5.6% of the country’s population. The constructions of Gompas are also found in almost every Tamang village as Tamang are the largest population of the country who follow Buddhism.
Bhairav Kunda
The sacred Lake of Bhairav Kunda is named after the destructive avatar of Lord Shiva (Bhairav) and is one of the sacred pilgrimage sites for Shamans. Lying at an altitude of 4200 meters, Bhairav Kunda is visited by both Hindu and Buddhist devotees who pay homage to the sacred site and bathe away the sins on the waters of the lakes during every Full Moon of Bhadra (August). The sapphire lake of Bhairav Kunda is a spectacular sight to see, snugly lying amidst the mountains like a cerulean jewel. There are many more sights and destination to visit in the Langtang Region. Ethnic villages, far off settlements, small and big monasteries and chortens, gumbas decorated with the sway of colorful prayer flags and lush and verdant vegetation and forests- Langtang Trekking is an utterly winsome affair. With an idiosyncratic Nepali tradition and people’s unique rituals, costumes, festivals and practices, trekking in Langtang is like a broad aspect in getting to know the region’s historical and cultural significance. It is a perfect blend of nature and people. There definitely is no better place that has such a heterogeneous manifestation as Langtang and trekking in Langtang is an entirely sensational and thrilling experience!
