Lang tang, Gosainkund and Helambu
If the traveller to the Kathmandu valley finds the skies clear and stops to lift her eyes from the busy roads of Kathmandu to the northern horizon she will see the lofty snow covered mountains of the Ganesh Himal. Separating the Ganesh Himal from the Langtang, Jugal and Rolwaling Himal is the Trisuli valley, but the eyes see these mighty Himals as a sharp jagged wall of snowy peaks.
The Langtang National Park was established in 1976 and is Nepal’s second largest national park, the first being the Shey-Phoksumdo in the Dolpo region of west Nepal. The park is rich in bird life, mammals and over 1000 varieties of plants. The spring season brings a mass of bright colours created mostly by the extravagant display of rhododendron flowers.
The Langtang area is easily accessible from the Kathmandu valley, passing first through the foothills, ridges and forests of the Helambu region. Unlike Langtang, Helambu does not boast lofty peaks, but it does provide technically easy access to summits that can be seen glistening in the sun.
To the southwest of Langtang, and northwest of Helambu, lies the Gosainkund Lekh and within its ridges and folds lay several small lakes, the biggest of which is Gosainkunda, the site of a major Hindu festival held in July – August, at the time of the full moon. Thousands of pilgrims trek this route to bath in these holy waters during the festival time.
There is a good trail from Sundarijal, just a few kilometres from the east side the Kathmandu valley in Boudhanath, all the way through the Helambu region, over the Laurebina La to Gosainkunda and in to Langtang, a fine and demanding expedition for the fit and hardened mountain trekker.
Karnali Excursions provides a variety of treks that allow you to explore the beauty of these areas through one or separate itineraries. After the Everest and Annapurna National Parks the Langtang region provides plenty of adequate and comfortable lodges and teahouses for the sustenance of the mountain traveller.
