Out of the many reasons why someone would want to visit the Langtang region, one of the most prominent ones is the high altitude lakes. The entire region is filled with water bodies as such. Generally, these high altitude lakes are the ones that originated from the glaciers centuries ago. The entire region is full of mountains that are the source of these glaciers. They flow to not just form these lakes but also various rivers that move to the south. It’s an absolutely mesmerizing experience to be among these high altitude lakes. These are the highlights of different trips that occur in the Langtang region.
The high altitude lakes in the Langtang region aren’t just the natural spectacles, but also the religious heritages. They have religious significance as they are connected to one or the other Hindu deities. Pilgrims from all across the country visit these lakes during special occasions. One can access these lakes in various ways, and one of the most popular media happens to be trekking. If someone isn’t able to trek to these places, they could even go on a helicopter tour here. If you’re someone who appreciates natural beauty, you should definitely visit these areas.
Gosainkunda Lake
Gosainkunda Lake also spelled Gosaikunda Lake, which is one of the major high altitude lakes in the region if not the entire country. It is a significant natural and religious heritage site. Gosaikunda Lake is actually a part of a lake system with 109 lakes altogether. This complex of lakes is also known as Gosaikunda. The lake is well known for its natural beauty, and most people who visit Langtang region make sure to take a trip to the Gosaikunda Lake complex. A great crowd is gathered here especially during the month of August, as this is an auspicious month for Hindus.
An interesting thing about Gosaikunda is that it remains frozen for six months in a year, and during the remaining six months, it remains in its natural state. The Gosaikunda Lake altitude is to be blamed for this phenomenon. The Gosaikunda lake altitude is 4380 m, which makes it one of the highest altitude lakes in Nepal. During winter, when it freezes completely, it sort of resembles ice lakes. The water in the lake comes from the nearby glaciers that meltdown from the mountains here. One of the most crucial glaciers in the region is the Langtang glacier.
There is quite an interesting mythological story about the origin of these ice lakes. It is said that Lord Shiva, a prominent Hindu deity, used his trident to slice off a big chunk of ice from the mountain. It is the same ice that took the form of a glacier and formed the lakes. He did so to quench his thirst after saving the world. It is for the same reason that the lake is highly associated with Lord Shiva, and it is to pay homage to this deity that devotees from all across the country visit the lake premises. The lake is an ideal destination to visit during summer.
To visit Gosaikunda lake, you could either go for a short 5 to 6 days trek, or you can extend the number of days in your Langtang trek itinerary to cover the lake. In the latter case, you’d get to explore two other natural attractions. These are Ganja La and Laurebina La. Both are high altitude mountain passes situated at an elevation above 4500 m. If you’re unable to go on trekking journeys, you could also take a helicopter ride to the Gosaikunda lake. It is especially beneficial for the devotees who wish to pay homage to the deities but can reach there.
Parvatikunda Lake
Parvatikunda Lake is yet another significant high altitude lake on our list. It is also situated in the Langtang region, in the Rasuwa district. Quite like Gosaikunda lake, this one is also associated with numerous deities, and so, devotees from across the region visit this place for conducting religious ceremonies. The locals believe that this one was formed thousands of years ago. The lake plays a great role to maintain a healthy ecosystem around it. It is the source of water for hundreds of species of animals who live around the lake, which also includes man.
The lake is situated quite close to this village called Ghatlang. The people in the village depend on this lake for their daily water needs. The lake is situated at an elevation of 2600 m. When you visit the lake, you don’t just get to explore its natural beauty but also a few amazing creatures who live around it. It’s astonishing that around 37 species of birds are found in this area, and around 6 species of mammals have been spotted here. The lake is also a popular spot for the study of biodiversity. This is one of those must-visit attractions in the Langtang region.
Bhairavkunda Lake
One feature about Bhairavkunda Lake that makes it a little different from other high altitude lakes in the Langtang region is its location. While most other lakes, including the 109 lakes, are situated in the Rasuwa district, this one is situated in the Sindhupalchowk district. Despite its location, it is still in close proximity to the other lakes. Quite like them, Bhairavkunda is known not just for its natural beauty but also for religious significance. Actually, the name of the lake is itself based on a deity known as Lord Shiva.
Bhairavkunda is made up of two words – Bhairav, which means Shiva, and Kunda, which means a lake. It is situated at an altitude of 4240 m, and this one also receives devotees from all across Nepal during the month of August. To reach the lake, you need to go on a 13 days trek. It starts with Jalbire and ends at Larcha. During the trek, you visit places such as Pati, Khani Gaun, Sherpa Gaun, and so on. One of the major attractions of the trek is the natural hot springs at Larcha. It is considered to have medicinal properties as per the legends.
Dudhkunda Lake
Dudhkunda Lake gets its name from the milky white water that it holds. Dudh Kunda is made up of two words – Dudh, which means milk, and Kunda, which means water. Quite like other high altitude lakes in the region, this one is also considered sacred, not just for the Hindus but also for the Buddhists. To be able to explore the lake, you’d have to go on 15 days long trek. The journey starts and ends at Phaplu, which is accessible from Kathmandu on the flight. On the journey, you get to visit places like Traktor, Junbesi, Saharsbeni, and so on.
One of the features that make this trek interesting is that on your trek you’ll be setting up camps and living in them. There is no better way to get close to nature that traveling like this. Yet another prominent attraction of the trek are the numerous gompas that you will get to explore. Two of the prominent ones are Thubten Choling Gompa and Chiwong Gompa. In a way, this tour can also be considered as a religious and cultural tour, as you come across so many attractions of the same nature, which also includes the Dudhkunda Lake. It’s a must-try trip.
Langtang Trekking
One of the best ways to explore these high altitude lakes is to go on Langtang trekking. Even on its own Langtang trekking is one of the best trekking in Nepal options. Altogether, It’s an 11 days long trip, and during this time, you get to explore villages like Langtang Village, Mundru, Lama Hotel, and so on. There are two possible starting and endpoints to the trek, and these places are Syabrubesi and Dhunche. You could start your trek at Syabrubesi, and end at Dhunche, or vice versa. Also known as Langtang Valley trek, Langtang trek allows you to explore the entire Langtang Valley. It’s an amalgamation of cultural and natural attractions you’ll surely adore.
One of the attractions that make Langtang trekking an amazing example of trekking in Nepal is the Langtang National Park. Established in 1978, it is one of the oldest protected areas of Nepal. Langtang National Park is also among the richest ones when it comes to the number of rare flora and fauna species that consider the park home. During your journey through the park, you’d obviously get to explore a couple of these. Be prepared to get immensely excited when you come across these. Langtang Valley and Langtang Region overall is a part of the Langtang National park. The forests, the mountains, and glaciers and even the high altitude lakes are components of the national park itself. Without a doubt, it’s a natural heritage of the country.
Yet another attraction that you’d come across during Langtang trekking is Kyanjin Gompa. It is the most significant religious and cultural spot in the region for the followers of Buddhism. It is also an important pilgrimage site as anyone who visits the region makes sure to explore the gompa. Kyanjin Gompa is located on top of a small hillock, and numerous households surround the hillock. Because of the popularity of the gompa, the entire village is known by the same name. Generally, the tourists tend to spend one night at the Gompa, however, you could spend a couple of days if you’re quite keen about exploring the area or the religion of Buddhism a bit more. You will get to know quite a bit about the religion from the monks who’re stationed here.
Langtang trekking, without a doubt, is the best way to explore the region, however, because of some reason, if you’re unable to trek, you could also go for a helicopter tour. The trip lasts for a couple of hours, and within this time frame, you’re able to explore almost all the attractions of the region. You could tweak your helicopter tour itinerary as per your interest level. The best thing about going on this trip are the views. You’re not just able to enjoy the views of the numerous scenic locations in the region from the air, but also, you could enjoy them from the ground when the helicopter makes a stop. This one helps you save quite a bit of your efforts.
Now, if you’re in a dilemma about whether to explore the Langtang region or to explore the high altitude lakes, well, you’d be glad to know that you could have all the things in a single trip. You could tweak your Langtang trekking itinerary to include a few of these high altitude lakes if not all. Keep in mind that the resulting journey will prove to be as excruciating as anything, but if you’re someone who loves tough treks, well, this one can prove to be the right option for you. Overall, Langtang trekking is an exceptional trekking journey, with fun and interesting attributes.
Mountain View
Yet another reason why the tourists prefer traveling into the Langtang region, apart from the high altitude lakes, is the mountain views. The entire Langtang region is full of the most scenic mountains in the country. Though they may not be the tallest, a lot of climbers prefer these over other peaks in the country for expedition adventures. One can have the most amazing mountain from the numerous viewpoints scattered across the route. The base camps of these mountains also offer beautiful and up-close mountain views. Langtang region offers you a great experience.
One of the most prominent mountains in the region is Langtang Himal. As a matter of fact, it is a mountain range with so many peaks. Some of the major summits of this range are Dorje Lakpa, Gangchenpo, Ganesh, Langtang Ri, and so on. The most significant one among them, however, is Langtang Lirung. With a height of 7234 m, it is the highest mountain in the region and the most popular option for expeditions. You can view these peaks from various points on the route, including the villages and settlement areas where you’d spend significant amounts of time.
One of the best viewpoints to enjoy these peaks of Langtang Himal, and especially the highest mountain, Langtang Lirung is the top of Tserko Ri. It is a mini-mountain with a height of 5000 m. Trekkers tend to hike to the top of these peaks, early in the morning, to view the sunrise, and also these splendid mountains. You could also hike to the top of Kyanjin Ri. Located close to Kyanjin Gompa, it is yet another popular mini-mountain in the region with a height of 4800 m.
Imagine a view with crystal clear lakes, surrounded by the richest of vegetations, and finally, when you look at a distance, you see the most amazing view of the mountains. This is quite like the view that you’d get to explore when you’re at the high altitude lakes complex in the Langtang region. There is nothing that beats the absolute tranquility that you’d get to experience in these areas. Though there are lodges available on the route. The trekkers come here with a plan to set their camp on these premises. Their intention is to get the best out of these natural beauties.
Whether you’re someone who loves nature, or a person who is into cultures and traditions, all your desires would be fulfilled on this trekking adventure. A journey in the Langtang region offers you all these attractions that you can never get enough of. Whether you come for a trek here or a luxurious helicopter tour, you will be able to explore these high altitude lakes. If you’re looking for an ideal holiday destination for your upcoming vacation, make sure to choose Nepal, and more specifically, these high altitude lakes. You will definitely adore the entire region.
Himalayan Trails Trekking is one of the best travel and tour operators in Nepal. To make sure that the tourists have the best time of their lives during their visit to Nepal, the company offers different kinds of travel packages featuring activities such as adventure sports, helicopter tours, food and cultural tour, jungle safari, bird watching, and so many others. They specialize in trekking and expedition, and so, they can prove to be an amazing trekking partner for you. The itineraries offered by Himalayan Trails trekking cover the most popular and off-the-beat tourist destinations in countries like Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. What makes them the best travel agent is that they prioritize client satisfaction. They even go up to an extent where they allow their clients to make changes to their itineraries. Their intention is to make the journeys as close to the heart of the tourists as they can get. If you’re looking to travel to any of these places, and try out these activities, make sure to have Himalayan trails trekking by your side as your travel partner. With them handling all your needs, you can rest assured about having a great time on the trip.
