The Buddhist and Hindu Gosainkund shrines are located in Langtang National Park, north of Nepal's capital, Kathmandu. The magnificent Himalayan scenery is shown in its entirety, from west to east, on the Langtang Gosaikunda Trek.
Many believe that when Lord Shivaswallowed poison and formed the lake, he did so with his Trishul (trident). After drinking this cool water, he was released from the toxicity, and many Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims have found great satisfaction in Gosainkunda Lake ever since. Hindus believe that there is still an image of Mahadev, or Shiva, in the water's midsurface. This massive photograph will remain in the tranquil lake under Shiva's jurisdiction. This is the source of the Trishuli River. The area has 108 lakes, but the three closest together are the most well-known: Gosainkunda, Saraswati Kunda, and Ganeshkunda. Every year, thousands of Buddhists and Hindus travel to these sacred locations during the full moon in August, which is known as the Janai Purnima (Sacred Thread Festival). This year's festival is set for Thursday, August 20, 2024.
The trail winds through verdant forests of rhododendron, oak, and pine to reach Gosainkunda Lake. There are a lot of animals around here; if you are lucky, you might see a boar and a red panda while out and about. Dawn and dusk are when you can hear the birds singing and the mountains changing color right in front of your eyes. The Gosaikunda Trip offers views of many mountains, including Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, Annapurna, and Dhaulagiri. You can see the Langtang Himal range most of the time. The majority of the people living here are Tamang, who are similar to Tibetans in both appearance and culture. Their culture is still thriving traditionally; it is untouched by modernization. Langtang Hike exposes the unique culture, people's livelihood, and spiritual lifestyle of dedicated Buddhist monks who perform their rituals in the monastery, which dates back to around 1300 A.D. Still, people are following the polyandry marriage system.
The Gosaikunda Lake Trek route goes through the traditional Tamang villages and inside the Langtang National Park. After a scenic 117-kilometer drive via Dhunche to Sano Bharku (1,860 m) in the capital city of Kathmandu, we start our trek to Thulo Syabru Gaun. The path climbs to Gosainkunda (4460 m) via a hillside ridge passing through the villages of Chandanbari (Sing Gumba), Cholang Pati, and Laurebinayak. This trail leads to the Helambu Region by crossing Laurebinayak Pass (4,609 m). This is an amazing view from Gosainkunda. Because Gosainkunda is a sacred and tranquil location, this trip is also referred to as a pilgrimage trip. The elevation gain from Gosaikund to Surya Peak (5,145 m) will take you about an hour.
The most breathtaking scenery can be seen from there, where you can see the entire Himalayan range as well as the surrounding area in 360 degrees. Take a look around the holy lake of Gosainkunda. After retracing its steps up to Chandanbari, the trail bears right toward the Thulo Subaru. This is where we start our 132-kilometer journey back from Syabrubesi to Kathmandu. Although it can also be planned as a camping trek, this is a popular tea house trek. The quickest way to complete this trek from Dhunche is in 7 days, but you can extend it by taking some extra side trips.
Trekking in Langtang, Gosainkunda, is highly recommended for hikers looking to see religious sites, traditional culture, and mountain scenery. Although it can be scheduled at any time of year, the best times are from March to May and August to November. According to your preferences and schedule, Nepal Mother House will gladly plan your Gosaikunda Trek with knowledgeable local guides and porters. Undoubtedly, this will be an unforgettable experience!
