Tamang Heritage Trail! A new experience for enthusiast Nepal travelers!
Tamang Heritage Trail Trek offers trekkers a close experience of the Tamang lifestyle, culture, and unique customs in the Tamang Heritage Trail of Langtang region. The trip leads you to the lush midlands of Nepal experiencing the beauty of the Himalayan Country and the traditions of the local native people. The trail goes through traditional Tamang communities where life, culture, and crafts have remained intact since the establishment of the settlement. Warm traditional welcome hosted by the most friendly locals, their elaborate costumes, the rich architecture of their mountain houses, the ancient Buddhist monasteries, and places of prayers add color to the experience of this trek. In addition to the cultural experience, the trek also offers a wilderness experience through a gorgeous background of alpine scenery, flat pastures, and Rhododendron forests.
The trek begins either from Dhunche or Syabrubesi and goes through Gatlang, Chilime, Nagthali, Thuman, Timure, and Briddim. The trail may end in Syabrubesi or follow the classic Langtang Valley Trek from Briddim village via Khamjim. Goljong and Gatlang are tradional Tamang Villges. Goljong has an ancient monastery. From the viewpoint nearby one can see a panoramic view of Langtang, Kerung, and Ganesh Himal, Sanjen Himal ranges. Gatlang set high on a hillside among terraced fields is a Tamang settlement. One can visit the Tamang Buddhist monastery and the beauty of the Parvatikunda Lake at Gatlang. Healing bath and spa in the natural hot spring water at Tatopani en route from Gatlang to Chilime is an exhilarating experience. Brimdang offers a cultural experience at a community-run homestay, while beautiful Mountain View bounds Nagthali in Thuman VDC.
The panoramic view of Langtang, Kerung, Ganesh Himal, and Sanjen Himal ranges can be remarkably viewed from Nagthali. Interested trekkers can stay one more night at Nagthali at the newly developed trekking lodge. Nagthali used to be a popular meditating center for the local monks and priests. The next cultural village after Nagthali is Thuman; well-known for its Shamanic performances and beautiful view of Langtang from every house in Thuman. 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 have existed for many centuries. A suspension bridge here links Nepal and Tibet.
Home-stay at Briddim, Go Local!
Briddim (2229m), a small and lovely Tamang village offers a Himalayan cultural experience in the form of accommodation. Here, visitors are accommodated as house guests and able to have first-hand experience of the age-old cultural and warm Tamang hospitality at the home stays run by community members. The accommodation and tourism package is managed by the homestay Tourism Management Community in the village. Briddim home-stay was awarded the 2nd Mountain Development Prize at the International Mountain Day program held in Kathmandu in December 2005.
People and Culture in Tamang Heritage Trek
The inhabitants of the Langtang Valley are thought to be descendants of Tibetans from Kerung who intermingled with Tamangs from the Helambu area. The inhabitants of Briddim, Thuman, Timure, and Langtang are of the Tamang ethnic group but a marked influence of Tibetan culture and tradition is noticed in their lifestyle closely resembling that of most Tibetan villages. They are mainly sheep and yak herders but also grow some hardy grains and seasonal vegetables. The daily life of the villagers includes raising livestock, agriculture, and trade with Kerung in Tibet. Wheat, maize, potatoes, soybeans, and millet are their staple food. In addition, visitor can also witness Syabru dance, Khamba dance, Shaman performances, and other colorful performances during major festivals like Lhosar (February), Chhiju (December), Baisakh Purnima (April-May) and as per visitors request.
Hot springs
At Tatopani which means “hot spring or hot water,” you can cleanse yourself spiritually in natural hot springs with bathing areas in the lap of the mountains. Locals believe that the waters have a healing quality that eases away your aches and pains.
Natural Experience
The trail is similarly a pleasure for natural experiences. The unique landscape around Galjung Bhanjyang, Thuman, Brimdang pristine forest between Tatopani – Nagthali – Thuman and kaleidoscopic view of the Langtang mountains, Sanjen Himal, Ganesh Himal, Kerung and Gosainkunda range along the way give a wholesome experience of Himalayan landscape and vegetation.
Langtang National Park
The Langtang Valley was declared a National Park in 1976 and remains the second largest in Nepal covering approximately 1710 sq. km. stretching up to the Tibetan border, it has a high level of biodiversity including 15 forest types, 3000 species of flowering plants like oaks, fir, blue pine, spruce, juniper and more than 10 species of rhododendron. The park is also a rich area for medicinal plants. Extensive forests and varied vegetation types provide habitat for approximately 46 species of mammals and 283 species of birds, including musk deer, snow leopard, red panda, wild dog, Himalayan black bear, and the clouded leopard.
Gosainkunda Trek
An additional 4-5 days trek to holy Gosainkunda Lake (4300m) can be either from Rimiche, Syabrubesi, or Dunche. The trek offers the perfect combination of natural and cultural heritage. Gosainkunda is a sacred lake for both Hindus and Buddhists. About 25 to 30 thousand pilgrims visit this area during the Janai Purnina festival which falls during the full moon time in August.
Further Afield
Visitors can extend their stay in Langtang to trek to Kyanjin Gompa and explore the upper valley to Langshila and beyond ( See Tamang Heritage and Langtang Trek). Tilman’s Col, a difficult crossing named after H.W. Tilman the first Westerner to visit Langtang in 1949 leads east toward Panch Pokhari. Ganjala Pass (5120m) often covered by snow and clouds, leads south to Helambu and the Kathmandu Valley.
How to get there?
Langtang region predominantly lies in the Rasuwa district of Bagmati Zone. A 6 to 7-hour drive from Kathmandu to Dhunche in Rasuwa district is the most convenient approach to Langtang. National Park is also accessible from Sundaijal toward the east of Kathmandu and Melamchi Pul, about 3 hours drive from Kathmandu. Tamang Heritage Trail Trek offers Nepal homestay experience, warm Tamang hospitality, Himalayan panorama, local lifestyle, and religious and cultural heritage. This short and sweet trekking area was fully revived after the Nepal earthquake on April 25, 2015.