Tamang Heritage Trail! A new experience for enthusiast Nepal travelers!
Tamang Heritage Trek offers trekkers with the close experience of Tamang lifestyle, culture and their unique custom in Tamang Heritage Trail of Langtang region. The trip leads you to lush midlands of Nepal experiencing the beauty of the Himalayan County 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 establishing of settlement. Warm traditional welcome hosted by the most friendly locals, their elaborate costumes, rich architectures of their mountain houses, the ancient Buddhist monasteries and places of prayers add color to the experience of this trek. In addition to culture experience, the trek also offers wilderness experience through 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. 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 view point nearby one can see a panoramic view of Langtang, Kerung, and Ganesh Himal, Sanjen Himal ranges. Gatlang set on high on a hillside among terraced fields is a Tamang settlement. One can visit Tamang Buddhist monastery and the beauty of the Parvatikunda Lake at Gatlang. Healing bath and spa in the water of the natural hot spring at Tatopani en-route from Gatlang to Chilime is an exhilarating experience. Brimdang offers cultural experience at community-run home-stay, while Nagthali in Thuman VDC is bounded by beautiful Mountain View.
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. Next cultural village after Nagthali is Thuman; well-known for its Shamanic performances and beautiful view of Langtang from every houses 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 has existed for many centuries. A suspension bridge here link Nepal and Tibet.
Home-stay at Briddim, Go Local!
Briddim (2229m), a small and lovely Tamang village offers Himalayan cultural experience in the form in accommodation. Here, visitors 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 home-stay Tourism Management Community in the village. Briddim home-stay was awarded 2nd Mountain Development Prize at the International Mountain Day program held in Kathmandu in December 2005.
People and Culture
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 literally 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 ease 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 Villey was declared a National Park in 1976 and remains the second largest in Nepal covering approximately 1710 sq.km. stretching up to Tibetan boarder, 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 a habit 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 perfect combination of natural and cultural heritage. Gosainkunda is sacred lake for both Hindus and Buddhists. About 25 to 30 thousand pilgrims visit this area during 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 Heriatge and Langtang Trek). Tilman’s Col, a difficult crossing named after H.W. Tilman the fisrt 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 Rasuwa district of Bagmati Zone. A 6 to 7 hours 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 home stay experience, warm Tamang hospitality, Himalayan panorama, local lifestyle and religious and cultural heritage. This short and sweet trekking area is fully revived after the Nepal earthquake April 25, 2015.
