Overview
The Langtang Gosaikunda trek is a popular trek, situated in the shadow of the spectacular Langtang Range bordering with Tibet of China. The Langtang valley has unique Tamang heritage, alpine forests and high mountains. This trail has Gosaikunda (a sacred pond) with its great cultural and religious value. The Gosaikunda area has been delineated as a religious site. Hindu mythology attributes Gosaikunda as the home of the Hindu deities Shiva and Gauri. Gosaikunda, also known as frozen lake, is situated at an elevation of 4,380 meter in Rasuwa district of Nepal.
Langtang National Park is the first national park of Nepal and most of the area of the national park is dominated by Langtang Lirung (7245m), the highest peak of the area. The trek offers breathtaking views in a short time compared to any other drive-to trek in Nepal. Langtang area has beautiful and traditional Tamang villages. Basically, the Tamang ethnic group came from Tibet and started practicing a mix of Buddhism and Hinduism. They are also famous for their craftsmanship, unique dress and architecture.
It is believed that the lake is formed by digging of the holy Trishul (trident) of lord Shiva as after he drank the ‘Kalakuta’ poison from ‘Samudramanthan’ and desperately wanted cold water to quench the overwhelming heat of the poison. Gosaikunda is Hindu pilgrimage site from where the frozen lake melts and sips down to form the Trishuli River. Langtang area was almost damaged by the 2015 devastating earthquake and it took long time to rebuild the damaged structures. Now, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the damaged structures and community is underway. Many people have returned to their villages and started leading normal life. Tourism has been limping back to normalcy in Lantang area.