The holy lake of Gosaikunda is located in the heart of Langtang National Park. Hikers or trekkers also mention the Gosainkuna Pass or Surya Kunda Pass Trek. If they cross the Gosainkunda pass, they will arrive at the Langtang National Park's other side. The height of Lake Gosaikunda above sea level is 4,380 meters (14,370 feet). Other well-known lakes exist below and above the Gosainkunda lake, and each has its own unique religious importance. The mythological Hindu god Shiva is said to reside near Gosaikunda.
A variety of Himalayan landscapes, including lakes, national parks, and wildfires, can be seen on the Gosainkunda Trek. The endangered animals that call the Langtang National Park, where Gosainkunda Lake is located, include the red panda, Himalayan mountain bear, Musk deer, Himalayan wild goat, and snow leopards. There are several flower and plant species in the National Park.
As you trek or climb to Gosainkunda Lake in this national park, you may come across Rhododendrons, Orchids, Magnolia, and many other botanical species. While on the Gosainkunda Lake Trek, hikers can observe the Langtang Lirung (8,153 meters), Gangchhenpo (6,388 meters), Dokpu Peak (5930 meters), Naya Kangri (5846 meters), Yala Peak (5500 meters), Ganesh Himal, and many other peaks. If you travel through the Gosainkunda Pass, you can also witness the Dorje Lakpa, Jugal Himal, and Melamchi Village. After passing the Gosainkunda lake, you will reach the Helambu.
You will drive from historic Kathmandu city to the hill town of Syabrubeshi, where the incredible adventure trekking starts. You travel to Syabrubeshi, where the National Park is located, via Trishuli Bazaar and Dhunche, a community of Tamang and Sherpa ethnic people. Then we proceed to the Langtang valley, cross the river, hike through an oak and rhododendron forest, and arrive at the Tamang village of Langtang. After a short distance, we reach Kyangin Gompa, where many hikers sleep and visit the neighborhood yak cheese factory. Through Syabru and Sing Gompa, we continue our hike until we reach a steep climb (the sacred lake Gosaikunda is located).
Gosaikunda Lake is reached by continuing your Gosaikunda Trekking either from Dhunche or Langtang valley. As soon as you arrive, the stunning Gosaikunda Glacier Lake and its surroundings capture your heart. The trail for the Langtang Gosaikunda Trekking ascents and traverses the Lauribinayak La Pass. The hikers must traverse rough ridges today, making it a little challenging. But our knowledgeable hiking guides will make the journey easier and lead you to the Pass's summit, where you'll be surrounded by breathtaking mountain vistas that stretch from the Langtang to Annapurna ranges.
The journey then descends through rhododendron, oak, and other woodland types. After traveling from Sundarijal for an hour, you finally return to Kathmandu. Trekking in Gosaikunda, the weather can change in a flash. Given that Gosaikunda is a rainy location, it is difficult to forecast the weather there. In addition, the best months for Gosaikunda Lake Trek are March, April, May, September, October, and November.
Gosaikunda Lake trek Routes Map
The Rolwaling Range, Dorje Lakpa, and Gauri Shanker Range are just a few of the jaw-dropping mountain vistas that can be seen from the Gosaikunda Pass or Lauribina La Pass hike. On the trail to the Gosaikunda pass, Tharepati, Kutumsang, and Chisapani, hikers can view the nearby communities and learn about the local customs. a journey. You will reach Tharepati after crossing the Gosainkunda or Lauribina la passes, and you will have two further options from there. A person can choose to visit Chisapani or the Helambu Trek.
The Gosainkunda trek can be completed by a variety of routes. You can adjust the length of time according to your demands. The Gosainkunda journey typically takes 5 days, while the longest one, which covers the entire Langtang trek, can take up to 21 days (Tamang heritage trails, Langtang Valley, Gosainkunda Lake, and Helambu trek).
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Best Time to do Gosaikunda Lake trek
The ideal seasons for the Gosaikunda trek are from September to December and from March to May. Autumn offers clearer skies and fewer clouds. When you go to Gosaikunda in the fall, the skies will be clear and the forest's dark green trees will be visible. Although there may be a few wet days in the first two weeks of September. The greatest fall months are from October to December because there is hardly any rain or snow in the Gosaikunda region.
Rhododendron blossoms will make the forest in the Gosaikunda trekking area colorful in the spring. You can trek to Gosaikunda Lake from March to May because it is the second busiest trekking season in Nepal.
Even if there may occasionally be significant snowfall at the beginning of March, it is difficult to walk because of this. The Gosaikundalake walk is best done between the second week of March and the middle of May when it also begins to rain. If you want to view blue lakes, head to Gosaikunda on a hike from September to December because the lakes are frozen in the spring.
The Gosaikunda walking route winds across steep, narrow-surfaced hillside terrain. Winter travel in and around such places is challenging and hazardous due to the heavy snowfall. Additionally, it will be extremely cold, making a climb to Gosaikunda in the winter unwise. The summer is not too bad, but the trails can be slippery and there might be limited visibility. Trek in August if you want to attend the Gosaikunda festival. Although the dates can vary from year to year, the festival is always held in August.
Gosaikunda Lake Trek Difficulties
The hike to Gosaikunda is moderately easy. So, regardless of your prior hiking experience, you can register. The trails are generally easy to ascend and have a low angle of ascent, yet there are occasions when they can become steeper and more difficult. The expedition will, however, require you to walk for an average of 5-7 hours every day, so you will need to be physically fit.
Since the walk takes you above the 3000m elevation level, altitude sickness may be a factor. However, if you take it gently and acclimate, it shouldn't have an impact on you the entire trip. If you do still succumb to it, remember not to disregard the signs and go to a lower elevation where the air is sufficient.
Altitude Sickness
Acute Mountain sickness is one of the most frequent issues people encounter while trekking. When you are trekking higher than 3000m, you are more prone to altitude sickness. The Gosaikunda walk begins at Dhunche, 2000 meters below sea level, and ascends to Gosaikunda, 4380 meters above.
Neglecting the symptoms of altitude sickness could be dangerous. By adhering to the fundamental guidelines, this voyage will be much easier for you. Many problems can be resolved by drinking lots of water or moving slowly. You can also take medicine, a medication that eases altitude sickness.
Distance and time
In the Langtang National Park is the Gosaikunda lake. It is located in the Rasuwa district at a height of 4380m (14,370ft). The Gosaikunda trek begins at Dhunche, 2000 meters above sea level, and ends at Gosaikunda, 4380 meters above sea level. The Gosaikunda journey is around 117 kilometers long, including 35 kilometers of the rocky route from Trishuli to Dhunche.
In a typical 5-day schedule, you'll walk for about 5-7 hours per day. It could be challenging for someone who doesn't walk routinely or isn't engaged in physical work because you'll be walking a lot. Therefore, the best approach to make this walk easier is to prepare yourself before you go. You can achieve this by trekking daily for 4 to 5 hours, as well as by jogging, climbing stairs, and other activities. Other than that, neither ice climbing nor technical climbing is necessary for this expedition. As a result, in contrast to other trekking areas, it is a considerably simpler journey.
Temperature and the weather
One of the key elements to take into account when assessing the difficulty level of any hike is the weather and temperature. Though this walk may be completed year-round with little effort, the optimum times to complete it are in the spring (March to May) and fall (September to December). These are the seasons when the sky is clear and everything around you is lovely with flowers, wildlife, and lots of greenery. This journey is made more beautiful by the rhododendron and magnolia flowers along the road.
However, whether you're an expert hiker or just getting started, monsoon and winter hiking are both difficult. If you are not careful enough, walking down a slick, muddy road or a trail covered in snow might be harsh. But who knows, with these tiny obstacles, it can also turn out to be your most adventurous journey.
Major attractions of the Gosaikunda trek
Many snow-capped mountains will be seen as you make your way to Gosaikunda. A panoramic view of the mountains in the Langtang region as well as parts of the Annapurna mountain range will be seen. Ganesh Himal (7,422 meters), Langtang Lirung (7,227 meters), Changbu (6,251 meters), Kinshung (6,781 meters), Yobra (6,264 meters), Yala (5,500 meters), Dorje Lakpa (6,966 meters), Langshisa Ri (6,427 meters), Ganchenpo (6,387 meters), Naya Kanga (5,844 meters), and Paldor Peak will all be visible (5,903 meters).
Within the boundaries of Langtang National Park is the lake of Gosaikunda. Therefore, while hiking you could see some uncommon and endangered animals and flora. The red panda, which is endangered, and the snow leopard are the region's most well-known animals. Additionally, there is musk deer, leopard, and Himalayan tahr species. You will also go by the lovely and vibrant rhododendron woodland. There are a total of 14 different plant species spread across 18 different ecosystem types, from alpine scrub to perpetual ice, and from the upper tropical forest below 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) of elevation. Also present are oka, Chir pine, maple fir, hemlock, and other species.
You will pass through a number of villages on the walk to Gosaikunda, each with its own unique culture and customs. There are communities where Tamanags and Sherpas live that have Tibetan influences on their way of life. You will learn about the culture of these people who have been living in this way without access to modern conveniences for generations.
Why is the Gosaikunda Lake trek famous?
The Place of Pilgrimage Gosaikunda Holy Lake is a well-known location in Langtang that provides a chance to tour villages. to travel to glaciers and climb modest summits at a convenient altitude. From Kathmandu, you can begin the Langtang trek. During the full moon festival in August, the lakes are visited by thousands of Hindu pilgrims. Buddhists also see the lake as sacred. The largest of the three major lakes, the others being Saraswatikunda and Bhairabkunda, is Gosaikunda.
It has a unique religious past. when God Siva sank his Trisul (trident) into the earth to draw water. Tri (three) and Suli (needle), or Trisuli, is the name Shiva's deity gave to the river that originates in the lakes. On the shore of Gosaikunda Lake, three water taps are still visible right now. For everyone, the vista while trekking to Gosainkunda Holy Lake is breathtaking. You might proceed to cross through Helambu village to reach Gosaikunda Pass (4610m) if you have enough time. Finally, complete it at Sundarijal and then travel to Kathmandu.
Guide & Porter for Gosaikunda lake trek
Whether you want to hike alone or with a guide is entirely up to you. The Gosaikunda Trek route is very straightforward, and you may easily climb to the summit without assistance. During the busiest times, you will also have lots of company. Therefore, a guide may not be required. But if you hire one, they will be really helpful. In this lovely tour, the guide will be your finest companion and a tremendous help in directing you. You won't have any trouble locating hotels and inns because they are more familiar with the area than others. As we learn about their experiences and motivational work, walking beside them will also inspire us.
Hiring a porter will also be quite helpful if you are not used to walking for so many hours while carrying your luggage. Because it will significantly lessen your physical tension. Therefore, if you have a flexible budget, you can hire a guide and a porter as needed.
Gosaikunda, Spirituality, and adventure
Gosaikunda receives a large influx of pilgrims in addition to hikers, particularly during the two major festivals of Janai Purnima and Gangadasahara. For both Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims, the significance of the sacred Gosaikunda lake is unmatched. Hindus consider that taking a holy dip in the lake is their opportunity to get closer to divinity because they believe that all Hindu deities descend to the lake on Janaipurnima.
The homes of the Hindu gods Shiva and Parvati are said to be in Gosaikunda. Samudra Manthan, which is directly connected to the beginning of Gosaikunda, is mentioned in numerous Hindu scriptures. When Lord Shiva used his trident to pierce a mountain in order to get water out of it to soothe his burning throat after ingesting poison during Samudra Manthan, it is thought that he also created the lake.
The Gosaikunda lake is equally important to Hindus and Buddhists. According to Phurpa Tamang, a Gosaikunda resident who has written extensively on Tamang culture, Gosaikunda lake is extremely significant to Buddhists, with the majority of them visiting the sacred lake to show respect to the deceased and offer prayers for their well-being in the afterlife. The night before Janaipurnima, a procession headed by Jhankris (shamans) moves towards the lake while reciting hymns and singing songs. The Gosaikunda region has historical value in addition to religious significance. During the Anglo-Nepal war (1814–1816), Amar Singh Thapa, the Nepali commander of the western front, traveled to Gosaikunda and passed away there. Today, a cave in the region bears his name to honor him and serve as a reminder to fellow citizens of his patriotism.
Gosaikunda Lake by Helicopter
You can take a Gosainkunda Helicopter Tour to get to Gosaikunda Lake in a day without any problems.It only takes 1.5 hours to get there from Kathmandu and is the simplest and quickest way to get to Gosaikunda. Depending on the sharing and privacy policies, the price will be roughly US$ 1600.
The helicopter excursion departs from and returns to Kathmandu. For a half-hour, the chopper will land close to Gosaikunda Lake so that you can conduct rituals, take pictures, and take in the natural splendor. It is the greatest and quickest ride from Kathmandu to explore the Langtang Himalayan range. Elderly people who wish to go there but lack the energy to walk are also best served by it.
Making the Gosaikunda Trek Less Difficult
We can't abandon our ideal journey because of a few setbacks, so let's talk about it, how we can make our trip less difficult.
Physical Exercise
Since Gosaikunda is a short walk, you don't need to prepare for months in advance. Try brief hikes, swimming, and other doctor-recommended activities for a week. If you have never gone on a hike, you can also warm up your body in the gym. Fitness is a requirement for the hike. Being healthy is considered to be fit, but not having a flawless body is. Although the walk is a modest one, it might not be challenging for seasoned hikers.
Keep hydrated
Bring a lot of water with you, and if you encounter a river or a water source, fill up the bottle. The worst enemy of a trekker in the Himalayan region is dehydration. Whatever the case, what may help you feel more energized than water?
Choosing the finest season
We advise participating in the Gosaikunda Trekking during the aforementioned excellent seasons. Even while hiking may be done all year long, avoiding the rainy season and deep snow will only be advantageous to us. However, if you enjoy challenges and don't like crowds, you should attempt trekking during the off-season.
Keep to the Trail
Avoid taking shortcuts as much as you can because they will just increase your danger of getting lost because the trail was created for a reason. Additionally, both your time and effort will be wasted. Always carry a map of the Langtang Gosaikunda Trek with you for convenience.
Permits Required for Gosaikunda Trek
The Gosaikunda Trek is located inside the Langtang National Park, which requires permission to hike. Attacking or harming wild animals and species is strictly prohibited.
At Dhunche in the army checkpoint, hikers need a permit to enter the Langtang National Park. For the permit, hikers must have their passports which costs Rs 3000. The second authorization needed is the TIMS permit, which costs Rs 2000 and is granted by TAAN. The hiking company of your choice registers the TIMS permit. To finish your trek to Gosaikunda Lake, you mostly need these 2 permits.
Some Advice for the Langtang Gosaikunda Trek
There are always many difficulties when trekking on rough terrain and in higher altitudes. It is necessary to take precautions since people who have never experienced high altitude sickness may experience it. People with knee difficulties may want decent knee support because, as was already indicated, the hiking path includes some uphill and downhill walking. You can simply ask your doctor about altitude sickness before beginning your hiking excursion; certain doctors may suggest altitude sickness prevention and therapy.
Along with this, you should pay attention to your food plan and make an effort to eat a lot of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, bars made of nuts, energy bars, chews, or gels. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, and consume at least 8 glasses of water daily. However, you may avoid or manage this altitude sickness problem with the aforementioned advice, allowing you to enjoy and there is no doubt that this route will give you some enjoyable trekking experiences in Nepal.
Final Say
Gosaikunda is a quick, easy hike that can occasionally be difficult. But if you put a little effort into it, you can easily finish the walk. It is entirely feasible. Along with the wonderful natural beauty, the walk is a remarkable experience because of the Gosaikunda myths. This walk is extraordinary because of the majesty of the surrounding mountains and the splendor of Gosaikunda lake. Please feel free to contact us with any further questions or concerns. We would be more than delighted to help you with the trip planning and provide you with all the information you want.
