Gosaikunda Trek

Posted on Aug 26, 2013 by Anujghimire under Trekking

Tags: Gosaikunda, Dhunche, Chisapani, Rasuwa, Langtang

Gosaikunda Trek is all about trekking to Gosaikunda Lake, a lake situated at about 4380 meters above sea level falls under Dhunche-Gosaikunda-Helambu trekking route, one of the most popular trekking routes. The trekking can also be extended via Syafrubesi –Lama Hotel-Langtang- (Back to Lama Hotel) - Thulosyafru –Gosaikunda- Ghopte-Kutumsangu-Chisapani.

Gosaikunda lake is a sacred/holy lake with a religious context. It is believed that Lord Shiva, to save the Universe from a poison, drank the poison extracted from the sea and with a burning throat had to find some place to cool himself down. So he struck his trident to release a burst of water, in a place now refered to as Trishuldhara which is the source of Gosaikunda as well as the famous river, Trishuli. In the cascade of same events, Lord Shiva is believed to have created multiple lakes, which includes the famous Bhairav Kunda and Naagkunda among others.

First Day : Kathmandu to Dhunche by road

The starting point of the trek may be Chisapani or Dhunche. But Dunche is mostly preferred as the starting point. Dhunche is the headquarter of Rasuwa District, roughly about 7-9 hours from Kathmandu depending on the bus driver, and a lot lesser if a private vehicle is taken. With only a few numbers of buses operating per day (most probably 3 leaving from Kathmandu and 3 from Dhunche) between 7-9 am in the morning, it gets frenzy inside the bus with as all the supply to the entire district is inside the bus with you including the poultry and what not! The best thing to do thus is to reserve a ticket the previous day, unless you want to sit on a bonnet all the way through. After passing through the check points, lots of them mind you, it will definitely take about 30 minutes of your total time in bus, you’ll reach Dhunche almost at the end of the day!
The first day ends upon reaching Dhunche, a small yet widely inhabited and with plenty of Hotels. If you are not a Nepali citizen and wish to trek in Nepal, you must first obtain Trekker’s Information Management System (TIMS card).

Nepal, Langtang region, hills around Gosaikunda lake
Photo by:Anton Jankovoy #Nepal #Travel #Gosaikunda #Photography pic.twitter.com/cfkMOGS6eF
— MyHolidayNepal.com (@myholidaynepal) December 19, 2014

Second Day: Dhunche to Cholangpaty

The second day of the trek can be shortened or lengthened according to the Trekker’s wish. One can reach Cholangpaty directly or rest in Singompa (Chandanbaari). The trek to Cholangpaty will almost take an entire day. The first ascend includes a formidable staircase, after walking for about 20-30 minutes from Dhunche! From then onwards, it’s climbing up for about 2-3 hours until you reach Deurali (about 2500 meters above sea level, which has only one hotel.) The next stop if Dhimsa, a few hours walk from Deurali, which again has a small hotel. The route beings to slightly ascend from then onwards until you reach Chandanbari or Singompa. Singompa is a beautiful little stop en-route, with lots of hotels and a DDC’s factory where you can buy Cheese for the road. Most people take rest at Singopma and the next day ascend to Lauribina take another stop before they reach Gosaikunda. If feasible, reaching Cholangpaty the very same day will shorten the trek. After leaving Singompa behind, it’s completely a steep ascend for a long time with not a single stop in between until you reach Cholangpaty. It will be rather late upon reaching Cholangpaty but if it’s still early, about a 2 hours climb will take you to Lauribina. The ascend to Lauribina can be challenging for some so it’s better to take rest at Cholangpaty, which again has two hotels side by side with the route intersecting them.

Gosaikunda #Nepal, once visit is not enough #Beauty #PromoteNepal #myholidaynepal #PhotoGraph #PlacetoSee pic.twitter.com/GHsVRh4F
— MyHolidayNepal.com (@myholidaynepal) May 16, 2012

Third Day: Cholangpaty to Gosaikunda

After resting at Cholangpaty, about 3500 meters ASL, the third day beings with a steep climb up towards Luribina or Lauribinayak, the names varying with different people, and some even calling it Lauri Bina (Lauri ;Stick and Bina; without, meaning without stick). Generally refereeing to the steep climb which requires help of a walking stick, and without one it would be hard. Although not completely impossible without a stick, it is safe to say that this is the toughest portion of the Trek. After the exhausting climbing, the trail is relatively easy when compared to the other portions. After a few minutes of passing a small Buddha stupa, along a small walking trail, the Bhairav kunda resides on the left side, followed by Naagkunda and finally Gosaikunda. The total time from Cholangpaty to Gosaikunda fall within a time frame of 4-6 hours depending upon the trekker’s walking ability.

About Gosaikunda Lake

Gosaikunda lake is one of the most sacred religious site for Hindus, with thousands of Pilgrims from Nepal and also from India visiting the kunda during the Janai Purnima festival. But tourism wise, it’s visited almost all year round with a break during the extreme winter conditions. The Lake remains completely frozen for about a 5 months’ time (Generally October to May).

Fourth Day: Gosaikunda to Syaafry

After spending the night at 4380 meters ASL, either the same route can be followed back or a route through the famous Lauribina pass to Ghopte can be taken. Also, one can take a separate route to Syarfubesi down the Cholangpaty way. If the former route is taken, either Dhunche or Syaafrubesi could bereached by night fall, and if Ghopte route is taken, then 2 more days is added to the trekking route. Day fuorth ends with reaching Dhunche, or Syaafru and since the buses only leave the town during the morning, a rest at one of these two places is a must.

Fifth Day: Dhunche to Kathmandu by road

Take a bus early in the morning and reach Kathmandu before night fall.

Thus, the route can be basically divided as:
Dhunche –Gosaikunda- Dhunche
Day one: Kathmandu to Dhunche
Day two: Dhunche to Cholangpaty (or earlier stop at singompa)
Day three: Cholangpaty to Gosaikunda (or Stop at Lauribina)
Day four: Gosaikunda to Dhunche (or to Syafrubesi)
Day five: Dhunche to Kathmandu

Or take
Dhunche – Gosaikunda- Ghopte-Kutumsangu-Chisapani (which adds about 3 days to reach Kathmandu)

The Gosaikunda trek route falls under Langtang National Park, and also has rich faunal diversity! The rare and elusive Red Panda and Snow Leopard are found around the higher landscape surrounding the route. The Avian fauna includes, Grey bush chat, Grey headed canary flycatcher, Black lored tit, Drongos, Forked tailed swift, Snow Pigeon, Himalayan monal and Dhanpe.

Few Facts:

Gosaikunda Trek Budget: Around 6000-8000NPR is enough for Neplese. Which is 60-80USD

Mobile Network Signal: At the top of Lauribina, the signal is available

Best Time to do Gosaikund Trek: Sep-Oct-Nov