Reaching Gosainkunda via Sundarijal

Planning is always good as it adds a hope to your life. And most often,I plan to travel. We had been thinking of traveling  to Gosainkunda for about 3 months when one fine day, yet it was raining heavily, we decided to hit the trail and trek to Gosainkunda via Sundarijal route. We were the group of 10 people, who had fervent desire to see the holy lake and submerge into the pristine water.

On the way to Chisapani.

When we reached Chisapani we were already exhausted and pretty hungry. There we found a good hotel where we ordered a lunch and took a sunbathe as the day was clearing out. After a heavy lunch , we headed for Chipling which was the farthest we could possibly reach that day. The hike was quite tough and the trail was slippery, as it began raining in the late afternoon. Also, there were lot of leeches on the way, so we had to be little cautious. Chipling was a sparse settlement of about 10 houses. There were couple of good hotels as well but we decided to stay at local ’s house, as they provided homestay facilities too. The family were warm and welcoming people who made us feel like home. Once we got Inside, the room was quite a mess but we were pretty exhausted to roam from one house to another, looking for a cleaner room. Also, we had a good deal there. As we were all wet from heavy downpour , the smoke coming from the fireplace next door gave us abundant warmth. After changing our wet clothes we adjusted ourselves inside the old canvas they used as a blanket. We ordered some raksi and moi (liquid form of yogurt)  and made some spicy noodles before the dinner was ready. After a long conversation during dinner, we were too tired to chatter. So we got into our respective beds and took a deep rest under the splattering roof of the old hut. We planned to reach Mangengoth the next day.

We woke up with the sound of the rain. It was 6 in the morning, already late from our planned schedule. After getting some breakfast and packing the wet clothes into the backpack, we set off for our destination. Although the rain made our pace slower, we walked prudently relying on the trekking leki (stick) we made the previous day. Frankly-It was of great support and we used them until we reached  Lauribina Pass, where we abandoned the poor thing . After about 5hrs hike from Chipling, we reached Kutumsang. This was where we had our lunch @Ama Yangri Hotel. They served us super good buff lunch @300. We then headed towards Mangengoth via Langtang National park pass. The trail was quite exotic, dense forest and sparse settlement followed by rocky slopes and flat pastures. The air got thinner was we ascended towards Mangengoth. The environment turned pretty good, decorated with wild flowers and strange flora and fauna. From the topmost hill, we could see the golden spectrum of Sun ray casted on the horizon far away.

Hotel at Mangengoth.

Our heart leaped with excitement as we reached closer to Mangengoth, where there were lot of cow sheds on the way made out of rocks and wooden logs. We were one mammoth climb away from reaching Mangengoth. 

Sunset from Mangengoth.

After crawling about 60 staircases, we reached the Tibetan hotel where we decided to spend the night. The wooden cottage was pretty spacious and well facilitated. The atmosphere we observed from Mangengoth was spectacular as we could see the entire universe from the viewpoint. The magnificent sunset it was which we observed closely, every spectrum, every color. They were the tranquilizer to our ponderous soul.

Langtang National Park.

The next morning we decided to reach Phedi, from where Gosainkunda lake was few hours of steep climb. We left the hotel at about 8 in the morning and decided to reach Thadepati for the lunch. It was 3 hrs hike from Mangengoth and pretty sparse settlement. Thadepati was a small village of barely 5 houses. The atmosphere was dead as the sea, as there were no sign of human life there. On the top of the hill we saw a small tea house where we decided to have a lunch. As we were already running out of time, we decided to have boiled potatoes and warm cup of tea instead. This saved us a fair amount of time. We left the hotel with half filled stomach. The environment turned gloomy as it started raining again once we were nearing to Ghopte. There we decided to wait for the next group who were lagging behind. According to the locals, the way ahead from Ghopte was very dangerous especially during rain, as we could get stuck in the middle due to numerous torrent of waterfall made by the rain. After hearing some bad news that happened earlier, we decided to move together. Later, the rain became less intense. After crossing several waterfalls, valleys and forest, we reached Phedi about 5.30pm. Phedi was even exotic from rest of the settlements we passed earlier. There was just one hotel where we decided to stay the night before reaching Gosainkunda the following day. As we were already 3700m from the sea level , the air was thinner with ferocious wind blowing through our head.

Phedi.

After having a warm cup of tea, we decided to crawl into our bed before the dinner was ready. Few of us stayed near the fireplace and had a conversation with the hotel people. After having our dinner we decided to sleep, thinking of what the following day will bring. 

On the way to Lauribina Pass.

The next day, we woke at around 6 in the morning and were ready to ascend to 4600m till Lauribina Pass from where we could reach SuryaKunda and several other Kundas including the most popular Gosainkunda. 

SuryaKunda.

Through the steepest trial of about 4hrs hike from Phedi , we reached the very top - Suryakunda  Peak(4610m). A place with millions of stones and sticks. It was the place where we have to donate our trekking stick, the greatest support in our entire journey. It was one fine foggy morning with drizzling rain and thin air; this made our visibility poorer and breathing- a little difficult. It was hard finding the route as we were all lost inside the fog and we could hardly see each other even though we were few inches apart. Finally we saw a water mass covered in white clouds, and it was Suryakunda- resting at the very top, calm and proud.

After crossing few other Kundas we finally reached our destination- the holy Gosainkunda Lake.

Heading towards Chisapani.

Wild Flowers

From Langtang National Park.

Lauribina Pass.

Highlights:

• Explore dozen of lakes including Holy Lake Gosainkunda
• Enjoy Natural, cultural and religious experience
• Cross Lauribinayak La pass 4165/13661ft
• Gosainkunda Lake Trek in Nepal has Stunning views of Mt. Langtang range, Himal Chuli 7893m, Mt. Manaslu 8156m and Ganesh Himal range
• Trekking starts after an hour drive from Kathmandu to Sundarijal and ends at Dhunche.

Route: 5 days Itinerary

DAY 1 : Sundarijal->Chisapani->Chipling.

DAY 2 : Chipling->Kutumsang->Mangengoth.

DAY 3 : Mangengoth->Thadepati->Phedi.

DAY 4 : Phedi->Lauribina -> Gosainkunda->Dhunche

DAY 5 : Dhunche->Kathmandu.

What You Need:

A trekking stick.

A good Trekking Boot.

Water Bottle.

Abundant Dry foods and Chocolates.

A Wind Cheater.

Light clothes.

A raincoat would be great. 

A power Bank.

Cost Per Person:

Rs. 8000 would be more than enough, but try to be frugal and do not hesitate to bargain.

Like a wild flower, that bloom far away in the mountains and dance with the cool breeze- which is accompanied by the song of freedom, I want to extricate myself from  the crowd and indulge myself with the dearly nature. I want to be one of them, bright and beautiful, living peacefully and harmoniously.Jesus tells us to contemplate the flowers and learn from them how to live.The Buddha is said to have given a “silent sermon” once during which he held up a flower and gazed at it.Seeing beauty in a flower could awaken humans, however briefly, to the beauty that is an essential part of their own innermost being, their true nature.

Gosainkunda.