Exploring unspoiled Langtang National Park

• HB Kham

Langtang National Park is one of the virgin and unspoiled areas of Nepal worth visiting.

The park established in 1976 is located in the north of Kathmandu, the capital city. It is the country’s fourth protected areas.

The park is extended in 1,710 sq. km areas which form the upper catchment of two of Nepal’s largest rivers such as the Koshi and Trishuli. Langtang Park is an easily accessible sanctuary from the Kathmandu.

The park has a profound ecological diversity. The good sights of this park include the rural village of Helambu, forested hills, Gosaikunda Lake and the captivating valley of Langtang.

The gorgeous gorges of Bhot Koshi and Langtang valley densely covered by forests, oak, maple, rhododendron flowers, and playful sight of red panda below Gosainkunda, wild boar, black bear, ghoral, spotted leopard, monkeys, presence of impeyan, Tragopan, pheasants, camouflage of deciduous conifer makes this valley appear charming and spectacular for any visitors and nature lovers.

The beautiful sight of Himalayan tahr, musk deer, snow leopard, Tibetan snowcock, snow partridge add further to the glittering beauty of this park and tempt many tourists every year.

Exploring the Langtang valley and park on foot can be more beneficial as it will allow you to see many more rare sights here.

This national park can be approached from Dhunche town which is only at a distance of a day’s drive from Kathmandu. It takes around four days to walk to reach the upper parts of Langtang. However, it is suggested that it would be better to spend a few days at Ghoda Tabela to watch the red panda.

The Kyangin monastery on the upper Langtang is a good place to visit followed by an exploration of the high valley of Langshisa Yala peak and Tsero Ri.

The people of Tibetan origin usually inhabit this region while the Tamang community resides in the villages of Dhunche, Bharkhu, and Syabru in the middle hills.

The park represents rich biodiversity, 250 species of birds, flora, and fauna with a complex topography and geology situated at around 3000-meter elevation.