Spritual Shaman Trek-Gosaikunda
Trip Introduction
One of Nepal’s most famous religious places of pilgrimage is the Gosainkund Lake, situated at an altitude of about 4380m, surrounded by high mountains on the north and east. This lake is grand and picturesque. Every year during Janai Purnima (Full Moon), next year on the fullmoon of August, thousands of Hindu pilgrims come here for blessings. The large rock in the center of the lake is said to be the remains of a Shiva shrine. Shamans ("Dhami") come from all over Nepal to the lake, to be there on full moon night. There are lots of dancing and singing ceremonies. This day is considered holy by the shamans, whereby apprentices or "Jhankris" graduate into full shamans. On this day, you can take shaman’s healing and other spiritual practices. Joining the Gosaikund Lake Full Moon festival means, your trek almost becomes like a pilgrimage, watching all the activities done by local people, hindu and buddhist visitors and the Shamans & Jhankris. The Matrix Adventure his trek to all our valuable clients.
Hytorical Meaning
According to the myths, the Shamans("Dhami" ,"Jhankri" and "ancient mantra healers") have mythical reasons for travelling to Gosaikunda lake. Back in the past, millennias ago a Shaman from Gole caste of Tamang and a dragon had a battle in the region. The fight was a very intense one and the Shaman used a mantra to cast a thunderbolt at the dragon. The battle ended with both the shaman and the dragon deciding to not enter each other's territory ever again. Since then there has been the ritual for Shamans of other caste to visit to Gosiakunda at that time of the year in order to decode the mantra used to caste the thunderbolt.
Hytorical Meaning
According to the myths, the Shamans("Dhami" ,"Jhankri" and "ancient mantra healers") have mythical reasons for travelling to Gosaikunda lake. Back in the past, millennias ago a Shaman from Gole caste of Tamang and a dragon had a battle in the region. The fight was a very intense one and the Shaman used a mantra to cast a thunderbolt at the dragon. The battle ended with both the shaman and the dragon deciding to not enter each other's territory ever again. Since then there has been the ritual for Shamans of other caste to visit to Gosiakunda at that time of the year in order to decode the mantra used to caste the thunderbolt.
Day to Day Itinerary
Day 01 Arrival in Kathmandu
Arrival in Kathmandu and meet our TMA representative at the airport and transfer to Hotel. Welcome drink and short briefing, relax.
Day 02 Sightseeing in Kathmandu
Full day Sightseeing in & around Kathmandu with Tour Guide by private car. Overnight in Hotel.
Day 03 Kathmandu - Dunche
Drive from Kathmandu to Dunche by private vehicle (6/7 hours). Early in the morning after breakfast, we pick up you in your Hotel and drive from Kathmandu to Dunche via Trisuli by private vehicle which takes about 6 hours. The road is quite smooth until reaching Trisuli through the terraced fields and Villages and we will have our lunch in there. After lunch, our road is roughly with dust viewing scenic valley until reaching large Tamang settlement of Dunche. We will check in our Langtang National Park Permit near the Dunche. We can see Langtang Lirung and Ganesh Himal from Dunche. After arrive in Dunche, we will visit Tamang Museum. Overnight in Lodge.
Day 04 Dunche - Shing Gompa
In the morning after breakfast, we leave the village and follow the trail passing the terraced fields and cross a small stream by a wooden bridge to the opposite bank. Now the trail becomes steep ascent through the forests and traverse up the cliff like a flank and commanding a view of the rocky mountain of Gosaikund deep in the valley. We are gaining a high elevation each step and will come to a wide flat area. We will have our lunch there. After lunch, we continue again steep ascent on a ridge with Rhododendrons. This steep ascent will be over in a while and join to the path coming from Kyanjin Gompa. After we come to a flank with bare trees and short ascent, we will arrive in Shing Gompa. There is small Cheese Factory and Old Buddhist Monastery which we will visit in the evening. Overnight in Lodge.Day 05 Sing Gompa - Gosaikund Lake
Today we are going to Gosaikund Lake, while enjoying the Holy Lake and Himalayan View. We start after breakfast; we follow the trail that gently ascends the mountain flank with bare trees and cross over the ridge. We traverse the flank of the Langtang Khola and going through a forest full of moss and ferns. We follow the flank back to ridge and reach in Chalangpati from where we can see the Langtang Lirung and Ganesh Himal. Then, we follow the wide path that stretches on the high ridge ahead. We are approaching the forest limit and the view opens rapidly with Manaslu, Himal Chuli and Annapurna Himal behind of us. We keep ascending towards prayer flags above and will reach in Lauribinayak where we will have our lunch. After lunch, the wide trail on the ridge continues further even after lauribinayak and the ascent becomes strenuous. We keep climbing towards the rocky mountains of Gosaikund and the ridge becomes a narrow rock ridge until reaching third Lake Gosaikund passing the first Lake Saraswoti Kund and second Lake Bhairav Kund. On the Gosaikund Lake, there is a Shrine in which a lingam symbolizing Shiva is kept and revered. Gosaikund Lake is a site for the great pilgrimage in August each year. Overnight in Lodge.
Day 06 Exploration day
Full day experience with shamanistic dances and spiritual songs as well as activities of local people and other devotees/pilgrims. Overnight in Lodge.
Day 07 Gosaikund Lake - Sing Gompa
In the morning after breakfast, we leave the lake and start to descend the rocky mountains of Gosaikund until reaching Lauribinak. We will have our lunch here. After lunch, we keep descending to a ridge until reaching Shing Gompa viewing the spectacular mountains. Overnight in Lodge.
Day 08 Sing Gompa - Dunche
Today, we start out trek after having breakfast. We climb down all the same way back through the Rhododendron forests and terraced fields until reaching Dunche. Overnight in Lodge.
Day 09 Dunche - Kathmandu
In the morning after breakfast, our driver comes to pick up for us in Dunche and we drive back to Kathmandu by private vehicle with rough road before reach Trisuli. We will have our lunch in there and after lunch, we continue to drive back to Kathmandu in smoothly road passing terraced fields and transfer to Hotel.
Day 10 Final Farewell
This marks the end of our journey and as per the requirements airport drop off can be managed by us.
What is Included
- Airport/Hotel/Airport pick up and transfer by private car/van.
- 3 nights accommodation in twin bed sharing basis with breakfast at Backyard Hotel in Kathmandu.
- Sightseeing tour as per above mentioned itinerary.
- Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) with Tea & coffee during the trek.
- Lodge to lodge accommodation during the trek.
- 1 experienced, helpful and friendly guide, porters (1 porter for 2 peoples), their food & accommodation, salary, equipments & insurance.
- All necessary permits.
- First Aid Medical Kit box.
- All Government Tax &Service Charges.
What Is Not Included
- Any meals in Kathmandu other than breakfast.
- Travel insurance (if you want us to arrange your travel insurance, we would greatly be happy to assist).
- International air fare to and from Nepal.
- Nepal Tourist Visa fee.
- Items and expenses of personal nature.
- Any kind of alcoholic drinks, cold drinks, laundry, phone call, internet.
- Personal Trekking Equipments like sleeping bags, jackets (can all be hired in KTM)
- Emergency Evacuation (Helicopter Rescue).
- Any costs which arise due to a change of the itinerary, because of landslides, political disturbance, and strikes etc.
- Any other costs whatsoever, that is not mentioned in the cost included.
- Horse renting and additional porters due to natural calamities during the trek.
- Tips for guide, porters, driver...