INSIDE HIMALAYAS | NEPAL | TIBET | BHUTAN
INSIDE HIMALAYAS | NEPAL | TIBET | BHUTAN
Above Gosaikunda:
Highland of Sacred Alpine Lakes
by Michael D. Smith
If one creates in earnest the armor of bodhicitta,
It is like the treasury of space offering unlimited largesse.
For fortunate beings, this temple and all it contains
Are like the wondrous bursting forth of spring.
Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery is located at the sacred pilgrimage site of Namo Buddha,
Nepal. It is home to more than 250 monks and includes a monastic college, a school for young
monks and a Tibetan Medical clinic.
Lake Gosaikunda. Photo: Cristina Podocea.
For more details, please contact:
Royal Mountain Travel - Nepal
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P.O. Box: 8720 Lal Durbar Marg, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: +977-1-4444376 / 78 / 79 Fax: +977-1-4444380
Email: [email protected] URL: www.royalmt.com.np
www.insidehimalayas.com | By Royal Mountain Travel
The still, crystal-clear water of
Gosaikunda Lake in the Langtang
National Park is a well-known
destination in Rasuwa District for
trekkers and pilgrims alike. Gosaikunda
is known as the “Holy Lake of the Lord
of Senses.” A kunda is not any kind of
lake, but actually refers to the holy
dipping tank at a Hindu temple used
for ritual cleansing before performing
puja, artificial or natural. Many refer to
Gosaikunda as the “Frozen Lake”, due to
the fact that it freezes over in the middle
of winter, though the extent of freezing
is less each year due to climate change.
The holy lake is situated in Rasuwa
District, which means ”Sheep Grazing
Land” in the local Tamang language,
apt as many shepherds take advantage
of the high pastures, not only for sheep
and goats but horses and yaks as well.
According to Hindu tradition, there are
108 lakes in the Gosaikunda area, owing
to the astrological significance of 108
as the multiplication of the planets
(9) and Zodiac houses (12), of which
Gosaikunda is the primary holy site. Of
this multitude of alpine lakes, Bhairab
Kunda, Surya Kunda, Chandra Kunda,
Saraswati Kunda, and others are within
one to two hours’ walk of Gosaikunda.
Inner peace is assured for those who
rest awhile at any of these serene clear
ponds that reflect the sky above and the
mind within. One reason Gosaikunda is
considered holy for devotees of Lord
Shiva is that the lake itself resembles
an enormous yoni-lingam, the symbolic
representation of creative feminine
shakti energy in union with the active
masculine shiv energy, a small rock
island in the center.
Trekkers should properly acclimatise
before reaching the high alpine lake, as
it is perched at 4380 metres elevation.
The area around Gosaikunda has
been designated as an internationally
important wetland according to the
UNESCO Ramsar Convention, with
various species of migratory birds
dependent upon the waters in the
catchment area, including the Brahmani
Duck, Brown Dipper, White-capped
Water Redstart, Common Teal and
others. Gosaikunda is fed by a triple-
tapped spring, aptly called Trishul Dhara
(Trident Spout), the ultimate source of
the Trishuli River system.
Walking to Gosaikunda
The trek up to the Gosaikunda
watershed, while arduous, is stunningly
beautiful, stirring the soul in the quiet
www.insidehimalayas.com | By Royal Mountain Travel
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