INSIDE HIMALAYAS | NEPAL | TIBET | BHUTAN
A honey hunter waits patiently as he creates the smoke that will remove the
bees from their hives. Photo: 4AM.
INSIDE HIMALAYAS | NEPAL | TIBET | BHUTAN
Hunters wear protective clothing (and smoke cigarettes) to protect themselves from
bee stings. Photo: 4AM.
Hiking Route:
Sanga to Panauti or Panauti to Sanga (10 Kms.)
BASDOL RESORT
SAMUDAYIK
SAVING & CREDIT
PANAUTI
SANGA
KHARIBOT
The honey is collected in pots and strained into storage bottles. Photo: 4AM.
MAHENDRA JYOTI
The honeybees have made their beehives on gigantic cliffs. They collect nectar from poisonous flowers in the
jungle, and convert that nectar into honey that has medicinal, amorous, and hallucinogenic properties.
GANESHSTHAN
DHAD GAUN
The hunters respect the spirits of the forest, so they first perform a ceremony to placate the cliff gods. They
sacrifice a chicken, offer flowers, fruit and rice, and pray to the spirits for a safe hunt.
The hunters wear masks like mosquito nets to protect their faces from the risk of stings. A group at the base
of the cliff starts creating smoke by lighting a fire. Another group suspends a ladder from the top of a cliff.
One honey hunter is fastened to the ladder by a rope. He slowly descends, waiting for the smoke to drive the
thousands of bees out of their hives. As the hunter reaches the hive to be harvested, a large woven basket is
lowered to him and the exposed honeycomb falls into the basket. The group on the base of the cliff receives the
honey-filled basket and pours it into the strainer, where the impurities are filtered out. When this is complete,
the basket is sent back to the hunter up the cliff.
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For More Details, Please contact:
communityhike.com
Lal Durbar, Durbar Marg, Kathmandu, Nepal
+977 1 4444376 /78 / 79
[email protected]
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