Gosaikunda Trek

The disheartening year of 2020 has taken a toll on many lives and every heart is hopeful about brewing normalcy and balance in 2021 and the excitement for making up for the lost time is palpably stronger. The questions as to “how” you will be fulfilling those canceled dreams needs some lights and how you can travel safely are fathomable. Allow the dream team of MD travels to guide your path in these dilemmas and uncertainties that have been festering. The longings for a change and catharsis in life are taken into consideration and the sacred place of Gosainkunda is suggested to the people around Kathmandu.

The search for a proper vacation from the dry and boulder interior of Kathmandu with a limited break of a few days ends at point Gosainkunda in many ways. The cool forest of this whole trek laden with arduous ladders will be the ultimate gateway. These hedgerows are entirely out of the busy city and feel as if they have been transplanted directly from heaven. In fact, every place with expansive meadows shall remind you of the soothing experience that you will get fortunate within every journey.

The memories of the person are filtered every time when you prefer ruminating it, you reckon that this can be right? Trek to Gosaikunda was a heartwarming experience for me and contemplating these memories only makes me remember how I have left my footprints in the sacred and purest place of Nepal. This feels very emotional and heavy to know that I was not fortunate to be a part of Gosainkunda for a long time but every moment witnessed was inexplicable undoubtedly.

This beautiful and frozen lake is situated at the height of 4300m and this trek covers the beautiful forest of oak, bamboo, and heartwarming settlements of Tamang and Sherpa culminating us to the divine lake of Gosainkunda.

Gosainkunda is situated at an elevation of 4,380 m and you can easily reckon how cold it can be in winter for everyone but the coldness of nature was laden with beauty, relaxing vibes, and catharsis. I lauded every astounding beauty that was knocking on my doors to soothe my heart. This trek to the frozen lake is a short and beautiful trek in Nepal. This trek gets fortunate to cut the high passes and is covered by mountains along with magical landscapes in many ways. Even religious people are huge in number when it comes to Gosainkunda. There is a history and belief that these holy lakes alleviate all your pains, sorrows, and sins if you take a bath in the lake of Gosainkunda.

It is famous for the breathtaking beauty, relaxing vibes, beautiful pains and is deemed as the best destination for the trek. Albeit the Langtang region is in proximity to this place, people prefer mountains over nature. This place has been able to preserve its beauty and remoteness for a long time. This beautiful and frozen lake is situated at the height of 4300m and this trek covers the beautiful forest of oak, bamboo, and heartwarming settlements of Tamang and Sherpa culminating us to the divine lake of Gosainkunda.

You will get fortunate to see Ganesh Himal in the Northern direction of Kathmandu Valley amidst this trek. These Himalayan ranges portray the true meaning of beauty and this seclusion and nature’s bounty pushes you every time when you are on the brink of giving up due to the incessant ladders and uphill. A magnificent walk through nature can be easily approached from Kathmandu itself. It can be seen that the festive season of Janai Purnima is the auspicious time for people to gather here and take a holy bath and visiting during this time can be a bit unmanaged in terms of hospitality and leisure.

Itinerary that was followed 

Day 01: Drive from Kathmandu to Dhunche

Day 02: Trekking from Dhunche to Chandanbari

Day 03: Chandanbari to Gosaikunda

Day 04: Gosaikunda to Thulo syapru 

Day 01: Drive from Kathmandu to Dhunche: 

This heartwarming journey started from Naxal with 4 pals and every heart was filled with mixed feelings of warmness, excitement, and curiosities. Everyone had cues about the journey and the time that it will take to complete this journey. The scenic beauty did motivate everyone to keep the positivism and excitement intact but the curvy roads every time along with the bumps did give birth to the feeling of nauseousness: one is encouraged to keep medicine in check if you are not traveling on a regular basis. Looking out of the window did provide everyone with the fresh air and it never failed to make us agog as to what’s next. This journey took around 5 hrs drive but undoubtedly this 5 hrs was worthwhile for many people.

Day 02: Trekking from Dhunche to Chandanbari

The experiences of hiking were a completely new experience for everyone and every mind was filled with the thought about how one won’t choose to hike all the way for one lake view. However, the people around were very lenient and did portray the beauty of this journey which eventually was motivating everyone, and the way they described the beauty was something that helped me push myself every time. Climbing every step did help us find areas that are overgrown and facilitated in a more natural feel. After climbing for 2 hrs incessantly and with little breaks to push everyone, one gets fortunate to have lunch.

This place did provide us with the best lunch after the arduous journey and ladders that were climbed. We did have a break of around 1 hrs for lunch and this lunch did help me feel motivated to push myself ahead for the breathtaking beauty that was waiting for us. Albeit the pains in my legs were still fresh, everyone dragged themselves up and I was constantly pushing myself to pick up the pace. With a heavy heart, I was not fortunate to take rest for a long time but the view of a bigger picture facilitated in motivating my mind. The fear of staying alone in the forest helped me become consistent in the walk. After walking for around 1-2 hrs, I was fortunate to find some snows and lovable people to hold the hands in this journey to push myself every time and pick myself up when I was enervated to the fullest. The dilemmas as to whether I should give up or pick myself up were worrisome factors every time but the knack of converting weaknesses into strength was something due to which I was trying the best to pick up the pace and do the needful.                                                                                                           

After a lengthy road, I emerged into an open meadow with a wonderful view ahead though at this point appears closer than it actually is.   

This is really a beautiful sight where I found myself longing for rest and this rest did provide me with this surreal view. There are some clouds moving over as I scoff down a couple of snickers and rest my old bones, it was a tough slog up here. 

Hiking amidst the forest and mountains with lovely lush green forest and foothills kept motivating me like a secret prize that was waiting to be deciphered and those stunning peaks were love at a first sight. Undoubtedly the smile of these little kids was a soothing factor for my legs which were moving incessantly for the past few hrs. Finally, after walking for around 7-8 hrs our foot got fortunate to take a rest with a heartwarming welcome from the people of Cholangpati.

Day 03: Cholangpati to Gosaikunda

Even a new day was filled with the same warmness and excitement however there was a belief that this trek will be more arduous and daunting for everyone in contrast with the journey from which the whole trek was started. The new days were filled with hope and confidence and I was able to be the real me and connect with the version of nature that felt most genuine and accurate.                                                                                                                                                  

Every step towards the viewpoint was trying to push me down because of the constant uphill in the path but connecting more with nature and the relaxing vibes that were offered by nature in every step were ready to push my soul towards the ladders. This was a beautiful point where we took a short break.

The journey seems a straightforward road but this straight road is ephemeral and fleeting and this was created to make your legs ready and in order to welcome more uphills and bumps on the path. 

The continuous walk for the 4hrs blessed us with this breathtaking view and I assured myself that every journey ahead is going to be worthwhile. The veracity on this matter was provided with every scenic view that never failed to soothe my soul and I started connecting more with nature.  Being surrounded by this view had a powerful effect on my soul and changed the perspectives and insights on life and things that truly matter in the end. This silence was able to reevaluate my issues, battles and I was able to widen the perspectives of nature and ruminate on the bigger picture of life. This picture was taken after a continuous walk for 4.5 hrs when I was searching for water due to the continuous thirst. 

This picture was captured in Buddha Mandir lauribinayak and the fact that Gosaikunda was just 1 hrs far from this viewpoint eventually was another motivational factor for me. The journey ahead was inexplicable and easier compared to the continuous uphills that were climbed in the past few hrs.  you can call me cliché or whatever but undoubtedly, it was the dose of this mountain or the litres of water that I drank, I felt enormously better and positive after reaching this point. This temple fueled the soul of everyone and the feeling of calmness and happiness was birthed to know that the final point is just 1 hrs above. This temple provided everyone with the feeling that we are ready to take on anything that comes on the way. The break for an hour helped me analyze this whole place with a placid mindset and I started developing more respect and love for the earth and for the well-being of humans around there. 

After a short break which lasted for an hr, I picked myself up for another road that reaches the frozen lake of Nepal. Pushing myself up in the mountains helped everyone understand the beauty of mother nature and things that one can feel when there is the absence of wifi, cell, social media, and changes that humans have witnessed in recent dates. The time in absence of devices allowed us to recognize the beauty of the little things and I was enjoying every snow over the road. 

We made our way towards the main point Gosaikunda and this picture was captured from Gosaikunda itself. Hiking towards this point was undoubtedly a beautiful and heartwarming experience but it can also turn out into a real challenge because of the absence of enough air compared to the lowest point. Spending time amidst the mountains and lakes means that you will have to be reliant on yourself completely, your knowledge and the choices that one makes needs to be very rational. Even our soul was benefited by the long walk. By the time I came to this endpoint, I was hungry as a hawk and I was longing for food to be served. The sounds from creatures of nature in this place were awakening my soul and I was dealing with the freezing cold searching for warmness around me. This was undoubtedly worthy of thousands of steps and I am very grateful that I chose not to give up when my legs were trying to give up and yearning for rest and care. Finally, the hiking for the last 8 hrs was worth it with this view and the dinner that we had in this place. 

Day 4: Gosaikunda to Thulo syapro 

Even when my heart was trying to keep my memories intact, one always needs to be back to the place from which the whole journey was started. We left this place during noon and the continuous walk and downhill made me feel defeated and hopeless at many points but the people around were there to push my soul and welcome positivism on the path. With the incessant support of people around me, I was able to walk continuously towards the downhill for around 8 hrs and the final point was Thulosyapro. We reached this point during the evening time and a beautiful dinner was waiting to be served for us. 

Delving into the past only makes me complete awe of this place and fills my heart with smiles and love. The memories one can welcome is something that one can happily leave everything for without any repents on the plates. Once you visit this place, your heart eventually will long to be back there one more time again and again. Even while saying this, I was urged to erase so many surreal memories tied to this beautiful trip. The self-doubts, known unknowns and unknown unknowns, fears of disappointments, cold: you notice how it changes beautifully and gradually. climbing the hills breathlessly and fearing for life was very excruciating and arduous every time and you will find yourself amidst the darkness searching for light and warmness. memories have beautifully culminated from small moments and sub memories which are left behind with a heavy heart, forgotten and adjusted and there are few memories that you appreciate the way they are and those are the ones every human longs for. The only wish that I have inside of my heart is to save this memory for a long time.