Langtang Region Nepal

The Langtang Region is a protected area in the Langtang National Park. The park was established in 1971 and was the first area to be designated national park status, covering an area of 1710 sq km it is the catchment area of two major river systems one draining west into the Trisuli River and the other east to the Sun Koshi . Appropriately known as ‘The Valley of the Glaciers’ it is a narrow valley running parallel with the Tibetan border and north of Kathmandu. Enclosed to its north by the main Himalayan range and to its south by a slightly lower series of snowy peaks this high and isolated area is home to the Tamang whose culture is more like to that of Tibet. Langtang National Park has a number of high peaks including Langtang Lirung (7246m) which dominates the upper valley and straddles the Tibetan border to the north, Gang Chhenpo (6388m) to the south and Dorje Lak pa (6990m) to the east. Langtang National Park also has two excellent accessible trekking peaks Paldor (5928m) and Naya Kanga ri (5846m) The park contains the Gosainkunda lakes which are sacred to Hindus and where during the month of August pilgrimages are made. The Buddhist monastery Kyanjin Gompa is another spiritual site. The park has a variety of climatic zones ranging from subtropical to alpine and around 25% of the park is forested with trees such as oak, maple, pine and rhododendron. Animals include red panda, Himalayan black bear and monkey.

A trek to the Langtang Valley offers a chance to see ethnic villages, climb trekking peaks, experience white water rafting and visit the extensive glaciers at moderately low elevations. Bill Tilman, a famous explorer and climbing partner of Eric Shipton, described Langtang as one of the world’s most beautiful valleys.

Climate