A deadly disaster on the famed Annapurna Circuit trekking trail last month has led trekkers to change course to Langtang, one of the most adventurous destinations in the Himalayan foothills of Nepal.
More than 300 thrill seekers are now visiting the region daily. In the past year, Langtang used to receive 45-60 tourists daily during the peak tourist season which lasts from September-November.
Tenzen Tamang of the Hotel Mountain View said that the Langtang and Gosaikunda routes were crowded with trekkers these days. With the increasing number of tourists in the region, hotels are unable to cater to the demand.
More than 13,000 tourists visit the region annually and local entrepreneurs said that arrivals were likely to increase significantly this year. Last month, a blizzard and avalanche killed 39 trekkers and injured many others in the Annapurna region.
The Tourism Ministry said that the government and the private sector jointly carried out the largest ever helicopter rescue operation in the Annapurna region to rescue people trapped in the snow. The ministry said that more than 520 people were evacuated on 70 helicopter flights.
Langtang is Nepal’s first national park and lies amid the Himalayan range to the north of Kathmandu. The park is dominated by Langtang Lirung (7,245 metres), the highest peak in the area, and smaller peaks to the south—Chimse Danda, Ganjala Pass (5,122 metres), Jugal Himal and Dorje Lakpa (6,989 metres).
Langtang is also known for its glaciers which number more than 70 of varying sizes. The high altitude lakes of Gosaikunda, Parvatikunda, Bhairavkunda and Dudhkunda draw pilgrims and trekkers.
Apart from the Langtang route, treks to Gosaikunda Lake at 4,380 metres and the Tamang Heritage Trail are other attractions in the region. “Nowadays, tourists also come here to see yak farms and they have become one of the attractions in the area,” said a local Tenzing Pasang.
Source: Nepalmountainnews
