• • • • i. Conserveforests impact thelocalenvironmentandculture. on howyou depends and futurelargely at present destination tourism a particular from benefit you what Because come. to years indefinite for benefit people) and Follow theminimumcodewhiletrekking sothatyouandyourhost(localnature General CodeofConduct Singh GompaandatmajorsettlementsinHelambu. at armypostsGhoda Tabela andLamtang. Telephoneat are available facilities Lauribina Lapass(4600m)duringwinter.are available Emergencyradiofacilities on and trek (5,120m) La Ganja the on recommended strongly is guides local Hiring alone. Never hike but donotstop. Landslides crossing rocks while falling after rainorfrost.Wathand slippery trails arerocky The Lamtang-Helambu outfor to medicalfacilitiesoutsideDhunche. are there as advisable is kit first-aid comprehensive a Carrying elevation. lower a ascending immediately.persist, theonlyprovencureistodescend Ifsymptoms stop symptoms, these develops If someone and generalfatigue. of appetite loss further. The symptoms of HAS are-headache, dificulty in sleeping breathlessness, Alternatively, onecanspendanextranightat3000mand3,500mbeforeascending advice againstascendingmorethan400madayonceabove3000melevation. Watchas diuretics. doctor’s and porters.Medical of yourcompanions thehealth to HAS.Drinkatleast3-4litersofwatereverydaybesidesteaandcoffee whichact contributes Over evertionanddehydration without properacclimatization. rapidly (HAS)isgainedtoo can belifethreateningifelevation High altitudesickness Acclimatization andsafetyprecautions is abusrideofabout5-7hours. The mostcommonwaytoreachtheparkheadquater, DhunchefromKathmandu How To GetThePark Lamtang ValleyLamtang Treak Kutumsang Pati Bhanjyang Sundarijal Sundarijal toGosaikundaandHelambu Shermathang Tarkeghyang Melamchighyang Tharepati Ghopte Lauribina pass Lauribina Cholang Pati Singh Gomba Thulo Syafru Dhunche Dhunche toHelammbuviaGosaikunda Langtang Ghoda Tabela Lama Hotel Bamboo Syafrubesi Thulo Syafru Dhunche (Car/Bus) Starting Point eoeegs a b buh a Duce Sarbs, hl Sar, Lama Syafru, Thulo Syafrubesi, Dhunche, at bought be can Kerosene/gas Choose lodges thatusealternatives tofuelwoodfor cookingandheating. clothing. Don’t The useoffirewood isprohibited. light campfires: Cook with kerosene or gas and take sufficient warm takesufficient and gas or kerosene with Cook campfires: light Thadepati Kutumsang Pati Bhanjyang Melamchi Pul Shermathang Tarkeghyang Melamchighyang Tharepati Ghopte Lauribina pass Gosaikunda Lauribina Cholang Pati Singh Gumba Singh Gomba Kyanjin Langtang Ghoda Tabel Lama Hotel Bamboo Bamboo Thulo Syafrubesi Syafrubes Dhunche Distination 3-4 4-5 5-6 5-6 3-4 3-4 2-3 3-4 2-3 1-2 2-3 2-3 2-3 3-4 5-6 2-3 3-4 3-4 3-4 4-5 3-4 4-5 6-8 Hours 3,630m 2,470m 1,770m 830m 2,800m 2,550m 2,650m 3,630m 3,400m 4,610m 4,380m 3,900m 3,500m 3,300m 3,000m 3,900m 3,420m 3,000m 2,840m 1,975m 1,975m 2,120m 1,420m 1,960m Altitude • • • • • ii. Stoppollution • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • vegetation. the alpine as analternatesourceofenergyandhelpconserve kerosene/gas use to owner’s hotel/lodge private encourage to is depots the of purpose The Hotel, KutumsangandMelamchighyang. Do notusethepolythene/plasticmaterials. Use safedrinkingwater(ozonated)orpuriflyyourself. Buy onlywhatwon’tpollute,orcarryitout. Carry outwhatyoucarryin. Never trek alone, hire a local guide if you can’tfind acompanion. alocalguideifyou Never trekalone,hire bottles. and bags plastic batteries, such as items biodegradable non Carry out Camping insidetheparkshouldbemadeonly atthedesignatedareas. Visitors shouldbeself-sufficientinfuelsupply(kerosene/LP gas). andreligioussites. Do respectthecultural sunsetandsunrise. within theparkbetween No oneshouldwalk off out,buriedordisposed Rubbish mustbeplaced indesignatedareas. protected andmustnotbedisturbed. fully are fauna and flora All animals. and plants damage or remove Don’t purposes. Drone (UAV) fee is same as documentary/filming fee while using it for other 25% shouldbepaidwhileusingdronefor at DNPWC. be paid (Nepali) should and Rs.10000 Nationals) Additional (SAARC 50,000 Rs. (Foreigners), 1500 US$ of fee Documentary/filming Parks andWildlifeConservation(DNPWC). Get special permit for documentary/filming from the Department of National permit, sovisitorsarerequestedtokeepthepermitwiththem. for the may ask Park personnel Entering theparkwithoutapermitisillegal. entry only. The entrypermitisnon-refundable,non-transferableandforasingle gate atDhunche,Kutumngsang, Timbu and Tempathan. the Tourismentrance or park Kathmandu Mandap, Board, Bhrikuti at counter ticket Parks National the from available are permits Validentry designated ticketcounter. at be paid porter should Rs.25fortourist and Rs. 100(Nepali)visitor Rs. 1,500(SAARC An entryfeeofRs.3,000(Foreigners),Nationals), Wish you avery happy and Wish you avery happy and Park Regulationstofollowor memorable experience ! memorable experience things toremember documentary/ filming.

2019

lamtang national park Published by: Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, P.O. Box: 860, Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel.: +977-1-4220912/4220850/4227926, Fax: +977-1-4227675, E-mail: [email protected], Web.: www.dnpwc.gov.np Lamtang National Park: Dhunche, Rasuwa, Nepal, Tel.: +977-10-540119/540219 Background Fact Sheet Accommmodation

Lamtang National Park (LNP), declared in 1976, is situated in north central Lamtang National Park & Buffer Zone There are several hotels, lodges, tea houses and campsites in the park and its 2 Nepal covering 1710 Km , which extends parts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot and National park declared year 1976 AD buffer zone that offer modern amenities. Sindhupalchowk districts. The park encompasses Gosaikunda and associated National park area 1,710 km2 lakes, which were declared wetlands of international importance in 2007 under Location Central Nepal (Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Best Season for Trekking the Ramsar Conventtion. The park represents a meeting point between Indo- Sindhupalchowk districts) Malayan and Paleartic Realms and holds rich biodiversity. LNP represents some October-November Ramsar site declaration 2007 (Gosaikunda and associated lakes) of the best examples of graded climate conditions in the Central Himalaya. • Autumn is the best time to visit the park, when brilliant greens fed by the Bioclimatic zone Sub-tropical-temperate-alpine Elevational gradients (ranging from the mid-hills to the alpine zone) coupled with monsoon fade to golden/amber against the crystal blue sky and grains ripen in complex topography and geology have resulted in rich biodiversity. In 1998, an Elevation 1,000 m (Trishuli river bed Ramche) to 7,245 m the enclaves. area of 420 km2 in and around the park was declared as buffer zone. Buffer zone (Lamtang Lirung)above msl March-May management is a joint venture between the park office and the local comunities. Major geophysical Himalayan region, glaciers, valley • By April, bursts of red, pink and white rhododendrons stretch into towering The local communities have a decision-making role in the management of such characteristics canopies of fir and oak forests. areas. Additionally, National park and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1973 has made Mojor rivers Trishuli and Bhotekoshi a provision of ploughing back 30-50% of the park’s revenue into community Major peaks Lamtang Lirung (7,245 m), Jugal Himal (6,989 m) August development and conservation of the beffer zone. Main Mammals Snow Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Musk Deer, • A lively festival of Gosaikunda Lake attracts thousands of Hindu pilgrims. Red Panda The three main ethnic groups in LNP and its buffer zone are Tamang, Yolmo and Use of Entry Fee Bhotia, each thought to have originated in . The cultures are discernible Main birds Himalayan Monal, Ibis Bill, Wood Spine by their language, home style, dress, ornaments and customs. They follow the Major tree species The Nepalese larch, pine, hemlock, fir, juniper, 30-50 percent of the park’s entry fee goea directly to the Buffer Zone Communities religion, a pre-Buddhist doctrine prevalent in Tibet. The of the birch, rhododendron for: Major destinations Lamtang Valley, Gosaikunda, Helambu Helambu region are often referred to as the “Sherpa”. However, their language and • Biodiversity conservation socio-cultural set-up do not resemble the Solukhumbu Sherpa. They are rather Buffer zone declared 1998 AD • Community development 2 silimar to the Lamtang Bhotias and may also have migrated hom the Kyirung Buffer zone area 420 km • Conservation education area of Tibet. Their religion and monasteries reflect rich buddhist traditions. It is Districts Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Sindhupalchowk • Income generation and skill development believed that Gosaikunda was created by Land when he thrust his Tribent Rural Municipalities 10 (Gosaikunda, Kalika, Naukunda, Uttargaya, into a mountain to draw water to cool his throat after swallowing poison. Tadi, Dupcheshowr, Suryagadhi, Panchpokhari- Popular Trekking Routes Thangpal, Helambu and Jugal Major Flora and Fauna Major caste groups Tamang, Bhotia, Yolmo, Brahmin, , Three main trekking Gurung routes: (1) Lamtang Valley, LNP and its buffer zone consists of sub-tropical to alpine zone, rich in floral and Economy Agriculture, Animal husbandry, Business, (2) Helambu and (3) faunal diversity. The sub-tropical vegetation is characterized by the Sal (Shorea Tourism Gosaikunda Lake cover rubusta), Chilaune (Schima wallichii), Chirpine and Nepalese alder. The temperate much of the Lamtang zone is covered mainly by Rhodondron, Oak, Silverfir, Hemlock and Larch Major Attractions National Park and the forest in the lower sub-alpine zone. Nepalese larch (larix nepalensis), the only • The Lamtang Valley • Ghyangphedi southern Helambu region. deciduous conifer in the region, is found in this park and a few places elsewhere. • Gosaikunda Lake • Dupcheshwori Temple Lamtang and Helambu Throughout the beffer zones, different species of Rhododendrans form a colorful • Buddhist culture (Tamang, Yolmo and Bhotia) regions are connected understory. Juniper and Rhododendron shrubs (R. anthopogan) slowly dissolve • Helambu region through Lauribina La. into the expansive alpine grassland meadows. Lamtang’s expansive high altitude • Red panda All routes have locally meadows provide a summer habitat for the Musk Deer and Himalayan Tahr. The oeprated hotels/lodges, park is also well known for its Red Panda, Himalayan Black Bear, Snow Leopard, tea houses and camp Clouded Leopard, Wild Dog, Goral, Serow and more than 250 species of birds. grounds for trekkers. The park offers a choice of moderate to difficult hiking routes with durations ranging from 3 days to 3 weeks Lodges oeprate year round except during peak winter when the trails are blocked.

Trekkers who take extra time to explore the trail side wilderness (e.g. near Goda Tabela and Kyanjin), Hill top view point (Kyanjin) and cultural sites (notable in Melamchighyang, Tarkeghyang and Shermathang) will be well rewarded. One has to be self sustaining to venture to remote areas of the park such as panch Pokhari (five lakes), east of Helambu, the toee of the Lamtang glacier, and upper level valley from Kyanjin, and over the challenging Ganja La pass in upper Lamtang Valley.