It still took nearly an hour to reach the lake as the track was full of snow and slippery. We paid homage to Lord Shiva at Trishuldhari and took some pictures. We checked into a hotel at the lakeside and ordered lunch. We decided to offer puja to Lord Shiva early the following day.
Situated at 4,380 meters, Gosainkunda is a freshwater lake in Langtang National Park in the Rasuwa district. The lake is spread over 34 acres. The Gosainkunda Lake Complex, including Surya Kunda, Bhairav Kunda, Nag Kunda, and Saraswati Kunda, was designated a Ramsar site in 2007. The lake flows down to form the Trishuli River – one of the major tributaries of the mighty Sapta Gandaki River that flows through central Nepal.
The lake holds great religious significance as Lord Shiva is believed to have rested inside the lake after he consumed Kalkut Poison, which was churned during the Samunda Mantha. During the Ganga Dashahara and Janai Purnima festivals, the lake complex wears a festive look when pilgrims from all over Nepal and different parts of India visit the holy place. It is also a popular destination for trekkers in the Langtang Region.
Today is the last day of our trek to Gosaikunda. We woke up early in the morning and rushed to the lake to offer puja to Lord Shiva. The Gosainkunda Peak was already glittering in the sunlight. The reflection of the peak in the serene lake will remain in your heart for a long. After performing pooja to Lord Shiva, we returned to the hotel, breakfasted, and started the trek toward Dhunche.
The trail until Lauribina was challenging. The snow had started melting, and the track was slippery. A small mistake, and you plunge hundreds of feet down. We hiked, treading on footsteps left by fellow trekkers. We had to use our hands and feet to negotiate the track in some places. It took us nearly two hours to reach Lauri Bina. We heaved a sigh of relief. Yes, we had done it!! The trail from Lauri Bina is mostly downhill.
The walk is pleasing as it passes through rhododendron and juniper forests. The chirping of birds keeps you rejuvenated throughout the trail. We had lunch at Chandanwari and continued our trek. At around 4 pm, we crossed Ghattekhola and headed toward Dhunche – the district headquarters of Rasuwa. We reached Dhunche at around 5 pm. We booked tickets for the next day and strolled in the bazaar area for some time. We had an early dinner and left for bed at around eight, as all of us were tired.
The trek offered us the experience of a lifetime because it was the first time we crossed such a high pass. Also, it was our first walk on the snow-filled trail. Not to mention the hardship as we all were unprepared for the snow – we didn’t have good boots, warm trousers, and warm jackets – as we presumed there wouldn’t be snow in summer. Though we completed the trek to Gosaikunda, it taught us a valuable lesson.
— Donald M. Thurston
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