Nepal is a tiny, landlocked nation in South Asia that is tucked between China and India. It is renowned for its varied topography, which includes the Himalayan mountain range and several lakes dispersed around the nation. These lakes contribute significantly to the local ecosystem and economy in addition to being stunning.
In Nepal, there are several beautiful lakes that greatly enhance both the country’s natural beauty and cultural heritage. Small, high-altitude lakes in the Himalayan region to larger, more well-known tourist destinations like Phewa Lake and Fewa Lake in Pokhara, these lakes are spread out across the country and vary in size. These lakes are breathtaking and have a big impact on the surrounding ecosystem and economy. They are a source of irrigation water and a habitat for many different plant and animal species. They are a big draw for tourists visiting Nepal since they are popular spots for outdoor activities like boating, fishing, and trekking.
Here are some of the notable lakes in Nepal:
The second-largest lake in Nepal is called Phewa Lake. It is a semi-natural freshwater lake surrounded by rani ban or queen’s forest, and the pure lake waters beautifully mirror the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges. Additionally, it is the ideal location to witness the breathtaking Himalayan sunrises. The lake receives water from a stream, but a dam controls the water reserves, hence it is categorized as a semi-natural freshwater lake. Additionally, the lake is well-known for its surface reflection of Mount Machhapuchhre and other peaks in the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges of mountains.On an island in the lake sits the Tal Barahi Temple. The distance to Chipledhunga, the city’s center, is 4 kilometers.
The breathtaking natural lake known as Rara Lake is located in Nepal’s Mugu district in the Rara National Park. It is Nepal’s largest lake, covering a surface area of 10.8 square kilometers. The Rara National Park, which is located at the height of 2990 meters above sea level and is home to a variety of wildlife, including the musk deer, Himalayan black bear, and red panda, borders the lake.
Rara Lake is the largest and most well-known lake in the Mugu district in the Karnali region of Nepal. It is surrounded by stunning mountains and lush woods. You may get to Rara Lake from the Gamgadhi district office by walking for three hours to the west. Rara Lake is a body of water that covers an area of 10.8 sq km, has a maximum length of 5 km, a maximum width of 3.2 km, and a maximum depth of 167 m. One season cannot adequately describe the beauty of Rara Lake. Rara Lake is covered in flowers from the end of May to the first week of July, and it is covered in snow during the winter.
A freshwater lake at a high elevation can be found in Nepal’s Sagarmatha National Park. It is one of the world’s highest lakes and is located at the height of 4,700 meters above sea level. The peaks of Cho Oyu, Everest, and Lhotse around the lake which was created when the Ngozumpa Glacier melted.The trekker may still experience local village life, get a good look at frigid rivers and stony, glacier-debris-covered mountains, and of course, see the stunning blue waters of the Gokyo Lakes themselves via the less-frequented route to the lakes.
Time spent in Namche Bazaar gives you a chance to trek to nearby Khumjung Village to visit the school established by Sir Edmund Hillary, who, along with Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, was the first person to successfully summit Mount Everest. This will help you acclimatize before departing for the Gokyo Ri and Gokyo Valley.
Begnas Lake, the second-largest lake in the Pokhara valley and one of the best freshwater lakes in Nepal among the thousands of lakes, is situated in the Kaski district. It is one of the locations in the Pokhara valley that receives the most visitors because it is located in the southeast of Pokhara. Begnas Tal could be considered a necessary component of the Pokhara tour.
Boating at Begnas Lake is a great deal compared to Fewa Lake – it’s cheaper and further away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Plus, you can take a break and take a dip in the freshwater lake.You can tie up your boat around the edges of Begnas lake and chill out in nature amongst the incredible plants and animals.Tourists love visiting the Begnas Lake area of Pokhara since there are so many resorts there.
A lake called Gosaikunda is located in Nepal’s Langtang National Park high in the mountains. It is located 4,380 meters above sea level, which is quite high. People gather here for both recreational and religious purposes. Gosaikunda is a sacred spot for Hindus – it’s said that Lord Shiva created it when he hammered the ground with his trident. People think the lake has magical powers and every August, when there’s a full moon, lots of believers come to visit and pay their respects.Gosaikunda is a great spot for trekking – with its stunning natural beauty and tons of wildlife from the Langtang area, it’s not just a place for spiritual reasons, but an awesome trek too!
Shey Phoksundo Lake is an awe-inspiring sight to behold, situated up in Dolpa District of Nepal. It sits at a pretty high altitude of 3,611 meters above sea level and is the deepest lake in Nepal, with a depth of 145 meters. The lake is encircled by lush forests and tall mountains, making it a prime spot for hikers and nature lovers.
Shey Phoksundo Lake is an incredible sight to behold – its crystal clear waters have a gorgeous blue-green hue, and you can do all kinds of activities there, like boating, fishing and birdwatching. There’s also a variety of fish and endangered animals living in the lake, like the snow leopard and blue sheep. On top of that, the lake is sacred to Tibetan Buddhists, who believe deities inhabit it. So if you’re looking for an amazing and peaceful place to visit – Shey Phoksundo Lake is definitely the place to go!
Panch Pokhari is found in the Sindhuli district of Nepal, and it’s really stunning! It’s a holy spot for Hindus, ’cause they think it was blessed by the five Pandavas from the Mahabharata. It’s surrounded by lush forests and snowy mountains, so it’s a great place to visit and go trekking.\Panch Pokhari is an incredibly interesting spot to check out! There are all these myths and stories that people tell about it. It’s said to have healing powers, so lots of pilgrims come here to take a dip and pray in hopes of getting cured. Plus, the natural beauty here is stunning – there are all kinds of rare wildlife and plants. All in all, Panch Pokhari is a peaceful and breathtaking place to visit!
Nepal is considered one of the best trekking destinations globally because of its scenic beauty and magnificent mountain views. Located in the Langtang region of Nepal, the Gosaikunda Lake Trek allows you to explore this beautiful lake on a short and adventurous trek north of the capital Kathmandu. The Langtang Gosaikunda trek combines one of Nepal’s easiest and most picturesque treks with a scenic portion along the Gosaikunda trail.
You will witness the views of Ganesh Himal, Langtang Lirung, Annapurna, and many others on this Trek. However, the climb up Luaribina Pass is quite challenging.
The Gosaikunda trekking trails include long, steep, and descending climbs, a sub-alpine deep forest with blue gentians, epiphytic orchids, and primroses as beautiful vistas of glacial mountains and charming villages. This Trek takes place in a less-traveled area than the Annapurna and Everest regions, allowing you to enjoy silently getting into the Himalayan peaks.
The Gosainkunda lake trek offers breathtaking views of the Langtang Himalayan range, Manaslu, and Ganesh Himal as well. Not to mention, Gosainkunda Lake is also the source of the Trisuli River.
At 4,380 meters above sea level, Gosaikunda Lake is an important Hindu and Buddhist religious site. As a pilgrimage site, Gosaikunda is visited by thousands of pilgrims every year during Janai Purnima. Here, pilgrims pray for the well-being of their loved ones and take holy baths. A trek to the lake makes for an unforgettable experience.
Additionally, the Gosaikunda lake is considered sacred in Hindu religious belief. People believe that the god Mahadev drunkenly felt thirsty due to the grief of his deceased wife. The legend says that Gosaikunda lakes were naturally constructed when he struck the rocks with his holy stick, and water came out.
Pilgrims of all ages attend the festival, but mostly middle-aged and the elderly come to take holy dips; however, many young people and tourists visit the lake to experience the amazing Gosaikunda Trek.
TIMS Card and Langtang National Park Entry Permit are required for the Gosainkunda trek since you enter Langtang National Park and walk through the Langtang valley. These permits mostly determine Gosainkunda trek costs. You need them both for legal reasons as well as to ensure your safety while trekking.
Additionally, the revenue from these permits is used to maintain and rebuild the safer trails. You can obtain the permits at either of the Nepal Tourism Board offices in Kathmandu or Pokhara. However, TIMS cards can be obtained at Trekkers’ Agencies Association of Nepal and also at Dhunche, the beginning of the Gosainkunda trek.
Regarding accommodations, you can choose from various lodges and tea houses en route to Gosaikunda. Most of them provide basic amenities, such as hot showers and bathrooms. Some of the lodges provide WiFi as well.
As you will ascend to high altitudes in a matter of days on the Gosaikunda Lake trek, it is very important to adapt your body to the altitude as you gain altitude. Furthermore, taking part in the Trek requires participants to walk for many hours daily.
Therefore, people with lung disorders or breathing problems should either stay away or take precautions before participating in such activities since high altitudes are difficult to adjust to. Not to mention that altitude sickness can be a big issue for some individuals.
The list mentioned below is the list of items for our group on the Gosaikunda trip. Because of the cold conditions at high altitudes, we recommend bringing these items with you on your Trek.
We have designed the Gosaikunda Lake Trek itinerary to keep you away from altitude sickness with ample rest periods in between walks.
Leaving Kathmandu in the early morning, we get to the Machha Pokhari bus station and then head to Dhunche, which is 2,030m/6,660ft above sea level. On the way, we will see scenic settlements and meadows. We will reach Dhunche in about 5-6 hours through a beautiful scenic route and along the Trishuli River.
Dhunche is the headquarter of the district of Rasuwa. When we arrive in Dhunche, we can stroll around the village and meet locals. After a wonderful evening with locals, we can stay overnight at a homey teahouse.
On our second day of trekking, we will start from Dhunche and hike towards Chandanwari. After hiking for approximately two hours, we will reach Deurali (2,500 meters), a small village, on our way to Chandanbari. The trail leads us to Dhimsa (2,900m) after 3 hours of hiking.
From Dhimsa, the climb becomes more difficult as the trail climbs steeply uphill through pine forests. The climb to Chandanwari is the most challenging part of the hike.
We will spend the night in Chandanwari after eating a hearty meal with lots of cheese in the evening.
This morning we will hike uphill to Gosaikunda (4361m) following our hearty breakfast in Chandanwari. Today's hike will be more tiresome than yesterday's. From the beginning, the trail gradually ascends. We will hike on a rough and narrow trail all the way to Gosaikunda. As we ascend, you will have to walk through barren hills and be exposed to cold breezes. Make sure you bring warm clothes.
We will trek for about an hour to two hours and reach Cholangpaty (3500m), where there are clear and close views of Langtang Ri(7205m), Manaslu(8163m), Langtang Lirung(7234m), and Ganesh Himal(7422m).
A further 2 hours of walking will lead us to Lauribinayak (3900m). From here, we can see the beautiful Langtang Lirung, Ganesh Himal, Masalu and Langtang Ri. Our next stop will be Sakyamuni's Hindu temple, which carries Hindu and Buddhist values. Another half-hour of hiking will take us to our first lake, Saraswati Kunda, then Bhairav Kunda, and the Mighty Lake Gosaikunda.
Our morning will start with breakfast at our hotel, and then we'll explore Gosaikunda before proceeding downhill to Dhunche via Lauribinayak, Dhimsa, and Deurali. Today is our last trekking day, so let's enjoy the views of the mountains, pine forests, and the delicious cheese of Chandanwari.
As we descend, hiking will be more relaxed and enjoyable. Several protected species of birds are also along the trail, such as Wood Snipe, Snow Partridge, Tibetan Snowcock, etc. Finally, after hiking for roughly 7 hours, we get back to Dhunche and stay here for the night.
Our journey ends today. We will have breakfast in Dhunche after enjoying a wonderful rest in one of the tea houses. After breakfast, we depart from Dhunche on a coach to Kathmandu and take the scenic route passing along the vast Trishuli River, through meadowlands, and through picturesque villages.
The itinerary mentioned above is the general plan arranged by Pokhara Info. However, the above itinerary is only a guideline; it might change due to availability of lodging and campsites, fluctuating weather conditions, unforeseen political, trail, and environmental, or any other factors beyond our control. After consulting with the group, your trek leader will decide the best way to reach a final decision if this occurs.
If the itinerary is unsuitable for you, please let us know, and we will customize it. We will be able to make changes to the itinerary if clients want to do so.