Day 6-7 Langtang
Walking beside the Langtang Khola, in the company of firs and conifers, we slowly made our way until we were past the tree-line and the mountains were barren, rocky and cloud-swept.
A mani wall, composed of dry stone slates inlaid with Buddhist prayers near the village of
Langtang. The inscribed prayer is simply "Om Mani Padme Hum" or "Hail the Jewel in the Lotus" repeated over and over again, a most powerful mantra.
Langtang Village, 12,00 0 ft
Arriving at Langtang village, 12,000ft, we spent a quiet day relaxing, walking to the village monastery, lolling on the boulders and simply exulting with the mountains, rocks, stones and sky. In the evening our campfire dinner attracted the villagers,especially when someone struck the drums, many came running out for an impromptu dancing session.
Day 8-12 Return Journey
A water-driven prayer wheel spanning a stream at the entrance of Langtang village.
"...spiritual purposes are served by many natural phenomena - not only wind, but also water and earth. A prayer wheel can, for example be driven by the current of a stream, where it will spin endlessly, imparting to the waters the aura of its prayers. Its spiritual influence will thus extend from stream to river, and thence to the sea, and may even return to the earth once more in the form of rain...." wrote Olivier Follmi in his wonderful book Where heaven and mountains meet.
"...spiritual purposes are served by many natural phenomena - not only wind, but also water and earth. A prayer wheel can, for example be driven by the current of a stream, where it will spin endlessly, imparting to the waters the aura of its prayers. Its spiritual influence will thus extend from stream to river, and thence to the sea, and may even return to the earth once more in the form of rain...." wrote Olivier Follmi in his wonderful book Where heaven and mountains meet.
A mani wall, composed of dry stone slates inlaid with Buddhist prayers near the village ofLangtang. The inscribed prayer is simply "Om Mani Padme Hum" or "Hail the Jewel in the Lotus" repeated over and over again, a most powerful mantra.
Langtang Village, 12,00 0 ftArriving at Langtang village, 12,000ft, we spent a quiet day relaxing, walking to the village monastery, lolling on the boulders and simply exulting with the mountains, rocks, stones and sky. In the evening our campfire dinner attracted the villagers,especially when someone struck the drums, many came running out for an impromptu dancing session.
Day 8-12 Return Journey
The return journey was no less of a penance. Going downhill doesn't hurt your lungs or put so much strain on your muscles but what it does to your knees is another story. Going downhill is also far more tricky than ascent as the not too infrequent bumps to my bottom will testify. We took 5 days to backtrek all the way to Betrawati. The alternative route involved going over high mountain passes which was not feasible for us. At trek's end we were several pounds lighter, blistered and bruised but still we counted ourselves lucky for having undertaken one of the most memorable trips of our lives.
Route Map
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