Ghalegaun Village Tour
Ghale Gaun - An unique
experience of Nepalese
Culture & lifestyle:
Ghalegaun is an exotic
pristine village endowed
with an unparallel scenic
grandeur and a home to
Gheles the famed Gurungs the
legendary mid-hill people of
western Nepal. Repository of
a unique ethnic culture
Ghelegaun is a true
microcosm of stunning
natural beauty mixed with an
unspoiled ethnic life style.
Located is the district of
Lamjung, Ghale Gaun is
approximately 20.5km north
west of Kathmandu and 12.5
km north east of Pokhara the
picturesque hill town of
western Nepal. Ghale Gaun
Perchedatop a ridge at an
altitude of 2016 meters from
the sea level, Glalegaun is
probably the only place
which commands a superb
breathtaking view of
majestic western Himalayas
including
Machhapuchhare(6693m)
Annapurna(8091m), Annapurna
II (7939m) Annapurna IV
(7525m), Lamjung Himal,
Bouddha Himal((6974m),
Himalchuli(6747m) and many
more smaller peaks.
Taking advantage of such a
unique location, Ghalegaun-
a picturesque hamlet of
about 95 Gorung style
houses, has recently been
marketed as a new
destination to experience
?Village tourism?.
Accordingly quite a number
of houses have been prepared
for domestic and
international visitors with
comfortable basic amenities.
Besides the scenic
extravaganza of the peaks,
the warm and sincere
hospitality of the Gurung
people is also bound to
overwhelm the visitors. Here
food items such as grain,
vegetable, meat, milk, eggs,
are all locally produced and
are indeed for any chemical
fertilizers. In addition,
the life-style of the
village truly reflects an
exotic living ethnic
tradition handed down since
ages. The social life is
replete with interesting
rituals of life cycle; birth
wedding, death etc.,
religious events and a
lively cultural tradition of
dance and music and it is
well augmented by
interesting locally produced
exotic handicrafts and
utensils.
Activities around Ghalegaun
include bird watching at
Talangyo Lake and visits to
the Utter Kanya Temple,
Pempro Fall, Batase Cave and
the Khudi hydroelectric dam
site.
Cultural Attractions
Ghalegaun -Ghanpokhara are
model villages for
experiencing the typical
culture and lifestyle of the
Gurung people. Traditional
customs are still followed
during births, deaths,
marriages and at other
important times in a
person?s life. Age-old
cultural dances like the
Jhyaure, Serka, Dohori,
Ghantu, Ghyabring, Krishna
Charitra and Jhakri are
performed on various
occasions accompanied by
different musical
instruments with the dancers
in traditional dress.
Visitors to
Ghalegaun-Ghanpokhara are
welcomed with offering of
garlands and tika while
music and dances are
performed and traditional
farewell songs are sung when
guests depart. Nepali New
Year and Buddha Jayanti are
celebrated with traditional
dance called Ghatu.
Handicrafts
The people of
Ghalegaun-Ghanpokhara keep
goats and sheep and use wool
from these animals to make
woolen products. They make
clothes and bags from nettle
fiber (allo cloth) and
scarfs, towels and shawls
from the wool of angora
rabbits. Ironsmiths make
different iron products.
Craftsmen produce a whole
range of different products
from bamboo.
Honey hunting which is the
collection of honey from the
nests of wild bees built on
steep cliffs is an age-old
tradition. Local honey
hunters show their
exceptional skills by
hanging themselves form
cliffs as high as 300 meters
using bamboo ladders and
hemp ropes, while harvesting
the honeycombs. Everyone is
thrilled to watch honey
hunters at work.
Getting There
Ghalegaun and Ghanpkhara lie
205 kilometers northwest of
Kathmandu and 125 kilometers
northeast of Pokhara. The
nearest roadhead is at Khudi
in Lamjung; Khudi can be
reached by daily bus
services from Kathmandu and
Pokhara. The hotels in Khudi
provide safe stay with
hygienic food; pleasant
rooms, clean restrooms and
some even have natural
swimming pools nearby.
Ghalegaun is a four-hour
walk from Khudi through
another Gurung settlement
Bhalam Chour. The way from
Bhalam Chour to Ghalegaun
through the thick forest
provides opportunities to
see many species of animals,
birds, insects and
butterflies. Ghanpokhara is
also a three- hour walk from
Khudi but it can be also be
reached from Beshisahar
crossing Kapur Gaon without
reaching Khudi.
Ghalegaun situated at an
altitude of 2100 m is a
northern part of a lamjung
district in western Nepal.
Since a decade ago concept
of village tourism, eco
tourism, cultural tourism
and wildlife tourism has
been exercised in this
region .ghalegaun is famous
for its maintained rustic
flair of traditional gurung
village. To understand the
lifestyle, biodiversity and
culture, ghalegaun is like a
university and truly a
beautiful village with
spectacular view of mt
manasalu range in the east.
lamjung himal an annapurna
in the north and mount
machhapuchhre in the west .
ghalegaun trek has it’s own
uniqueness.
Ghalegaun is a village with
a big heart because of its
enchanting Himalayas with
thrilling experience of
panoramic view. The
utterkanya mandir a sacred
temple constructed by former
ruler, the Gale king. gurung
museum with its collection
of various artifacts ,
agricultural tools , dress
ornaments will give insight
of the cultural and
historical aspects .
The residence of this
village wear the traditional
dress of their own people
and perform dances for the
visitors , the handicraft
locally produces from local
raw materials are also
attractive . The people of
this area are hospitable,
honest, social and
laborious, their culture
rituals, birth death rites
are unique. Home stay of
ghalegaun can be best
shelter for natural lover.
ghalegaun is a wonderful
place viewing from different
angle . in conclusion all
the above aspects from an
ideal environment for
learning cultural diversity
. Viewing unspoiled
landscape of countryside.
There are several villages
and places in Nepal a
ghalegaun where managing
village tourism, cultural
tourism, eco tourism is
essential.
Ghale gaun nepali village
offers the magical feel of
Himalayan fairy tale.
Tourist will get chance to
take local food items and
drinks as chang( rice beer),
flows, dhindo and many more
varieties.
Organized tourist groups are
welcomed into Ghalegaun and
Ghanpokhara with traditional
dances. Handicraft
exhibition and other
entertainment programs are
also performed for visitors.
Tourists can participate in
traditional musical program
of Rodhi every evening.
Trekking to and staying at
Ghalegaun and Ghanpokhara is
an exciting and enjoyable
experience for both
international and domestic
visitors. Special discount
facilities are offered to
groups of students, forest
users, women and community
members.
Lodging and fooding
Comfortable rooms with clean
restrooms are available at
selected Gurung houses.
Although there is no
electricity in the village,
lamps and water heating
system facilities are
available through solar
power. There are a few
Pahuna Ghar (Guest House)
belonging to the Aama Samuha
(Mother?s Community) that
also provide accommodation.
More than 100 tourists can
be accomodated both in
Ghalegaon and Ghanpokhara
seperately. Good camping
sites are also available at
both Ghalegaun and
Ghanpokhara.
Organic local food like
cereals, vegetables, milk
products, eggs and meat
prepared in traditional way
is served to visitors. Basic
menu includes plain rice,
vegetable curry, vegetable
fried rice, chicken curry,
dal-bhat, egg curry, dhendo
soup, chapatti, garlic soup,
bread, vegetable mixed soup
and momo. |
