RASUWA

          Rasuwa is situated in the Himalayan Region of Bagmati Zone north of Kathmandu. The district is the gateway to the  Langtang Region treks. It lies along the border of Nuwakot and Sindhupalchok at a height of 2000 m. It is a popular tourist destination full of natural and cultural heritage. Langtang National Park, Gosainkunda Lake and trekking in the Langtang region are the main attaraction of Rasuwa. The trekking in the Langtang region is rated 3rd after Annapurna and Khumbu trekking. Thousands of tourists flock to Dhunche, the district headquarters of Rsuwa and begin the trekking to the Langtang Region in the peak season. Dhunche, the headquarters of Rasuwa, lies at a distance of 48 km from Trishuli and at a distance of 117 km from Kathmandu. Dhunche is also a main gateway to the famous pilgrimage site, Gosainkunda Lake. Tourists spend a night at Dhunche. Tourists get the first hand experience of the indigenous Tamang culture as they can closely observe the cultural activities of Tamang, the dominant caste of the district. Bus service to Dhunche is available from Balaju of Kathmandu and Trishuli of Nuwakot.

 

GOSAINKUNDA

          Gosainkunda Lake is one of the important holy sites of Nepal. The alpine freshwater lake lies at an altitude of 4350 m above sea level. Gosainkunda is situated in Syapru VDC of Rasuwa in the Bagmati zone and carries natural and religious significance. It is an important religious conservation area in the Langtang National Park. According to Hindu mythology, when the God churned the primordial ocean to produce elixir of eternal life, the poison was also produced. Lord Shiva drank the poison to save the universe from poison. To obtain water to cool down his burning throat, Lord Shiva struck his trident into the rock, and his deed ultimately resulted in the formation of beautiful lakes. A big fair  takes place in Janai Purnima(The sacred thread Festival) and Dashain Festival every year. On there occasions, thousands of devotees from Nepal and India visit the lake. Besides this, tourists keep themselves moving on the beautiful trek to reach the Langtang Himal. The locals descend to plain areas in the peak winter days of January and February to keep away from cold as the lake lies at high altitude and close to the mountain. As the lake gets frozen in the winter, the tourists call it a frozen lake. Gosainkunda is famous for its biological diversity and is supposed to have 105 ponds arround. Out of these, Bhairavkunda, Amakunda, Suryakunda, Saraswaitkunda are famous. The region offers an opportunity to relish the natural beauty, art and culture, lifestyle and costume of locals, birds of various species, plants etc. There are no facility of hotels to the tourists in Gosainkunda. Tourists can stay as paying guests in the homes of locals or in the tents. On snowy days, tourists can stay at Luribinayak. The travellers need to be careful during the journey as there is a high chance of suffering  from altitude sickness and need to carry local herbal medicines like garlic, ginger, lemons, onions etc. Gosainkunda can be treked by passing through routes of Nuwakot, Dhunche, Kathmandu's Budhanilkantha, Sundarijal and Sindhupalchwok's Melamchi. Besides these routes, travelers can get bus service to Dhunche, from Trishuli or from Kathmandu and can reach Gosainkunda in one day by passing through Deurali, Chandanbari and Louribina. Dhunche is at a distance of km from Trishuli and 117 km from Kathmandu. From Dhunche, one has to reach Gosainkunda in 6 to 7 hours by walk.