Located about 120 km toward the north of Kathmandu near the Tibetan border, Langtang was previously a restricted area. Extending in an east-west direction, it is bordered on the north by the main crest of the Himalayas, dominated by Langtang Lirung (7,245 m), the highest peak in the area. To the south are the Chimse Danda (ridge), crossed by the Ganja La pass (5,122 m), and Jugal Himal, culminating in Dorje Lakpa (6,989 m). Glaciers spawned by the slopes of Dorje Lakpa, Langtang Lirung and other peaks feed the Langtang Khola (river).

The Langtang River passes through the high, gentle Langtang Valley before emptying in a raging torrent into the Bhote Kosi River through a long, narrow defile at the west end of the valley. Whereas the major rivers of Nepal flow south from Tibet cutting through the Himalayan chain, the Langtang Khola, a major tributary of the Trisuli Ganga, flows east to west, cutting, as it were, across the grain of the country. The Trisuli, or Bhote Kosi as it becomes above Dhunche, forms an important corridor and ancient trade route through the mountains between the Ganesh and Langtang Himal, to Kerung in Tibet.

Langtang valley, indigenous tamang culture and Gosainkunda are the prime attractions of this region. New trekking trail: Tamang Heritage Trail, offers yet another option and a peek at the Himalayan lifestyle and culture. The unexplored part of the Langtang National Park has recently been connected with Tamang Heritage Trail.

Locals

The inhabitants of the Langtang Valley are thought to be descendants of Tibetans from Kerung who intermingled with Tamangs from the Helambu area. The inhabitants of Briddim village are of the Tamang ethnic group but a marked influence of Tibetan culture and tradition is noticed in their lifestyle closely resembling that of most Tibetan villages. They are mainly sheep and yak herders, but grow some hardy grains and