Langtang Valley (Nepali:लाङटाङ उपत्यका) also known asLamtang Valley is a Himalayan valley in the mountains of north-centralNepal, known for its trekking routes and natural environment.
The Langtang Valley lies inRasuwa district of theBagmati Province in Nepal. Situated about 80 kilometres north of theKathmandu Valley, the valley lies within theLangtang National Park, which borders theTibet Autonomous Region inSouthwest China. Prior to the 2015 earthquake, 668 individuals were estimated to be living within the valley.[1]
The Langtang Valley lies within theLangtang National Park. The park contains a wide variety of climatic zones, from subtropical to alpine.[2] Approximately 25% of the park is forested. Trees include the deciduousoak andmaple, evergreens likepine, and various types ofrhododendron. Animal life includes theHimalayan black bear,Himalayan tahr,Red monkey, languerAssam macaque,snow leopard,yak,red panda and more than 250 species of birds.[3]
Among themselves, the local inhabitants of the Langtang valley refer to each other as 'Langtangpa'. They generally followTibetan Buddhism, and speak a Tibetan language that is closely related to the Tibetan spoken inKyirong, southern Tibet. The Langtangpas regard the mountainLangtang Lirung as their 'yu-lha', their local country god. However, in the state census, the Langtangpas are categorised asTamang.[4] Langtang valley is believed to be the Beyul Dagam Namgo, one of the manyhidden valleys blessed byGuru Padmasambhava.[5]
The traditional livelihoods of the Langtangpas have centered aroundagropastoralism.[6][7] Since the mid-1970s, tourism has grown to become an important source of livelihoods in the Langtang Valley.[8][9][10] Swiss cheese-making was introduced in Langtang in the 1950s by Werner Schulthess. Over time, Swiss cheese became a popular product of Langtang, and its production in the valley continues to this day.[11]
The nearest motorable roadhead for the Langtang Valley isSyaphrubesi, which is also the base for most treks into the Langtang Valley. The distance of Syaphrubesi fromKathmandu is 113 km. But due to bad road conditions, it usually takes 6-8 hours to drive from Kathmandu to Syaphrubesi.[12] Just as for the Langtang National Park, entering the Langtang Valley requires everyone except locals to have the TIMS permit and the Langtang National Park entry permit.[13]
The Langtang Valley trek, from Syaphrubesi to Kyanjin Gompa and back, is the third most popular trek in Nepal, after theAnnapurna Circuit andEverest Base Camp (EBC) treks.[citation needed] Several treks go through the Langtang valley and link it to nearby valleys,[14] like theHelambu valley. In most of these treks, one can stay at local 'tea houses', which are run by locals in nearly every village in the valley, and where one gets basic lodging and food. Around 2000, with the support of theUnited Nations Development Programme, some of these were equipped with solar panels so that hikers could shower with warm water. There are also several mountain-climbing options available in the Langtang valley, ranging from relatively easy-to-climb peaks around 5,000 m high, such asKyanjin Ri andTsergo Ri, to technically challenging peaks, such asDorje Lhakpa andLangtang Lirung.[15]
Thevillage of Langtang was almost completely destroyed (1 building survived) by a massiveavalanche caused by theApril 2015 Nepal earthquake. The village suffered an estimated 310 deaths, including 176 Langtang residents, 80 foreigners, and 10 army personnel. More than 100 bodies were never recovered.[16] Several other villages in upper Langtang valley were also destroyed.[17] The Langtangpas who survived the destruction of the earthquake were evacuated by helicopter to Kathmandu, where a displaced persons camp was temporarily set up at the Yellow Gumba near Swayanmbhu.[18] Many Langtangpas returned to the valley in the following months, and a significant amount of reconstruction was completed within the first year after the earthquake.[19] By early 2018, the centuries-oldgompa at Kyanjin Gompa, which had also been destroyed in the earthquake, had been rebuilt.[20] The Swiss-cheese factory at Kyanjin Gompa village was destroyed too, but has been rebuilt and since then become operational again.[11]
Since the mid-2010s, Langtangpas have noticed that most natural springs in the valley have gone dry.[11] Scientists have attributed the reduction in the glacier area of the Langtang glacier directly to anthropogenic climate change since the 1970s.[21] The intergovernmental organisationICIMOD conducts periodiccryospheric research in the Langtang valley and Yala Glacier.[22][23][24]
Langtang Himal is a mountain range in the Himalayas which includes the following peaks:[25]
| Peak | elevation |
|---|---|
| Langtang Lirung | 7,234 m (23,734 ft) |
| Langtang Ri | 7,205 m (23,638 ft) |
| Dorje Lakpa | 6,966 m (22,854 ft) |
| Loenpo Gang | 6,979 m (22,897 ft) |
| Changbu | 6,781 m (22,247 ft) |
| Yansa Tsenji | 6,690 m (21,950 ft) |
| Kyunga Ri | 6,601 m (21,657 ft) |
| Dogpache | 6,562 m (21,529 ft) |
| Langshisha Ri | 6,427 m (21,086 ft) |
| Gangchenpo | 6,387 m (20,955 ft) |
| Morimoto | 6,150 m (20,180 ft) |
| Tsogaka | 5,846 m (19,180 ft) |
| Yala Peak | 5,520 m (18,110 ft) |
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