Day 10: Cholangpati -Gosain

02 May, 2007

We woke six in the morning to see the sunrise views from fifteen up walk from our lodges from where we can see the superb view of Ganesh Himal Ranges (four mountains altogether), Tibetan and Langtang mountain ranges then returned back to hotel, took breakfast and walked steep up to Lauribina. After our one and half hour struggle to walk steep up, we reached Lauribina where we can found some hotels/restaurants better to take tea break. The trail is still steep up until Gosainkund pass, then starts flat. In total, it took us three hours to reach Gosainkund. When we cross the Gosanikund pass and some flat walk, we saw first lake named Saraswoti Kund, second is Parvati Kund, third is Bhairab Kund and fourth is Gosain Kund, which is bigger than others. Three of us (except Laura) did Kora (circuit) of the holy lake after lunch and took forty-five minutes to complete. The weather was foggy, healed and snow falling and the temperature was much cold (below than freezing!). Overnight stayed at Lakeside hotel.

GOSAINKUND

One day a shaman (priest or Lama claiming to communicate with gods) came and saw a snake lying at the bottom of the lake and decided to show his greatness. He ordered his wife for beating the drums faithfully otherwise his mission will not come true, no matter how frightened she may become. She promised to do it what her husband and did—until he emerged from the pond with the terrifying snake. At this point, she let go of the drums and decamped (depart suddenly) for her life. The snake then took to the lake again, with the poor shaman in toe. That's why the Gole (one Tamang ethnics) people, who are said to live far away from Nag Pond, in the lowlands, believe that, if they come to either Bhairab or Gosain Ponds, they would get sick and cold. This encounter between shaman and snake—and the snake that still resides at the lake—will make them dizzy and give them headaches (these are, more or less, the symptoms of altitude sickness) if they visit Nag Pond. So these people never come to Nag and Gosain Ponds. Some people believe that even now there are in fact two snakes in the waters of Nag Pond, which they see at times—they come out now and then, fight. If the white snake win, it brings good luck; of the black, disaster. One resident here saw the two snakes fighting, which the black won. Two days later her child died, even though until then he was perfectly healthy.

Some places along the trail: Cholang Pati –Lauribina –Gosainkund Pass –Gosainkund Lake