The Langtang region is the third most popular trekking route in Nepal, just behind the Everest Base Camp Trek and the Annapurna Circuit Trek. One of the most popular highlights of this trek is Langtang Village, a beautiful high-altitude settlement in the region, situated at an altitude of 3,430 meters. However, this New Langtang Village is merely a remnant of the old traditional village that was destroyed by the devastating earthquake in 2015.
The inhabitants of the Old Langtang Village originally migrated from Tibet approximately 600 years ago, where they began making a living in the high-altitude region by embracing traditional farming life. The charming, conventional settlement that had been passed down for generations was wiped out by the 2015 earthquake and the deadly avalanche that followed.
Currently, the New Langtang Village has over 4,500 residents, located within the Langtang National Park. The main ethnic groups residing in the village are Tamang, Sherpa, and Gurung.
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Langtang Valley Village Before Earthquake
Langtang Village, situated en route to the main trekking trail of the third-most-popular trekking adventure in Nepal, the Langtang Valley Trek, was doing well before the earthquake. The primary business of the village was animal husbandry, agriculture, and dairy products (i.e., yak cheese).
Influenced by Buddhist and Tibetan cultures, the natives led relatively mundane yet fulfilling lives, going through regular chores, honoring traditional values, and pursuing a spiritual life. After its recognition as the third most popular trekking route in Nepal, the lodging business also bloomed in the village.
The traditional natives who were primarily focused on agriculture and animal husbandry also began hosting trekking guests in the region in the 1970s. Many teahouses were established to accommodate the trekkers and provide meals to make long journeys more comfortable. Natives also began offering homestay services to guests, which increased employment prospects in the region.
With the booming tourism industry, Langtang Village experienced an increase in economic growth as trekking enthusiasts from all over the world began to pour into the region to explore its magnificent natural attractions, including the first-ever Himalayan National Park in the country, Langtang National Park (established in 1976).
However, everything changed after the devastating earthquake leveled the whole village.
Devastating 7.3 Richter Earthquake
On 25th April 2015, a devastating 7.3 Richter earthquake shook the nation’s infrastructure. More than 9 thousand people lost their lives in that deadly earthquake, and thousands more were left injured.
Among the cities and villages with old housing that suffered the most casualties, Langtang’s traditional village also saw the collapse of the whole town. The 7.3 Richter earthquake destroyed the foundation of the conventional style of housing in the city, and many people lost their lives.
The natives of the village had just celebrated Ghawa, a Buddhist festival celebrated in the region, just a night before the devastating incident. People from all over the town and neighboring villages had gathered to celebrate the festival; they danced and sang till midnight. Thus, the next day, tired from the celebration till midnight, many of the natives and their guests were still resting at their residence.
Even trekkers who had come to celebrate the festivals were resting and reveling in the spiritual ambiance of the region. However, when the 7.3 Richter earthquake struck Nepal at 11:56 am on 25th April 2015, the century-old houses in Langtang Village were reduced to rubble. Many natives, their guests, and the trekkers who were resting in the Langtang Village post-Ghawa festival were victims of the earthquake, and many lost their lives.
However, the people in the region recovered from the incident, and the situation was somehow under control. But, something worse was making its way toward the village that wiped out every trace of civilization in the region.
Avalanche Right After the Deadly Earthquake
Langtang Village is one of the regions that suffered the most during the 2015 earthquake. After the 7.3 Richter earthquake collapsed the traditional foundation of the region, the natives somehow managed to collect themselves, but they had no idea the worst was yet to come.
The residents, guests, and trekkers who were in agony for the lost lives and the collapse of the civilization were yet hit by another devastating incident. This avalanche completely wiped out the entire village.
Langtang Village was situated right beneath the south face of the magnificent Langtang Lirung (7,234 meters). A large glacier and frozen lake were sitting in a hanging valley right above the village. The glacier and lake in the hanging valley were the primary sources of freshwater, and a river nourished by the glacier ran past the town on the west side.
As the earthquake struck at 11:56 a.m., a massive avalanche fell from the Langtang Lirung. The snow slide was so giant that it seemed like an entire face of the mountain had fallen off. The avalanche brought a huge boulder along the hill, hit the glacier, and brought down the whole of the frozen lake as it poured all over the Langtang Village.
All of the boulders, rocks, snow, glacial segment, and ice the avalanches carried while gaining momentum funneled down the couloir above the village straight onto the top. This deadly avalanche hit Langtang Village right after the earthquake, when the people in the town were trying to assess the situation, and buried every single trace of civilization in the city.
This avalanche that wiped out the entire Langtang Village produced such a strong gust of wind that it even wiped the treeline up to several kilometers on the opposite side of the valley downstream. The people in the central part of the Langtang Village were utterly wiped out by the avalanche; only people living at the edges of the village survived the two deadly disasters.
On that dreadful day, 243 people died in the small high Himalayan settlement that struggled to survive a 7.3 Richter earthquake and a devastating avalanche. Among the 243 casualties, 175 were the natives, 41 were the trekkers exploring the region, and 27 were the tourism staff supporting the trekking expedition teams in the village.
Langtang Village After Earthquake
The Langtang Village suffered severe damage in the 2015 earthquake. Besides one house in the entire village that stood tall after the earthquake and avalanche, the rest were flattened. It took the town quite a while to recover from such a state. New Langtang Village was constructed 100 meters above the ruins of the old village, utilizing a modern infrastructure approach rather than traditional methods.
Although the Langtang Village looks different in appearance compared to the traditional artifacts of the old village, the spirit of this charming high-altitude settlement is the same. Unlike the old town, the New Langtang Village features more concrete and sturdy structures, incorporating modern conventional architecture. Significant infrastructure in the region, such as gompas, chortens, schools, and health centers, was rebuilt, and now the village is back to its former glory.
It took about two years after the devastating earthquake for the trekkers to return to the region. The New Langtang Village, which was still in the rebuilding process, saw this as a ray of hope and a sign of economic stability. When trekking in this third most popular trekking route in Nepal, you can still see the old Lantang Village in ruins as you move along your trekking trails heading toward the New Langtang Village.
Old Langtang Village to New Langtang Village
When trekking in the Langtang Region, there is no evidence of the old Langtang Village except the ruins left by the earthquake and avalanche. More than half of the local population lost their life during the devastating incident, and the only remnants of the village are the houses that were built by the cliffs, and those too are left empty.
The villagers took the first step to rebuild their village, as the road was blocked due to an avalanche, and they knew that help wouldn’t be coming anytime soon. Thus, they started building temporary camps near the ruins of the old village using time and stone. However, after the rescue operation was conducted in the village following the earthquake and avalanche, the natives were relocated to a safe camp. Several teams were deployed to clear the debris and the roads, and after several months, Langtang Village began receiving assistance from outside to rebuild itself.
Some of the major organizations that contributed to the rebuilding process of Langtang Village were the Himalayan Climate Initiative and an NGO based in Kathmandu, Sunaulo Sansar. A relief fund named the Langtang Relief Fund was also established to provide financial assistance for the rebuilding process. The Langtang Relief Fund assisted the people of the region, including food, shelter, and medical supplies. Similarly, the Himalayan Climate Initiative assisted the village in rebuilding houses and installing solar panels.
Marked Safe For Trekking in 2018
Although the trekkers had started exploring the third most popular mainstream trekking route in Nepal within two years after the devastating incident, foreign researchers gave the green signal for trekking in the region only after three years in 2018. The rebuilding process was ongoing before that, as the New Langtang Village was being built above the ruins of the old. The primary focus during the first part of the rebuilding process was on significant infrastructure, including housing, medical institutions, and religious sites.
After trekkers began visiting the region, the locals re-established hotels and teahouses to accommodate guests and stabilize the region’s economy. By 2018, the New Langtang Village had bounced entirely back to the status of the mainstream trekking route in the country. The trekking trails that were destroyed by the avalanches were rebuilt, stronger and ever, and once again the trekking in the Langtang region was open.
For a while, the natives of the Langtang, not as densely populated as before, had lost all hope of building a life, witnessing such devastating ruins. However, within a short while, as they began rebuilding their village stronger than before, they started regaining hope that all was not lost. And, in a short time, the Langtang Village was able to bounce back to its former glory as one of the favourite trekking destinations in the country.
Langtang Village at the Present Time
It has been a long time since the charming high-altitude villages suffered from the two devastating calamities in a single day. Although the trekking route was opened in 2018, it took a few years to enhance the quality of the experience, as the rebuilding process at various corners of the region was still ongoing.
However, as of now, you can completely enjoy your stay and exploration with better infrastructure and enhanced amenities. You will be able to enjoy the modern services and technology on your trekking trail, from a full western-style accommodation facility at Lama Hotel to the improved telecommunication services at the Kyajin Gompa. Similar to the classical trekking adventures, the trekking adventure today also starts from Syabrubesi after a long drive from Kathmandu.
Moving along your trekking adventures, you will first head toward the well-facilitated Lam Hotel, known for its modern range of services and amenities that equal the quality of service in other mainstream trekking routes like the Everest Base Camp Trek and the Annapurna Circuit Trek. In general trekking packages, your Day 3 adventure will take you to the New Langtang Village, and you will pass the ruins of the old village on your way.
In your trekking trail, you will head toward Kyanjin Gompa, which was rebuilt after the earthquake damaged its premises. You will also be able to enjoy the panoramic views of the Langtang Peak and the Langtang region from the popular vantage point of Tserko Ri, the highest point of this entire expedition at 5,450 meters (17,880 feet).
Overall, the third-most-popular trekking route in the country is living up to its name. Compared to other remote Himalayan explorations, you will find the services and amenities in the Langtang region quite advanced. The modern amenities in this trekking route are on par with other mainstream trekking routes, and you will also be able to enjoy an extensive set of delicacies.
Even if you want a customer-tailored trekking package, you can 100% enjoy it in this trekking route. Now, there are options for a personalized trekking experience where you can determine the quality of the services and amenities in your trek, the itinerary days of your adventure, and overall highlight exploration.
What Can You Do for the Locals of the Langtang Village?
After learning about the hardship of this beautiful high-altitude settlement in the Langtang Valley, you might be wondering if there is anything you could do to help it. Nepal received massive support and aid globally after the earthquake; however, due to the lack of proper management and chain of supply, the aid hardly reached the actual victims of the devastating calamity.
The best way you can support the Langtang Village as of now is to explore the region and enjoy the Langtang Valley Trekking adventure that is going on full swing. Langtang Valley is now entirely safe for trekking adventures, and the enchanting natural allurements of this mainstream trekking region will take your breath away.
By undertaking this trek with your friends and family, you will contribute to the economic development of the region, which will create additional employment opportunities and lead to further infrastructural development in the area. Instead of roundabout aid that may or may not even get into the hands of the actual victims, your direct involvement in the Langtang Valley Trek will undoubtedly assist in the development of the region.
Instead of charity, the self-reliant and the proud nativities prefer to make a living working elegantly. The old traditional village was already adapting to the teahouses trekking route, however, the New Langtang Village with modern infrastructural and technological development is making guest hosting even more comfortable and efficient. So, make sure to drop by when you feel like setting out on an epic Himalayan quest that has been growing in popularity recently for its unparalleled natural beauty, diverse vegetation, endangered flora and fauna, rich culture, traditions, and warm hospitality.
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Final Say
The trekking adventure in the Langtang Valley is one of the most exhilarating and remarkable experiences. This is the third most popular trekking route in the country, and it doesn’t compromise on anything when it comes to providing quality services and thrilling adventures in the region. As one of the closest Himalayan expeditions from the capital, Langtang is just about 80 km away from Kathmandu. This makes it an ideal destination for a family vacation or a get-together with friends.
Although the Langtang Valley Trek is a mainstream, popular trekking adventure in this beautiful Himalayan country, unlike other base camp adventures, it’s relatively easy. There aren’t any technical segments on the trekking route, and you don’t need any previous trekking experience to do this expedition.
On top of that, it is entirely safe; you can do this trek without worrying about anything, and all the highlight parts of the region are better than before. As the saying goes, ‘Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow.’ Although Langtang Village suffered a devastating loss, the natives who kept looking at the brighter side helped the charming settlement regain its former glory. You should give the exploration of this third-most-visited trekking route in Nepal at least a chance to enchant you with its beauty and tell a beautiful story that redefines strength and will that can even bend the most unpleasant realities.
