Gosaikunda Lake

Address: Gosaikunda, Langtang National Park area, Rasuwa District, Bagmati Province, Nepal

Gosaikunda is a group of alpine lakes in central Nepal known for their religious significance and high-altitude setting. The principal lake sits at approximately 4,380 metres elevation and is a major pilgrimage destination.

The lakes have long-standing cultural importance in Hindu and Buddhist traditions and have been the focus of pilgrimage for centuries. They were later included within the boundaries of Langtang National Park to protect local ecosystems and linkages to surrounding highland habitat.

Gosaikunda lies in Rasuwa District in central Nepal within Langtang National Park. The lakes sit above the tree line in the high Himalaya and are accessed by multi-day treks from valley trailheads.

• Pilgrimage timing: Pilgrimage peaks during the Janai Purnima festival when thousands of Hindu devotees visit the lakes; trek routes can be busy then.
• Seasonal access: High elevation means routes are snowbound in winter; main trekking season runs late spring to autumn when passes are accessible.

What to See#

• Gosaikunda (main lake): The main high-altitude waterbody in the complex, sitting at about 4,380 metres above sea level and forming the focal point for pilgrimage and trekking routes.
• Saraswati Kund: A smaller adjacent spring-fed pool that forms part of the same sacred lake system and is visited on the same trekking routes.

Gosaikunda is accessed from Dhunche (Rasuwa), which is reached by road from Kathmandu (about 5-6 hours to Dhunche by tourist vehicle). The trek to the lake from Dhunche is typically 1-2 days depending on pace and acclimatization stops; Langtang National Park permits and local trekking regulations apply.

• If trekking to Gosaikunda, allow time for proper altitude acclimatization-spend nights in Dhunche or Langtang before ascending.
• Pack a permit and TIMS card if trekking in restricted areas; peak season sees many pilgrims and trekkers.
• Visit during the Janai Purnima festival (usually August) to see the lake filled with Nepali and Tibetan pilgrims.