Helambu

Helambu is a region of highland villages in Nepal, close to Kathmandu. It is the home of the Hyolmo. The word Helambu derives from the word Hyolmo. The Helambu region begins at the Lauribina La pass and descends to the Melamchi valley. Helambu is famous for its sweet apples and artistic Buddhist monasteries and it is a Buddhist pilgrimage site.

Several trekking routes visit Helambu, one of them being known as Helambu Trek.

Helambu Trek

This is a good trek for people who don't have much time in Nepal. It is an 8-day long trek which starts in Kathmandu itself, but can be completed in as little as 5–6 days. The normal trailhead starts off at Sundarijal and goes past Chisopani,Hyolmo, Kutumsang, Magin Goth, Tharepati, Malemchigaun, Nakote and Hyolmo, Tarke Gyang. After which you have the option of two roads one is the footpath via Sermathang or the bus routh via Kiul Takpa Kharka. Kashye Both ways ultimately meet at Melemchi where you can take a bus back to Kathmandu. Another variation is the reverse of this trek. The maximum height reached during the trek is about 3650m.

The treks starts from SUNDARIJAL (4560 ft,1390m), a small dam and hydro electric  station in the  north east corner  of Kathmandu Valley where the   Himalayan Rescue  Dog squad is   headquartered. The trails begins    west of   sundarijal at the end of the of   auto road where the   large water pipe comes out of the hillsThere is now bus service to Sundarijal from Boudhanath.  A taxi  can also be hired or you  can walk.There  is  now  daily jeep service from Sundarijal to Pati Bhanjyang .To walk  begin at the bus park in sundarijal and   the large  water pipe.Cross under the pipe and proceed along its  west side Much of the way is up stairs, continue. eventually turning left to cross over the dam of  a water  reservoir (5200ft1585m) in 40 MINUTES, Across the dam continue uphill crossing the water shed  management road which winds around the hillside There is Lodge near hereClimb through wet sub tropical forest  to an oak  forest and on to MULKHARKHA (6220FT 1896M),in an hour, This IS  a scattered TAMANG village with  lodges and view of  KATHMANDU Valley behind you Don’t walk  the next    area alone, as   there  been rare  instances  of attacks  north of MULKHARKHA AND Take  care of your belongings_ but    you    know that any way. The  trail  continue up, first in open country and then in oak forest., often in small  gully, and enters shivpuri   watershed and wild life  Research area,after passing an army station. The trails ascends to a pass  Burlang  Bhanjyang(8000ft2438m)   with houses and lodges and below it on the north side  in 2 hours This pass marks the  Shiv puri   ridges    Kathmandu  Valley,s  rim The trails descends through a pleasant oak forest, past some house and lodge on the left,CHISAPANI(7200ft2194m), meaning ‘’cold water’’, to a flat portion where another trail joins from the right and  a road crosses Ina clear weather there are good view of the Himalaya to the north and in  the sporing rhododendrons blooms,The trails continues to descend through open  farm land to reach    PATI BHANJYANG (5800 ft 1768m), sitting in a saddle 13/4 hours from the Burlung   Bhanjyang,There  are lodges and police check post hereFrom  here there is choice of two  routes.One continues   along the general ridge system heading north and eventually descend east to the Sherpa  village of  Melamchi Ghyanng,The other heads east, descends to the Melamchi Khola and proceeds up its east(left) bank towards Tarke Ghyang,situated opposite Melamchighyang on the east side of  river.the  ridge route goes much higher(almost to12000ft3658m) than the  other route and  other may be snow on its upper portions in the lyte winter or early spring.There are no permanent villages  between Khutumsang and Melamchi Ghyang on this routebut if u  leave Khutumsang in the morning u should reach tharepati, where there are lodges.that afternoon.this is the  part of the route offers the excellent views of tHHHhe mountains .If  it clouds over, as often happens late in day.,consider  spending anight up high in a seasonal  lodge or hopping for views intharepati,then hope for  good views  of  the next morning .The circuit to the north along the ridge and the  return via   the east side of the Melamchi Khola Valley is describbed but if their weather is  bad it is wise to head up the east side of the Melamchi KHOLA and then condition have improved to return via the high route In this case we follow the direction in reverse

Route

Near Chipling, 2150m

Malemchigaon, 2591m

The trek takes place in the Sherpa Helambu region, around 72 kilometers Northeast of Kathmandu. A roundabout circuit is used, most often starting at Sundarijal, although other starting positions include Nagarkot, Kakani or Sankhu. Pati Bhanjyan, Chipling, Khutumsang and Tharepati are amongst the first villages to be passed, followed by Malemchigaon, Nakote and Tarke Gyang . Two possible routes are available from Tarke Gyang, one to complete the trek and another that leads to the Arniko Highway, the main thoroughfare out of Kathmandu leading to Tibet. To complete the trek one would proceed to Taramarang following on to Pati Bhanjyan. From Pati Bhanjyan the trek returns to the starting point of Sundarijal, a route that takes around seven days.

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