Nagthali – a terrain unfrequented, isolated, and attired with blanket of clouds If there is one thing that pulls me back to sublimity, it is the grandeur immensity of the mountains – the width and breadth of the Himalayas – and the freedom of imagination that strolls about me when I am struck with the lightening speed of senses unaccounted. Technically speaking, there are spaces with in and with out each of us that sow the seeds of beauty in every notch of our being. Beauty is inherent for human nature, and the quest is only logically exuberant. In that very quest, I find myself straying in and around the mountains, exhausting myself to limits just to find that little space to plant impressions of beauty as I experience them. Following onto that addiction, if that word does any justice to my reverence, I embark on journeys well unplanned. Some are pure accidents, and others simply the result of poor map-reading abilities. But there are very few, if any, ‘lost track’ journeys I have regretted for. In fact, some of them have been the most rewarding and enlightening ones of all journeys. One of them being a hefty stride to Nagthali. Let’s get the facts straight first – the longitudes and latitudes. Nagthali is an uninhabited terrain on a hilltop in Langtang region that stages a close view of the Langtang, Kerung, and Ganesh Himal. A place unidentified by GPS might be difficult locating. But to make it at ease, it falls just outside the less known Tamang Heritage Trail. That’s the closest apparatus I can associate Nagthali with. However, if we intend to find it, it can be found. Read Next Blogs: Nagthali – Part II Nagthali– Part III Nagthali – Part IV
Nagthali – a terrain unfrequented, isolated, and attired with blanket of clouds If there is one thing that pulls me back to
From Syabrubesi, the trail is a narrow sketchy climb that angles steeply uphill. I exhale a deep breath looking at the straight up hill I am to climb. I try to distract myself with immediate views. Flunked. Counting steps, panting, sweating, stopping for a sip, breathing… and before I know it, the sun warms my back and I am high above the valley on a new terrain – a viewpoint at 2300m. Ganesh Himal range, Kerung range in Tibet, Langtang Himal range and Gosaikunda range – all come to view, and my eyes’ attempt to merge them fails miserably. Read First Part: Gatlang – A traveler’s epitome With the view, comes all too familiar torrent of emotions that precede any Himalaya trekker. Inertia comes into play. Balancing fear, energy, urge, temptation, intuition, and action is all too exhausting sometimes, when our bodies can only afford to give so much energy. I am stoked with contradictions – motionless, restless, mindless, and yet I am pretty certain I am present at the moment, facing the mighty ones on my face. My intention to continue the trek is filled with friction – it is peaceful and turbulent at the very instant, and I am denying the unhappy truth that nothing is permanent. Few clicks and I am on a descent. It’s a flat walk from the viewpoint to Gatlang. I am psyched. I have no impression, no expectation – what’s its like? About 150 years ago, Nepal fought with Tibet over salt, and some of the regions were in Langtang. The trails were used by Tibetan traders for bartering salt with food items from Nepal. Now, we trek in those trails. Gatlang is inhabited by Tamang people, who are believed to be the descendents of Tibetans from Kerung and Tamangs from Helambu region
From Syabrubesi, the trail is a narrow sketchy climb that angles steeply uphill. I exhale a deep breath looking at the straight up
