Overview
Trekking Planner presents an exclusive tour and hike Barpak village homestay, one of many impressive farm villages located in the Mid-West Nepal, within the district of Gorkha. Barpak village stands on a hilltop at an altitude of 1900 m and 6, 250 feet high above sea level on the very laps of stunning Boudha Himal of Manaslu Himalaya range.
Barpak a mid-hill village, as well the land of world-famous “Gurkha soldiers” and a homeland of late Captain Gaje Ghale who was decorated and honored with the Victoria Cross, an award of the United Kingdom the Great Britain for utmost bravery during World War II.
This lovely hilly Barpak village also falls en-route to Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley Trekking, where visitors can enjoy and explore the historical, cultural, religious, and natural significance of Barpak and surrounding villages of Gorkha.
The village was visited by high dignitary Dr. Herzog from Germany in the late 1990’s, since then many foreign guest, trekkers, and mountaineers have traveled through Barpak on their onward journey to higher mountainous destination.
Barpak, one of the largest and beautiful villages within the district of Gorkha, where one can witness about 1, 130 houses a permanent settlement of more than 8, 000 local people.
Barpak offers clean and typical Nepalese hill village accommodation with semi-modern facilities with warm hospitality provided by the village communities and Ama Sama (Mothers Union Barpak Village Organization).
Where visitors will be greeted with a traditional welcome ceremony with garland and Buddhist scarf, and staying in a local village community hut and cottage, considered as one of the best homestay in Nepal.
During your time in this lovely scenic and traditional village, you will be surrounded by stunning views of rolling green hills, verdant valleys with enchanting scenery of a green terraces landscape.
Includes panoramic view of world 8th tallest Mt. Manaslu 8,163 m, 10th highest Annapurna-I at 8, 091 m) Lamjung Himal 6,730 m, Peak 29 which is 7, 871 m high with Himal-Chuli 7, 893 m and the closest view of Boudha Himal 6,672 m, that stretches up towards east Ganesh Himal 7,405 m with range of snow peaks across the horizon along with the stunning sunrise views.
You will be engrossed and entertained with the local age-old indigenous culture of Barpak, which makes your stay more fruit full and inspiring. The native of Barpak people will be pleased to interact with the guest.
Where you can observe their colorful custom and tradition, welcomes you as family members to live with them; visitors enjoy participating in typical traditional and cultural programs as well as having delicious traditional local food.
Barpak village homestay offers a perfect vacation in Nepal with its typical culture and dropping landscape of snow-covered mountains.
While in Barpak, where one can hike around villages as well to Laprak another large village within the area, where one can enjoy exciting moments with pleasant, cultural activities with the friendly and warm hill people.
The village of Barpak populated by Gurung and Magar hill tribe known for brave Gorkha soldiers in foreign infantry like in British and Indian Army, as well in Singapore police and security and bodyguards for the Sultan of Brunei.
While in Nepal join in for a visit on Barpak village homestay, a perfect cultural and scenic holiday for all travelers from family, school-college students to all age group, besides tour of the village where one can enjoy and engage in voluntary program and social activities.
- Explore traditional and cultural villages amidst historical Gorkha high scenic hills
- Breathtaking scenery of Manaslu range with closest views of Boudha Himal
- In the land of famous Gorkha, the legendary soldiers well known world-wide
- Enjoy staying in local villages and witness age-old colorful culture and custom
- Day 01: Drive to Barpak village and transfer to homestay cottage
- Day 02 -03: At Barpak for a local hike and explore around
- Day 04: Drive back to Kathmandu or Pokhara
Special Attractions and Activities:
Barpak, located in central Nepal within a mixed canopy of pine, rhododendron, and Sal forest with lush terraced fields, offers views of Himalaya from Manaslu to Ganesh Himal range in the east.
Great diversity of flora and fauna of Barpak offers exotic flora and fauna with various species of forest plants, different species of birds, as well some wildlife.
Hike around high view-point hill to capture best panorama of Mid-West Himalaya Mountain range, with dramatic landscapes.
Participate in folk and cultural program performed by the villagers from young to elder people, enjoy local typical foods.
Staying in local nice hut and cottage with warm hospitality of villagers, observe the daily routine of interesting farm activities.
Options for Rock Climbing at steep slopes and high rocky cliffs, delightful eco trekking routes with other exciting adventures in Barpak,
On route to Barpak or on the way back visit the famous Hindu Mankamana Temple and enjoy a ride in a cable car, tour of historical Fort Palace of Shah Dynasty, the former monarch of Nepal.
Present History:
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Nepal on April 25, 2015, toppling multi-story buildings in Kathmandu, the capital, and creating landslides and avalanches in the Himalaya Mountains. Nearly 9,000 people died and more than 22,000 suffered injuries.
The main Epi-Centre of the tremor was Barpak village, where 80 % of houses were demolished by the earthquake, mostly around Nepal Mid-West and Mid-East region.
At present the whole villages around Gorkha district and Barpak village and since past few years slowly coming back to normal life, where most of the houses have been constructed by donor agency organizations.
Seasons:
Barpak village can be visited nearly all months of the year-round, the best time is spring from March to May, with autumn/fall to pre-winter seasons of mid-September to early December months.
Springtime lively surroundings, when wild-flowers especially the rhododendron are in seasonal bloom. With clear blue sky most of the day but cooler morning and late afternoon till night time.
The other peak season around Himalaya as well for Barpak Village visit in autumn-fall and pre-winter times of middle September to mid-December months where you can walk with pleasant mild temperatures, with crystal clear blue sky facing super panorama of high snow-capped mountain range.
Culture, Religion, tradition, and custom:
Barpak and surrounding villages, towns around Gorkha district populated by Gurung and Magar ethnic tribe of mid and Western Nepal, a hill people, of Mongolian and Tibetan origin. Practice Buddhism and Hindu religions as well their ancient cult called Bon a pre-Buddhist religion. Worships nature like mountains, rivers, forest, and ancestral spirits as well.
The locals also follow Shamanism, where every village has a witch doctor to wade evil spirits and to heal certain illnesses as well, do not have Buddhist monasteries only a few Hindu temple and shrines.
Gurung villages every house is festooned with Buddhist prayer colored flags called Lung-Ta (Wind Horse) that represents blue for sky, white as cloud/water, and red for thunder or fire, green for vegetation with brown on the bottom for soil.
Gurung and Magar are mainly farmers as well as Shepard raising live-stock like sheep, goats, buffalo, and cow/ox, besides being farmers they are skilled craftsman where women weave their traditional dress for the wool of animals.
Lower foothills of mixed tribe of people, mainly Hindu Bharamins, Chettries and Dalit people with some Newar, traditional a shop and store merchants, rest of the native depends upon agriculture farming and live-stock.
On the mid-hill of Gorkha district around Barpak village where you can witness traditional customs that still retains with many interesting rituals taking part in folk dances known as Jyaure, Serka, Dohori, Ghatu, Sorathi, Jankri are performed for the guests accompanied by different musical instruments with dancers in traditional dress.
Where all visitors are warmly welcomed with garlands, traditional dance called Ghatu, while having time around lovely villages where you can observe woolen handicraft products clothes, bags made from nettle fiber (Allo Cloth), and scarf.
Climate & Weather:
Himalayan climate can be unpredictable sometimes even in good best seasons, where April and May to the first week of June will be the best time during spring times, when days are longer with enough sunlight hours.
Morning and night time as well in shade can be cold, other months from September and October great times for rafting, most days are clear for views of mountains and beautiful landscape scenery.
Although much colder months of autumn season with extreme cold during morning and night time, where sunlight much shorter.
Visa:
Visiting Nepal one can obtain entry visas from your home country at Nepalese Embassies and Consulates, if not one can easily get a visa on arrival at Nepal international airport in Kathmandu, or any port of entry.
Emergency Contact:
For travel within Nepal Himalaya where all travelers and adventurers require to fill our company form with emergency contact to relatives and families or close friends, as well keeping in close touch with the Trekking Planner for immediate helps either medical or unforeseen reasons.
Arrival:
On arrival picked and received by our attentive airport representative or guides and staff for short transfer to your respective hotels in Kathmandu.
Accommodations & Food:
At Barpak village experience, with overnight in best available lodge in village community Home-Stay, meals provided from Continental, Chinese, Nepalese or Indian foods. All meals are well cooked, hygienic, and freshly served in a warm environment.
Drinking-Water:
On this trip, serves safe drinking water boiled and filtered for drinking.
Health:
Where all travelers require sound good health to join on all our moderate to adventurous trips around Nepal Himalaya with healthy medical background and history.
Vaccinations:
Check with your home doctors and season of visit to Asian countries where immunization and vaccines requires against certain diseases.
Travel Insurance:
Where all travelers to Nepal Himalaya require Travel and Medical Insurance to cover against unfortunate accidents and sickness covering Helicopter Service Rescue, or other means of fast transport to reach safe places and nearest hospitals.
Age Requirements:
For Barpak Village Experience, where all age groups from families with young children to 70 years old can join in, this involves if one can get medical insurance from your home countries.
Getting Into Nepal:
To reach Nepal one can reach by overland from India or Tibet, the main arrival from international flight to reach Kathmandu and Nepal international airport.
Communication:
At present nearly all villages and towns do have facilities of ISTD and STD or cell phones or Sat phones, where one can easily communicate to your family or Trekking Planner in emergencies.
SIMS cards available on showing your passport copies with a small charge as per your time in Nepal.
Money:
On paying the full package of the trip, where you need some extra money for your expenses to buy souvenirs or for extra entertainment like extra snacks and drinks.
Culture:
Culture the main thing to observe by travelers to Nepal, where the country with two main religions Hindu and Buddhism with their own special interesting culture and custom.
Photography:
Photography can be taken all around Nepal, where some public and private areas of Government, religious monuments, and some old people might not allow photographs, where your guide will advise you on restricted places.
Gratuities:
Tipping after getting satisfied with the service rendered by the helpful guide, staff of the hotels, drivers including porters where you feel like it deserves gratitude like tipping.
Extra benefits like tips, is highly expected by staff involved on this trip as traditions since tourism was introduced in Himalayan countries.
