Discover the Serene Beauty of Narad Pokhari in Gorkha’s Upper Barpak
17 Oct 2024 Chandra Gurung
“Necklaces made of turquoise and coral” is incomparable with the beauty of Narad Pokhari. The heavens seem to mirror the earth in the serene beauty of Narad Pokhari, located in the outskirts of Gorkha.
Narad Pokhari is a magical pond of wishes with the Devi, who will hear and fulfill your wishes. Only when you go there, be, and learn the mystical tales by heart will you understand how the Holy Pond holds significance in life in Upper Barpak.
It is also believed that one has to return once the granted wish comes true to bestow respect for the pond and the holy stones you pray there.
How can I get to Narad Pokhari?
If you wonder where it is exactly located, from Deurali, the route between Narad Pokhari and Rupina La Pass bifurcates. A few kilometers above starts Manaslu foot trails to Mamche Danda and Dharkye Danda, where lies this serene alpine lake.
For detailed routes and itinerary plans, you can contact Himalaya Guide team. We are happy to guide you through the trek and make experiences.
Why is Narad Pokhari crowded in Janai Purnima?
Janai Purnima, the full moon day of Shrawan, is a sacred occasion when Hindu men change their threads (janai), which is considered a part of purification rituals. On this very occasion, all Hindu pilgrims are eager to bathe in the holy water of Narad Pokhari for blessings. Even women and children put Raksha Dhago (in the form of a hand bracelet).
Narad Pokhari (4100 m), at Manaslu Trail located in Barpak Sulikot Rural Municipality, is one of the holy lakes and has an appeal unlike any other pilgrimage site. Sometimes, the number of pilgrimages also exceeds 40,000 during festivals.
As per Hindu mythology, those people who take Snan (bath) here, where the prayers are well-answered. It cleanses them spiritually, and such local participation is like a festival.
What are the local attractions on the trek to Narad Pokhari?
The high-altitude holy lake Narad Pokhari holds cultural values for devotees around the world, but not many are quite familiar with it yet, like Gosaikunda Lake. There are quite a few local attractions on the route, which we can cherish for a moment before moving ahead.
1. Mamche Danda, Mumche hill
It’s quite a technical trek, which takes you to Mamche Danda (2800). It is Mumche or Mamche; people call it both. Basically, there is a hotel where you can pre-book an overnight stay too. We generally have lunch here, a traditional Nepali Dal Bhat (Veg) set, which costs Rs 250, and the recent prices may fluctuate too.
There are 2 hours of uphill climbs from Barpak village to reach Manche Danda (2800 meters high) Suman Pakha Drishya, which is 3 hours after walking from Barpak and having lunch at Narad Pokhari. From Manche, the route to Laprak and the Manaslu foot trek to Narad Pokhari bifurcate.
2. Omche Bhanjyang and 2 holy Lakes
We also reach the Omche Bhanjyang, which is best described with two holy lakes on either side. On the lake, wear damn boots; trekking shoes become quite slippery here.
After walking for 2 to 3 hours from Mamche Danda, we reach the Omche Bhanjyang, which is a beautiful place with two lakes on its side and Khimchung Hills in its front.
Here we take snack breaks and then climb the hill of Penkren Prang, which is a difficult walk. With resting, the height increased; it was more difficult. It is also covered in snow in winter. People used to take wood to make furniture and homes for
Khimjung Danda we cross that and reach Lamra to have our lunch for day 3. We stay at Bheri Goth, in-built porter houses by the travel and tourism community and local authorities on the route to Narad Pokhari.
3. Nangrung waterfall
Nangrung waterfall falls on the way; we enjoy this before reaching Narad Pokhari, which is a majorly crowded place for the Janai Purnima celebration in Nepal. Locals and travelers also believe that there are chances of bad spirits following, so they do mantras to leave them midway.
This is a less promoted waterfall in a religious hike to Narad Pokhari. It’s an escape and a photographer’s paradise. After a long day of trekking, people can take a shower at the waterfall to keep going with the fresh energy.
4. Ghaiya Pakha, Lokta plant harvest for Nepali paper
From Mamche to Laprak and Manaslu, the foot trek to Naradpokhari bifurcates when we walk a few kilometers after our lunch. We continue on the foot trek and reach Sano Kaka, which is 3.65 km from Barpak, whose views are worth enduring. We pass by Ghaiya Pakha, which is very famous for the Lokta plant, which is famous for the harvest of material used to make local Nepali paper.
After a 9-kilometer walk from Barpak, we reach Lambra Kharka; there is a porterhouse, and we can spend the night here. The views of Sirandanda, Bhachek, and Chhepetar are best seen from the hill here. We climb uphill to Bhuimche Khakra and continue our hike to Narad Pokhari. Some people make it to the top on the first day itself.
Ghosts and Spirits ritual on the way to Narad Pokhari, Gorkha
The belief in bhut (ghosts) and pret (spirits) is prevalent in many communities; on the route, we pluck flowers and leaves and then leave in besides, with some mantras to appease the evil and ensure blessings on our trek to Narad Pokhari. That we do after crossing Mamche Danda, we go uphill, burn incense sticks, and offer flowers to holy rocks on the way.
Side trip from Narad Pokhari
Dharkey Dada, Narad Pokhari, and overlooking the Darauti River, its tributaries, and making our way to the holy lake when we first ascend from 1900 m to Barpak—all this is the beauty of this trek.
People finish it in as little as 3 days, but it’s okay to acclimatize, give your body a rest, and extend the adventure. We can also add a side trip to Bheni Kharka, which is quite higher in elevation than the Pokhari.
On our return, we cross from Rojegain Kharkha, Mersha Kharcha, and stop at Memche. Popley Kharka is the evidence where the weather changes simultaneously at 3300 meters. These are lesser-known trekking areas in Manaslu, for which being in the immediate serenity of such places is quite an experience.
Porter services in Narad Pokhari trek
The transportation is very well maintained till there, where we switch to foot trails. Had we gone the other way, we would have ended up in the village of Larpak, a remote village of Gorkha, which was equally devastated by the 2015 earthquake in Nepal.
We can also have porter services from Barpak; villagers usually sign up for this service. Ponies are also used as local carriages. Pack smartly, so no additional porter services are required; at least you can share one with your friend.
Local people on the route to Narad Pokhari
Villagers are dressed in their local attire like Daura Suruwal and Chhit ko Gunyu Cholo when it’s a religious gathering for the dance. The Gurung communities also reside here, celebrating Mundhum dances and their folklore, and we can see women dressed in Ghalek, lungi, and other Gurung accessories.
Before a sudden drizzle of rain catches you off guard, we suggest you carry rain gear.
If you forget to pack, don’t worry; you can also buy it at a local village in Barpak before ascending in the upward direction.
Conclusion
Narad Pokhari is a holy lake trek in Upper Barpak, which once was reminiscent of an earthquake. But prospects are flourishing every year as we educate ourselves more on the hidden gems of Nepal and promote ecotourism. Contact us for more info and trekking all around Nepal.
FAQs
1. How much money should I take along for the Narad Pokhari trek?
Kathmandu to Barpak bus services, we get that, through bumpy hill roads. The distance is about 175 km to reach there via Thankot, and you continue to Daraundi Link road to reach Barpak.
Many local buses are going from Kathmandu to Aanbhu Khaireni and then change to a local bus from Aanbhu Khaireni to Gorkha. Then, the local bus from Aanbu Khaireni to Gorkha costs around Rs. 50. For transportation charges, carry around Rs 4000 and Rs 6000 for lunch snacks. Get around 5000 rupees for accommodation costs, additional personal expenses of 3000, and extra porter fees if you intend to spend.
2. Where should I go for Janai Purnima: Gosaikunda or Narad Pokhari?
Gosaikunda is the sacred alpine lake where the crowd is big and demanding and a 4,380-meter trek. The celebration is quite secluded in Narad Pokhari, with rituals as the same in Gosai Kunda; again, it’s your preference if you want to explore new places and visit near Gorkha or go to Rasuwa Gosaikunda. Both are holy lakes, which purify your soul and cleanse your aura.
