I spent almost 20 hours at Ghalegoan, Lamjung – a popular tourism destination for community based rural tourism and left wondering why exactly the village is so popular during the return trip on a jeep through rocky risky road (that took almost three hours to reach Besisahar – the district headquarters).

To say, the village is nestled on the lap of mountains including Lamjung, Annapurna II, Macchapuchhre and Manasalu, the village is at 2,070m (well, Nagarkot which is at one-hour easy drive from my home is at 2,175m), but the scenery I was offered was, well, not breathtaking.
For me, it looked almost foolish to travel/trek/ride that far for the views of the mountains that are offered better at many other easy destinations.
The homestay facility is something to look for. The food/night at a Ghale home was worth experiencing but I like it, I am not fond of homestay. However, my first experience of homestay at Goljung, Rasuwa felt much better (even the mountains).
The traditional-ness of the village is somewhat intact (despite the fact that the traditional Gurung house photo on the brochure is the only one of such type in the entire village).
And, the thing I was expecting but did not get was the briefing. Despite being a member of 30-member team to visit the village, the local tourism committee did not brief us on anything. We were left with hours with nothing to do other than roam around the village.
* * *
Despite believing that the village is overhyped tourism destination, I loved the day there. I loved the way those elders smiled and talked to us; the way they tried to keep the traditional alive and going when the village lacked youths.
At the home where I stayed were only an elderly man and his daughter. Ditto with almost all other homes – the youths are abroad to earn. A disturbing trend, as the entire village seemed to the aged with the inhabitants.
But I loved how the elderly people, and a few youths who were either on holiday or had not left the village, participated in the late night cultural show on our request. The cultural show lacked the enthusiasm of youth and the colorfulness, but their commitment to give a glimpse of their culture was a laud worthy effort.
And, if I offered two little girls (aged 11 and 12) who danced the traditional Ghatu dance, a very slow dance with difficult moves and steps, some money, it was to honor their commitment than skills; smiles than steps and for preservation than observation.
* * *
The Ba (father) at my home was not very willing for photographs.
“Why?”
“I don’t know how many took my photo,” he said. “When my son went to Kathmandu, he saw my photo in a shop and wanted to bring a print back home. But they said it costs Rs. 1,600 – my photo and my son could not buy.”
* * *
Ghalegoan interestingly has a proper-size football ground with goalposts. Some of us wanted to play with the locals who were practicing. We played, well after probably five years for me, and we were trailing by 1-0 at half-time (because we had a local goalkeeper and last defense) when the rain started.
They stopped.
“We need to walk an hour to reach home and it will get dark soon and with rainfall, it will be very hard to walk down to home,” the adult with whom we had talked for the match said.
We gave them the bet and watched them leave. When walking with difficulty of tired leg for five minutes to my home, I thought that the locals had to walk 55 more minutes to reach their home.
Yes, through all those terraces that looked beautiful from the Lek (the top side of the hill).
* * *
Ghalegoan is of course beautiful (not as good as it’s hyped); worth a day or two if you want to understand the village life and want some leg-tiring-treks; the society offers uniqueness. The rustic-and-tired looking village welcomed us whole-heartedly, bade good-bye with soft heart and left us with some numb and exciting feelings.
And, Ghalegaon is a glimpse of rural Nepal!
0 responses to “A Day at Ghalegaon”
i love my country
we can promote it by the tourist destination.
Hi,
your articles has scattered my imagination about Ghale gaun. As you have lots of mixed feeling about the places and people..
I felt, u have a high expectation about the village due to high media coverage..
i too love to visit this place quite soon. as i see the picture of the village seems beautiful and preserving the old gurung traditions..
I appreicate your honest view
Bishnu Gurung
Lamjung
Hi Bishnu jee,
You are right that due to high media coverage, I had expected a better managed thing. The place worth a visit (without very high expectations).
Hi,
Iam Rajan sharma, Ithink it is a good news for all of Nepalies,to know about the ghale gau .
Iam very proud to you to Introduce all of
Thank you
Rajan sharma
Japhe 1, Dolakha
TEASOAP ???????? ?????????? Mugwort & Citronella soap????? TEASOAP ????????,???,????? Mugwort & Citronella soap
I intended to post you that very little word just to give thanks over again for your personal remarkable thoughts you’ve documented at this time. It was really open-handed of you to deliver extensively what a lot of folks would’ve supplied as an e book to end up making some money for their own end, most notably considering the fact that you could have done it in case you considered necessary. These good ideas as well served like a fantastic way to comprehend someone else have the same keenness similar to mine to find out significantly more related to this condition. I think there are a lot more pleasant situations ahead for those who look into your blog.
I precisely wished to appreciate you again. I’m not certain what I might have tried in the absence of those aspects provided by you relating to my concern. It absolutely was a frightening matter in my circumstances, however , noticing this well-written way you treated the issue took me to jump with happiness. Extremely happy for the assistance as well as pray you know what a great job you are always providing educating people all through your blog. I am certain you have never encountered all of us.
????????????????????????????
???Olivia???????!!????? -1???????!! @ ~ ???? ???? ~ :: ??? :: ??????????????????????????????-..-????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????QQ????
I in addition to my friends have already been looking through the nice thoughts from your web page and so before long I had a terrible suspicion I never thanked the web blog owner for those tips. Those ladies became happy to read them and have now simply been taking pleasure in them. Appreciation for simply being considerably considerate and then for settling on this sort of fine ideas millions of individuals are really desperate to understand about. Our honest apologies for not saying thanks to you sooner.
My husband and i ended up being so thrilled Ervin managed to round up his studies from the precious recommendations he gained through the weblog. It’s not at all simplistic to simply happen to be freely giving techniques which often men and women have been selling. So we fully grasp we’ve got the writer to appreciate for this. The entire illustrations you made, the straightforward web site navigation, the friendships your site make it easier to promote – it is most wonderful, and it’s assisting our son in addition to us consider that this concept is entertaining, which is very fundamental. Thank you for all the pieces!
I wanted to send a small word in order to express gratitude to you for some of the magnificent hints you are writing on this site. My time intensive internet research has at the end of the day been paid with sensible strategies to go over with my good friends. I would express that we site visitors actually are unequivocally fortunate to live in a remarkable site with very many lovely professionals with helpful hints. I feel somewhat fortunate to have discovered your entire web pages and look forward to many more brilliant moments reading here. Thank you once more for all the details.
REN ????????????????????? REN,???????,???????
Thanks so much for providing individuals with an exceptionally spectacular chance to discover important secrets from this website. It’s always very kind plus jam-packed with a lot of fun for me and my office co-workers to visit your site on the least three times in a week to study the latest things you have. Of course, I’m also actually motivated concerning the cool solutions served by you. Some 1 points on this page are in truth the very best I have ever had.
I have to show my gratitude for your kind-heartedness giving support to visitors who have the need for help with this one subject. Your personal commitment to getting the solution all through has been definitely useful and have always allowed guys and women like me to reach their ambitions. Your entire valuable guide indicates a lot a person like me and further more to my office colleagues. Many thanks; from everyone of us.
???????6??? 24?? ????????????????????????????????? Marie Claire (HK) Edition Uber?????????????Uber????????????20??????????? ??????????????????????? ??????????????????? ????
Thanks for all your valuable efforts on this web site. Ellie takes pleasure in managing research and it’s easy to understand why. We know all about the compelling method you give invaluable thoughts on this blog and recommend contribution from some others on that subject matter plus our favorite child is undoubtedly being taught a whole lot. Have fun with the remaining portion of the year. You have been carrying out a wonderful job.
I’m also commenting to make you be aware of of the fabulous experience my friend’s child enjoyed studying your webblog. She even learned a good number of details, which included what it is like to have an amazing coaching spirit to have most people completely grasp various tricky subject matter. You truly exceeded her expectations. I appreciate you for showing the great, trustworthy, edifying and also easy tips about this topic to Ethel.
A lot of thanks for each of your effort on this blog. My daughter really likes managing investigations and it is simple to grasp why. My partner and i know all of the powerful ways you offer efficient steps by means of your web site and in addition foster contribution from other ones on the concern while our own child is always starting to learn a whole lot. Take pleasure in the remaining portion of the year. You are always performing a superb job.
My spouse and i have been relieved that Ervin could deal with his reports through the precious recommendations he came across through your site. It’s not at all simplistic just to choose to be giving away tips and hints which often other people could have been making money from. So we fully grasp we’ve got the website owner to thank for this. Those illustrations you have made, the straightforward web site menu, the friendships you give support to promote – it’s got mostly remarkable, and it’s really leading our son in addition to our family recognize that the subject matter is cool, which is certainly incredibly indispensable. Thanks for all!
I in addition to my pals have already been reading through the nice thoughts on the website then at once I got a horrible feeling I never thanked the web blog owner for those techniques. All the women are actually happy to read through all of them and already have in actuality been taking advantage of these things. I appreciate you for genuinely really thoughtful and also for going for this form of superior information millions of individuals are really eager to know about. Our own honest regret for not expressing gratitude to sooner.
I happen to be writing to let you understand what a outstanding encounter my friend’s child obtained visiting your web site. She figured out many things, which included what it is like to possess an amazing coaching mood to make other folks easily know selected grueling subject matter. You actually did more than people’s expectations. Many thanks for rendering these great, trustworthy, explanatory and in addition fun guidance on that topic to Emily.
I simply wanted to make a message to express gratitude to you for all the magnificent tips you are posting at this site. My long internet research has finally been compensated with sensible insight to write about with my guests. I ‘d point out that we visitors are really endowed to live in a fantastic network with so many special individuals with very helpful secrets. I feel extremely privileged to have come across your entire website page and look forward to some more exciting moments reading here. Thanks once again for all the details.
I have to get across my affection for your kind-heartedness in support of persons who should have help with this subject. Your special dedication to getting the solution all through had become unbelievably informative and have empowered some individuals like me to attain their aims. The informative guidelines denotes a whole lot a person like me and extremely more to my office colleagues. Thanks a ton; from each one of us.
I must express my appreciation to the writer for rescuing me from this problem. Because of browsing throughout the the web and seeing thoughts which were not pleasant, I was thinking my entire life was done. Living devoid of the approaches to the problems you’ve sorted out by way of this posting is a serious case, as well as the kind that would have in a negative way damaged my career if I had not encountered the blog. Your personal ability and kindness in taking care of every item was priceless. I’m not sure what I would have done if I had not discovered such a step like this. I am able to at this moment look forward to my future. Thanks a lot so much for your impressive and amazing help. I won’t be reluctant to recommend the website to any individual who should get assistance on this subject matter.
I precisely had to thank you very much again. I am not sure the things I might have implemented in the absence of the type of basics shared by you over this industry. Certainly was an absolute scary circumstance for me, but considering your specialized avenue you processed it made me to leap for happiness. I am just happier for the information and even wish you are aware of a powerful job you are always accomplishing instructing men and women via your web page. I’m certain you’ve never come across any of us.
Thanks so much for giving everyone a very terrific opportunity to read from this blog. It can be very beneficial and packed with amusement for me personally and my office peers to visit your web site nearly three times in a week to find out the fresh stuff you have got. And definitely, I am also always fascinated concerning the terrific creative ideas served by you. Selected 2 ideas on this page are surely the most beneficial I have had.
NEIL ASHTON: Rafa Benitez claimed on Tuesday that the whole world knows Jose Mourinho is on his way back to Chelsea as he prepared for Wednesday’s clash with Tottenham. We all know Jose is on his way here… Benitez appears to confirm Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge
Tottenham are expected to make an £11million bid for Nice striker Loic Remy to head off interest from Marseille. Their strikers have struggled to get started. Tottenham launch £11m swoop for Loic Remy as Harry Redknapp eyes fresh firepower