Gosaikunda

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This article is about lake. For Rural municipality, see Gosaikunda Rural Municipality.
Gosaikunda
Nepali: गोसाइँकुण्ड, Nepali pronunciation: [ɡosãĩ̯kuɳɖʌ]
The Holy Gosainkunda Lake during the winter. (By Saroj Pandey).jpg
Gosaikunda Lake in winter
Location of Gosaikunda in Nepal.
Location of Gosaikunda in Nepal.
Gosaikunda
LocationRasuwa district
Coordinates28°05′N 85°25′E / 28.083°N 85.417°E / 28.083; 85.417Coordinates: 28°05′N 85°25′E / 28.083°N 85.417°E / 28.083; 85.417
Typealpine, oligotrophic
Primary inflows35 l/s (460 imp gal/min)
Primary outflows60 l/s (790 imp gal/min)
Basin countriesNepal
Surface area13.8 ha (34 acres)
Water volume1,472,000 m3 (52,000,000 cu ft)
Surface elevation4,380 m (14,370 ft)
Official nameGosaikunda and Associated Lakes
Designated23 September 2007
Reference no.1693[1]

Gosaikunda, also spelled Gosainkunda and Gosain Kunda is an alpine freshwater oligotrophic lake in Nepal's Langtang National Park, located at an elevation of 4,380 m (14,370 ft) in the Rasuwa District with a surface of 13.8 ha (34 acres).[2] Together with associated lakes, the Gosaikunda Lake complex comprises 1,030 ha (2,500 acres) in size and was designated a Ramsar site on 29 September 2007.[3]

The lake melts to form the Trishuli River; it remains frozen for six months in winter October to June. There are 108 lakes in the vicinity. The Lauribina La pass at an elevation of 4,610 m (15,120 ft) is on its outskirts.[4][5]

Religious significance[]

Shiva Temple at Gosaikunda

The Gosaikunda area has been delineated as a religious site. Hindu mythology attributes Gosaikunda as the abode of the Hindu deities Shiva and Gauri. The Hindu scriptures Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana and the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata refer to Samudra manthan, which is directly related to the origin of Gosaikunda. Its waters are considered holy and of particular significance during the Gangadashahara and the Janai Purnima festivals when thousands of pilgrims from Nepal and India visit the area.[2]

According to legend the spring that feeds the pond in the Kumbheshwar temple complex in Patan is connected to Gosaikunda. Therefore, those who cannot make the long journey to the lake, can visit Kumbeshwar Pokhari instead.[6]

References[]

  1. ^ "Gosaikunda and Associated Lakes". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. ^ a b Bhuju, U. R.; Shakya, P. R.; Basnet, T. B. & Shrestha, S. (2007). "Makalu Barun National Park". Nepal Biodiversity Resource Book. Protected Areas, Ramsar Sites, and World Heritage Sites. Kathmandu: International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, in cooperation with United Nations Environment Programme, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. pp. 55–57. ISBN 978-92-9115-033-5.
  3. ^ Bhandari, B. B. (2009). "Wise use of Wetlands in Nepal". Banko Janakari (Special Issue February): 10–17.
  4. ^ "Gosaikunda: More than just the lake". Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Gosaikunda: A fair mix of adventure and spiritualism". Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  6. ^ Water Conduits in the Kathmandu Valley (2 vols.) by Raimund O.A. Becker-Ritterspach, ISBN 9788121506908, Published by Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, India, 1995

External links[]

Media related to Gosainkunda Lake at Wikimedia Commons

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