| Introduction Nepal opened the Kanchenjunga area to trekkers in 1988, though people have trekked in the area in connection with mountaineering expeditions since the turn of the century. Kanchenjunga is a long way from Kathmandu, and the nearest roads and airports are a long way from the mountain. You can trek either to the north or south Kanchenjunga base camp, but it takes luck, determination and a lot of time to visit both sides of the peak. The northern side is particularly remote; it takes almost two weeks of walking to get to the base camp at Pang Pema. Kanchenjunga is on the border of Nepal and the Indian state of Sikkim, so a circuit of the mountain is politically impossible. The next best alternative is to visit both the north and south sides of the mountain from the Nepal side. The Kanchenjunga region remains technically restricted, but you can trek here if you get a trekking permit form. It is included first as a village that is permitted, and on the reverse side as a village in the 'restricted area'. There are a few tea houses in the lowlands, but in the high country you must have food and a tent. If you are planning to take porters across the Lapsang La or Mirgin La, you will need to provide shoes, clothing and snow goggles for them. People In the Region The Kanchenjunga region is the home of the Limbus (Indigenous) Relatives of Rais (Indigenous), Limbus dominate the region east of the Arun River and few live elsewhere. Limbu men wear a distinctive tall topi, a Nepalese cap that is much more colorful than worn by other Nepalese. A noteworthy contribution of Limbu culture is the drink tongba. They fill a wooden pot with fermented millet seeds and add boiling water. You sip the dangerously potent mixture through a special bamboo straw, with tiny filters to keep the seeds out of the drink, as the hotelier merrily adds more hot water. It goes down easily, as you might do yourself when you arise after lengthy tongba session. Watch for this specialty anywhere north of Dharan. Makalu Region Makalu is the 5th Highest mountain in the world and this is near by the top of the world(Everest).This region is blessed with an incredible diversity of natural beauty and culture. Due to its isolation and lack of tea houses this area still receives few trekkers. Limbus, Rai & sherpa are the main habitants in this area. Walking north of the Arun river to Sedua and Nun, then crossing Barun La(4110m.) into the upper Barun Khola valley for a close look at Makalu. This trek is difficulty without previous experience. |