Away from the mainstream developments, in the northern region of Gorkha in Nepal, lies a beautiful Tsum valley rich in unique culture, breathtaking landscapes, and sceneries. The literal translation of Tsum is vivid. The less discovered tourist destination in Nepal is colorful both artistically and naturally. Tsum Valley is also popular as a hidden valley amongst travelers. Very few international visitors have trekked to the place. In short, most of the things out there are still a mystery.

You might think the clough got its name Hidden Valley because of its remoteness or extremely difficult access. If so, you are wrong. People in the village are of Tibetan origin, and they follow Buddhism. They believe that the place where they live is a Beyul. And Beyul is considered as hidden valleys covering hundreds of square kilometers of land, which were blessed as refuges by Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Rinpoche). Tsum valley is one of those many Beyul. Beyul is being the place where physical and spiritual worlds overlap. Therefore, this place has lots of gompas and monasteries which teach Buddhism to monks and nun.

Ramhari with camping tents

The altitude of Tsum Valley varies from 1905 m at Lakpa to 5093 m at Ngula Dhojhyang on the Tibetan border. High snow-covered passes separate the destination from Tibet in the north. While deep forested gorges and cascading rivers isolate it from southern lowlands.

Mainly, the three high passes quarantine the hidden touristic destination in Nepal, Ngula Dhojhyang Pass (5039 m) from the eastern side, Thapla Pass (5104 m) from the west, and then Humlung/Yamdro Pass (5326 m) from the north. The main trail to enter this untouched visit destination in Nepal is the Ngula Dhojhyang Pass.

Cultural Experiences in the Untouched Valley

People living in the village are of Tibetan origin. They have their own ancient form of dialect, culture, religion, and art. The settlements are far away from modern mainstream developments. In fact, Nepal opened the Tsum Valley for visitation to international travelers only after 2008 AD. Now, you can visit the destination with a Tsum Valley Trek Package or Tsum valley with Manaslu Tour Package. Although outsiders may visit, their unique culture and traditions are still intact to date because of the remoteness and inaccessibility.

The less discovered place has 18 small villages. Almost every path in the village has Mani walls made of stones carved with mantras. You can see lots of prayer wheels as well. There are many monasteries like Rachen Gumba, Mu Gumba, Lungdang Gumba, etc. where Buddhists teach Buddhism to young monks. They burn butter lamps in the monasteries and gompas, and beautifully decorate them with praying flags. So, it is one of the underrated places in Nepal if you want to explore unique cultures and traditions.

Apart from the monasteries, there are many caves in the village which are richly painted in Buddhist mural. Various artistic scripts are carved in the walls of the cave. People believe monks used those caves for meditation. Tsum valley offers rich and unique tastes to people interested in traditions and culture.

Natural Encounters in Tsum Valley

Along with rich culture and traditions, the Tsum Valley also has breathtaking landscapes, rivers, waterfalls, and varieties of flora and fauna. Majestic mountains and mountain ranges surround the underrated place. Some peaks like Sringi Himal, Ganesh Himal, and Baudha Himal Range offer jaw-dropping views to travelers. In addition, several glaciers originate from those mountains and form fresh streams/Khola. Lugdang, Shiar, Sarpu Khola are few streams of Tsum valley which are extremely beautiful.

Similarly, we can see several waterfalls as the Shiar Khola finds its path along a narrow and v-shaped valley. Chhuypangh Chhenmo (350m), Saki Lungba Chhuypangh (500m), etc. are some of the amazing waterfalls. For a moment, you will feel like the water is sprinkling from the sky. Throughout your journey, you will see many attractive suspensions and wooden bridges as well. The shaking bridges will add a thrilling adventure to your Tsum Valley journey.

The altitude of Tsum valley varies from 1905m to 5093m. Therefore, you can see varieties of forest on the way. Lowland has coniferous forests whereas highlands have sub-alpine or alpine vegetation. These different forests provide shelter to different species of flora and fauna. Likewise, you can find different animals such as elusive snow leopard, musk deer, Ghoral, Himalayan Thar, and blue sheep. Make sure you do not go near a snow leopard if you see one. Besides, Oaks and rhododendron are common trees in the forest. Above all, the colors of birds like Danphe and Munal will add extra shine to your Tsum valley visit in Nepal.

Tsum, the hidden valley in Nepal’s Manaslu has a lot to offer to travelers seeking adventure and fun in their trip. From jaw-dropping sceneries, beautiful landscapes to the rich yet unique culture and traditions, you can discover them all.

Article by

sanjib adhikari

Sanjib is a seasoned adventurer and a tourism expert who has spent the past 6 years immersed in Nepal's vibrant travel industry. He has trekked through Nepal's iconic landscapes in the Everest, Manaslu, Annapurna, and Langtang regions. He now spends his time writing about different places in Nepal and helping others travel effortlessly.