The Kanchenjunga Region People, Culture, and Monasteries

The first thing that comes to our minds when we hear Kanchenjunga is white towering mountain that is standing tall and proud. However, the soul is the Kanchenjunga people and Culture and monasteries.

Closely hidden in the far eastern part of Nepal, the region remains remote by the hordes of mass tourism.

It is a living gallery where villagers their hospitality and where mani walls, prayer flags, and quiet monasteries eloquently convey spirituality. 

So, what can we see in the cultural core of this gem? Let’s find out.

Who Lives in the Kanchenjunga Region? 

The Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek has various ethnic communities, including Limbus, Rai, Sherpa, Gurung, and Tibetan. These people live in harmony with nature and uphold rare languages, cultures and spiritual traditions.

Limbu Community (Yakthungba) 

One of the largest ethnic groups in the Kanchenjunga region is the Limbu people, who are located within the region and locally referred to as Yakthungba. Mostly, you will find them in places such as Taplejung, Mamankhe, and Yamphudin.

Their native language is Yuma Samyo. It is variously classified as either a part of the Kiranti language family or as a separate language within it.

Limbu have a distinctive identity, which includes their dress, rituals, and festivals. They adore nature, believe in combination of Kirati and animism traditions.

Their primary occupation is farming, and you can find well-terraced fields on slopes. They are also characterized by their welcoming hospitality of giving travellers homemade Millet Beer (Tongba) and good organic food.

Rai and Gurung People

The Rai and Gurung villages will be found in middle-altitude villages such as Lelep and Amjilosa. The Rai are also part of the Kirati group, together with the Limbus. Both groups have heavy traditions with their languages.

They are famous for being courageous (many of them serve in the British and Indian armies), as well as their exquisite cultural dances and songs. 

Rai and Gurung families live simple lives in this region. The farmers engaged in agriculture and livestock farming and assisted with trekking activities. They live close to nature and are trustfully surrounded by forests in their small villages.

Sherpa and Tibetan-Buddhist Communities

The higher you traverse in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, the more you will enter the area of the Sherpa and the Tibetan-Buddhist communities. They reside in towns such as Ghunsa, Phale, Khambachen and Lhonak.

The people living here in the Sherpa region practice Tibetan Buddhism, and they have beautiful monasteries where prayers are recited and done by monks, accompanied by the lighting of butter lamps.

Colourful prayer flags flutter in the wind, dispersing prayers over the mountains. Mani walls are stone walls with carved mantrams and revolving prayer wheels that you will find in almost every corner. These symbols are a reminder to travellers about the deep Buddhist influence in the area.

Life is calm and slow, with close ties to religion and nature.

Other Communities 

Besides the major ethnic groups, there are also minor communities, including Bahun, Chhetri, Thakali, and other small settlements, found in the lower zones and trade centres. Such individuals introduce diversity in terms of culture, language, and religion.

Others may run teahouses; others work in shops or run small farms. They make the Kanchenjunga region even more culturally rich.

What Makes the Culture of Kanchenjunga so Special? 

The harmony in diversity is one of the strengths of the Kanchenjunga people and culture. You see several customs, various dresses, and several languages, and yet you would feel a kind of peace and simplicity among you.

Those who have visited these far-echo villages tend to remark that one gets a sense of travelling back in time. The welcome is truly warm, the smiles truly false, and the peace of the mountains is rife with the murmur of ancient customs.

Whether it is praising the rotating prayer wheels or listening to tales around the hearth, each element of the process is otherworldly and humbling.

Culture, Religion and Belief in the Kanchenjunga Region 

The culturally diverse and spiritually rich Kanchenjunga region is in the northeastern part of the country. Walking through these far-flung hamlets, you will encounter colourful prayer flags, mani walls and locals spinning prayer wheels.

The Limbu, Rai, and Sherpa peoples in the lower and mid-hills also adhere to ancient Kirati beliefs, which are a blend of animism and shamanism.

They pray to nature, show a special preference for sacred trees, stones, and rivers and conduct their religious activities with the help of spiritual gurus such as Phedangma, Yeba, and Yema.

Other festivals that continue to be actively celebrated include the Chasok Tangnam (a harvest festival of the Limbu) and Tongsing (a Rai ritual for health and harmony).

In higher settlements, such as the villages of Ghunsa, Phale, and Lhonak, Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism influences local existence. Nyingma and Kagyu are followed, in which prayers are held daily.

Ceremonies are also done through various types of chanting and major events, especially Lhosar, the Tibetan New Year.

In the meantime, in the lowlands inhabited by Bahun, Chhetri, and Thakali people, Hinduism is mostly followed.

There are small shrines to Shiva and local deities along the trail. Holiday seasons such as Dashain and Tihar are marked by Tika, Mamara, and a strong family history.

Buddhist Monasteries in the Kanchenjunga Circuit

The Kanchenjunga Circuit trek is not merely about breathtaking scenery but also a sacred Buddhist journey that gives much insight into culture and spiritual value along the trail. 

During your journey through the highland Sherpa and Tibetan-Buddhist villages, you are likely to find ancient monasteries, Chortens and Mani Walls, and Prayer flags blowing in the wind.

These monasteries serve as serene resting places where trekkers can take a break, observe local rituals, and even receive blessings from the monks.

Ghunsa Monastery/Tashi Chhyoling Monastery:

The historic Tashi Chhyoling Monastery, also known as the Ghunsa Monastery, is located in Ghunsa village of Phaktanglung Rural Municipality, Taplejung. Sitting at an altitude of 3,500 meters, it is one of the oldest monasteries in the region, believed to be over 1,000 years old.

It was originally built to serve the local Buddhist community for daily rituals and spiritual practices. It currently stands with the support of wooden poles, and locals fear it may collapse without proper conservation.

Ghunsa, a culturally rich village mostly inhabited by the Bhote community. It lies on the trail to Kanchenjunga, and the monastery is often seen by the many trekkers passing through the area.

Phale Monastery: 

Phale Monastery is a beautiful Buddhist monastery located in Phale village, along the Kanchenjunga trekking route in Taplejung District. This monastery was built by Tibetan refugees who settled in the area after fleeing Tibet during the Chinese invasion. 

The monastery is a peaceful place surrounded by nature, where monks live and practice Nyingma Buddhism. 

Trekkers often stop here to rest and observe the serene spiritual life of the monastery. Phale village is also known for its yak herding and traditional handicrafts, making it a culturally rich stop along the trail. 

Olangchung Gola:

Olangchung Gola, also known as Walung, is a remote village in Taplejung District, near the border with Tibet. It lies north of the Tamor River and is slowly being threatened by the river’s expansion. The village is the last stop before crossing Lumbasumba La Pass on the Great Himalayan Trail.

Once a busy trade hub between Nepal, Tibet, and Sikkim. It still holds historic and cultural value. The Walung people, of Tibetan origin, live here and follow Nyingmapa Buddhism. Their main monastery, Deki Chholing Gompa, is 450 years old. Only one lodge is available for trekkers.

These monasteries are the focal point of festivities, especially on key local holidays such as Lhosar, where there is dancing, drinking, and prayer.

Author

Himalayan Masters

Himalayan Masters has been established by travel and trekking experts with several years of experience. Our consultants have travelled extensively and have in-depth knowledge of the region you will be traveling in.