Taplejung to Jiri via Lumba Samba Pass, Sherpani and West Cols, and Amphu
Lapsta (October-November 2012):
2. Olangchun Gola (1 day)
The Buddhist
people of Olangchun Gola used to rule a relatively
large territory overlapping parts of Eastern Nepal and Tibet. Today they still
trade goods from Tibet through Tiptala La (5095m).
However, increasing constraints imposed by the Chinese government (including
border closures) make this commerce more and more difficult, and, so, the
village is shrinking. A beautiful 400-year-old gompa
(one of the oldest gompas in Nepal, the oldest in
Eastern Nepal), the Diki Chhyoling
gompa, overlooks the village. It is said to have a
butter lamp continuously burning on its altar since its construction.
View of Olangchun Gola in the morning sun. All houses are built in
traditional manner with a stone base, walls made of wood panels, and roofs made
of wood tiles. Almost every house has a small balcony with an incense burner on
its outer corner. The stone base is often covered with drying yak dung patties
that are later burned in stoves. (Dried dung does not
smell bad and burns very hot.) Wood tiles are periodically cleaned and replaced (video).
View of Olangchun Gola in the evening, with two of our tents in the
foreground. (Matt Scott photo)
Street scenes
in Olangchun Gola.
Inside the tea
house of Olangchun Gola. (Kai Zinn
photo)
The Diki Chhyoling gompa overlooking Olangchun
Gola.
Mani wall on the way up to the gompa.
Outside the gompa.
Inside the gompa.
Statue of the
founder of the gompa.
More statues. (Kai Zinn
photo)
The gompa also contains a large collection of Buddhist texts.
Masks inside
the gompa.
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Links to all sections of
the trek:
1.
Taplejung to Olangchun Gola (4
days)
2. Olangchun Gola (1 day)
3. Crossing
Lumba Samba pass (3 days)
4. Tudham to Hongon (3 days)
5. Hongon to Yangla Kharka (5 days)
6. Yangla Kharka to Sherpani Col High Camp (4 days)
7. Crossing
of Sherpani and West Cols (1 day)
8. Hongu basin to Namche across Amphu Lapsta (3 days)
9. Namche to Jiri (5 days)