Gosaikunda
| Gosaikunda | |
|---|---|
| Nepali:गोसाइँकुण्ड,Nepali pronunciation:[ɡosãĩ̯kuɳɖʌ] | |
 Gosaikunda Lake in winter | |
  Gosaikunda | |
| Location | Rasuwa district |
| Coordinates | 28°05′N85°25′E/ 28.083°N 85.417°E |
| Type | alpine,oligotrophic |
| Primary inflows | 35 L/s (1.2 cu ft/s) |
| Primary outflows | 60 L/s (2.1 cu ft/s) |
| Basincountries | Nepal |
| Surface area | 13.8 ha (34 acres) |
| Water volume | 1,472,000 m3(52,000,000 cu ft) |
| Surface elevation | 4,380 m (14,370 ft) |
 | |
| Official name | Gosaikunda and Associated Lakes |
| Designated | 23 September 2007 |
| Reference no. | 1693[1] |
Gosaikunda,also spelledGosainkunda,is an alpine freshwateroligotrophiclake inNepal'sLangtang National Park,located at an elevation of 4,380 m (14,370 ft) in theRasuwa Districtwith a surface area of 13.8 ha (34 acres).[2]Together with associated lakes, the Gosaikunda Lake complex is 1,030 ha (2,500 acres) in size and was designated aRamsar siteon 29 September 2007.[3]
The lake melts to form theTrishuli River;it remains frozen for six months in the 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[edit]
The Gosaikunda area has been delineated as a religious site.Hindu mythologyattributes Gosaikunda as the abode of theHindu deitiesShivaandGauri.The Hindu scripturesBhagavata Purana,Vishnu Puranaand the epicsRamayanaandMahabharatarefer toSamudra manthan,which is directly related to the origin of Gosaikunda. Its waters are considered holy and of particular significance during the Gangadashahara and theJanai Purnimafestivals when thousands of pilgrims from Nepal and India visit the area.[2]
According to legend, the spring that feeds the pond in theKumbheshwar temple complexin Patan is connected to Gosaikunda. Therefore, those who cannot make the long journey to the lake, visit Kumbeshwar Pokhari instead.[6]
Gosaikunda in popular culture[edit]
Among theNewarsGosaikunda is known as Silu. As such it is the subject of asongand a1987 filminspired by that song.[7][8][9]
References[edit]
- ^"Gosaikunda and Associated Lakes".RamsarSites Information Service.Retrieved25 April2018.
- ^abBhuju, 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.ISBN978-92-9115-033-5.
- ^Bhandari, B. B. (2009)."Wise use of Wetlands in Nepal".Banko Janakari(Special Issue February): 10–17.
- ^"Gosaikunda: More than just the lake".Kathmandu Post.Retrieved30 March2020.
- ^"Gosaikunda: A fair mix of adventure and spiritualism".Kathmandu Post.Retrieved30 March2020.
- ^Becker-Ritterspach, R. O.A. (1995).Water Conduits in the Kathmandu Valley.New Delhi, India: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd.ISBN9788121506908.
- ^Popular lakes in Nepal,retrieved 23 April 2022
- ^Songs of Nepal: An Anthology of Nevar Folksongs and Hymnsby Siegfried Lienhard, Asian Studies at Hawaii, No. 30, Center for Asian and Pacific Studies, University of Hawaii Press, 1984,ISBN0-8248-0680-8
- ^"Silu - First Newari Movie".Nepali Movies. 12 November 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 27 March 2012.Retrieved23 April2022.
External links[edit]
Media related toGosainkunda Lakeat Wikimedia Commons
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