Sankhuwasabha
Deep valleys, high peaks, and nature’s pure embrace
Sankhuwasabha is home to Makalu (8,485 m), the world's fifth-highest mountain, and the Makalu Barun region, one of the least-visited high-Himalayan trekking areas in Koshi Province.
Makalu Barun National Park protects an unusually wide range of ecosystems in a single park, from subtropical forest along the Arun River to alpine tundra beneath Makalu itself, without a single road crossing its boundary.
Tumlingtar, the district's Arun Valley airstrip, serves as the main gateway for trekkers heading into this remote wilderness, which sees a fraction of the traffic of Everest or Annapurna.
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Culture
People & Culture
Sankhuwasabha is home to Rai communities in its mid-hill villages and Sherpa and Bhotia settlements in the higher Barun valley approaching Makalu. Shamanic and Kirat Mundhum traditions remain strong among Rai communities here, alongside Hindu and Buddhist practice. The Arun Valley's terraced hillsides and forest trails have kept many villages's farming and festival traditions largely undisturbed by mass tourism.
Activities
Things to Do
Trek to Makalu Base Camp through Makalu Barun National Park
Fly into Tumlingtar, gateway to the Arun Valley and eastern wilderness
Spot rare wildlife across the park's subtropical-to-alpine ecosystems
Walk through Rai and Sherpa villages along the Arun River
Travel Information
Best Time to Visit
March, May, October, November
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