Helambu
The Helambu, called by the inhabitants Yolmo, is a cultural and geographical entity about fifty kilometers in a straight line north-east of Kathmandu in Nepal.
Location
In the north and northwest foothills of Langtang Himal limit the region, in the center is the crest of the Yangri Danda with the holy mountain Ama Yangri ( 3771 m). On its steep slopes, descending to the valley of the Melamchi Khola in the west and the Yangri Khola in the east, for many centuries settled the Tibeto - Burmese ethnic group of Yolmopa (also Yolmo Sherpa ). The Helambu / Yolmo is predominantly part of the Langtang National Park. The highs are heavily forested to the treeline, especially to the region's diverse variations of tree - rhododendrons marked ( blossom from March to May).
Population
The Yolmopa are closely related to the Tamang from the Langtang and the Bhote Kosi region north of Dhunche and derive their origin from southern Tibet from. Therefore, the name " Sherpa " (East - man ) is here that people settle east of the river Bhote Kosi. Since them the name " Sherpa " is officially denied in Nepal because of reservation for the Khumbu Sherpa, many call because of the closeness to Buddhism, " Lama "; but recently the name " Yolmo " or " Yolmopa " is used. The Helambu / Yolmo is one of the old stem regions of Tibetan Buddhism; countless sites are the work of the Holy and magician Padmasambhava ( Tib. Guru Rinpoche) attributed that brought in the 8th century Buddhism to Tibet, such as meditation caves in Melamchighyang and Dhukpu in the upper Yangri comb or in the uninhabited region east of the Yangri Khola, but also individual splitted stones, hollows and a footprint. In the 10th century the saint and poet Milarepa meditated in Yolmo ( cave near the Melamchi Khola below Tarke Ghyang ). Accordingly, located in the Helambu / Yolmo some of the oldest Buddhist monasteries of Nepal ( which is close Cherughyang Tarkeghyang probably the oldest ). The Yolmopa are predominantly followers of the (old ) Nyingmapa school that leads back directly to Guru Rinpoche, and religion is commonplace and alive. As part of a renaissance of Buddhism Meditation numerous sites have been created for more than 20 years in the region, which are visited by Buddhists from Nepal, Tibet, India, Bhutan and the countries of the Western world.
Places
The main villages of the Helambu / Yolmo are respectively located at about 2560 m altitude, Shermathang and Tarkeghyang on Yangri Crest and Melamchighyang ( Nep.: Melamchigaon ) west to the Melamchi Khola. After quite promising agricultural projects of the 1970s and 1980s have failed (by a fruit growing ), today many Yolmopa working abroad (India, Gulf countries, Korea) and have misplaced the center of life of their families in the Kathmandu valley ( Boudhanath ). So today is the one with the initiative to create vibrant, the children in the village itself a future, the furthest village in the mountains Melamchighyang.
Access
Tourist is the Helambu part of three trekking routes. The most popular trail route in the north- west over the Laurebina La ( 4609m ), a high Himalayan pass, via the holy lakes of Gosainkund in the valley of Langtang. It begins at the foot of Yangri Danda at 828 m altitude in Melamchi Pul Bazaar, leads over the ridge, where they reached the Yolmo in Kakani ( 1950m ), and Shermathang and Tarkeghyang and with intermediate descent over Melamchighyang, steep climb to the pass Thare Pati (3600 m) and on ( on the Likhu Khola Nuwakot district ) for Laurebina La. Challenging is the route via the Ganja La ( 5122 m) ( 3750 m) leads directly from Shermathang or Tarkeghyang over inhabited only in the monsoon high pastures and usually only with mountaineering equipment to border high pass directly into the top Langtang at Kyangjin. An ancient pilgrimage route runs eastward from the Helambu / Yolmo through the villages on Yangri Khola and the sacred lakes of Panch Pokhari ( 3960 m) at the southern foot of the Jugal Himal over several ridges to the Bhote Kosi at Tatopani / Kodari on the border with Tibet.