Phakding: Top 5 places to experience

Phakding: Top 5 places to experience

Phakding is a small village in the Khumbu region of Nepal. It lies in the Dudh Kosi river valley just north of Lukla and south of Monjo, at an altitude of 2,610 m.It’s one of the first places that many hikers stop on the Everest Base Camp trek. Situated at 8,530 feet (2,600 meters), it’s at a lower elevation than Lukla where the airport is and thus an ideal place to acclimatize before heading higher into the mountains. There aren’t many things to do and attractions to visit in this town. Also, being a small town, there are fewer options we can do in a day. People usually consider making a quick stop here before heading to the neighboring cities. You can halt here for a quick snack and take a little break from your journey as well.You can check out the list below and find out the top things to do in this town:

1. Explore Hermann Helmers Bakery:

This is a new and German bakery of Phakding, famous chain Hermann helmers, the owners of Namche hotel. Hermann and Helmers bakery Namche (Maya and Ang) runs this bakery. The location is super, the food quality is amazingly good (top class). The cakes, Coffee and pizza are Delicious. Good service and clean atmosphere. Positioned outside Phakding, after the river bridge (if you are going up) and just after you turn right past the two big lodges. It's the last proper 'cafe' until Namche.

2. River Expedition on the Steepest Himalayan River Dudh Koshi:

Dudh Koshi is a river in eastern Nepal. It is the highest river in terms of elevation. The Dudh Koshi River originates from the high-altitude areas of Mt Everest (8848 metres) and the snow and glacier melt contributes significant portion of stream flow, especially during the dry season. The river is characteristic of extreme white water and normally cannot be used for watersports. It begins just east of Gokyo Lakes and flows south to Namche Bazaar. Continuing south, the Dudh Koshi exits Sagarmatha National Park and passes to the west of Lukla. The Lamding Khola joins the Dudh Koshi to the southwest of Surkya and continues its southerly course to Harkapur, where it joins the Sun Koshi.

3. Explore Monasteries of the Phakding:

Phakding used to be the source of white micaceous clay which was used to whitewash house walls. And this is what the word Phakding means.Across the bridge on the western side of the Dudh Koshi River, there is the Pemachholing Gompa which is one of the most important gompas in Khumbu. It is popularly known as Gumela Gompa and the 20 minutes it takes to reach there is totally worth it.This is an outstanding trek put together to allow you to explore the legendry monasteriesin the Khumbu region below Mt Everest.The views along the trail throughout are tremendous, with snow-capped mountains on all sides, deep-forested river valleys and small Sherpa villages and their fields clinging to impossible looking slopes.

4. Discover Sana Gumela School:

Midway between Lukla to Namche, Sana Gumela school is located in Phakding; a small village at 2,620 meters in the heart of Nepal's Khumbu region.Featuring breathtaking mountain views, refreshing sounds of the river, and rich green trees surrounding the school with classic Himalayan charm. Visit the students and get an insight on how many children travel hours across mountains to attain education at Gumela School.Whether you plan to spend every day of your vacation on hikes at the mountain, or you are looking to relax and unwind, the students here helps you to get the chance for everyone in your group to get the most out of your vacation.

5. Explore The Farming In Himalaya:

Phakding is an agricultural village having most of the people directly engaged in farming. Farming is subsistent in nature and crop is mostly integrated with livestock. Nepal is richly endowed with agro-biodiversity. Rice, maize, millet, wheat, barley and buckwheat are the major staple food crops. Similarly, oilseeds, potato, tobacco, sugarcane, jute and cotton are the important cash crops whereas lentil, gram, pigeon pea, blackgram, horsegram and soybean are the important pulse crops. In addition, Phakding grows a number of fruit and vegetable crops too.