Did Langtang Valley Rebuild after the Earthquake? How is it now?
The earthquake of 2015 in Nepal caused huge destruction in the country. The country's nooks and corners were all affected. The popular tourist spot, Langtang, was hit hard, too. You might have seen a video of a hill and stone. They rolled over the Langtang Village and destroyed it completely.
This article reviews how the local and global community rebuilt this region together. The village is now revived, ready to welcome tourists and move on from that tragic time.
Before that, let’s cover what exactly happened in this village in “Black Day”.
On 15 April 2015, a 7.8 MW earthquake hits Nepal with its epicenter in the Gorkha district. The Epicentre was 200 km away from Langtang Valley. It suffered massive avalanches right after the earthquake. A landslide and pressure wave followed. The rocks destroyed the whole village. The landslide buried the entire village with almost 380 bodies. Only one house stood straight. 80 foreigners and 176 locals were dead before the rescue operation started on the 19th of April . The survivors were evacuated to Kathmandu but many people were devastated from the loss of their houses and loved ones. This was the largest and most massive destruction and the entire country.
Comparatively, Kyanjin Gompa reported less destruction than the Langtang village. But, the houses in Kyanjin Gompa were also destroyed. Few people were buried inside them.
The immediate effect of the Earthquake in Langtang
After the 20th of April, temporary camps with tents, stones, and wood were built for the locals. The whole country was affected, so the government couldn't deploy many troops to this village after 2015.
However, the nearby villagers united to help in this tragedy. By the time of the second hit on May 12, a lot of people were already living in the small camps. Life on Ina's temporary campus was tough. But, people cared more about surviving the hard times.
When and How Did the Rebuilding Process?
After 2 to 3 months of the big earthquake in 2015, locals started clearing the debris for the settlement. They did receive help from many national and international volunteers. It took time for international help to reach the remote mountains. After six months, the village started rebuilding. A relief fund was set up immediately by The youth clubs and volunteers of Nepal. A non-profit, the Himalayan Climate Initiative, helped rebuild houses and infrastructure. Another big thanks to Sunaulo Sansar. They mobilized volunteers and funds from Switzerland and Germany to rebuild the village.
Did they ever rebuild Langtang Valley?
Yes, the 2015 earthquake in the Langtang region was hard but they did recover from the big shock in about 3 years. The trekking route was reopened in 2017 after the trial was constructed. All infrastructures, such as houses, hotels, Gumbas, and schools, have been rebuilt. Though the villagers cannot regain the lost life, they have worked hard to rebuild the infrastructure.
What does Langtang Valley look like now?
This village looks more beautiful and managed than it used to be before. The villagers were united not just to rebuild their houses but also to rebuild the entire trekking road. The trekking route now has become more beautiful and safer with stone stairs. Also, the village has moved a few meters apart to avoid avalanches again.
Here are some major stops during the trek and the state of the infrastructure in this village area.
Lama hotel
Lama Hotel Village is often the first stop for tourists who drive to Syabrubesi to start their journey. Now, lama hotel has around 7 tea houses. These tree houses are very basic with small rooms and minimum facilities. The Langtang National Park preserves the lama Hotel's infrastructure. So, changing the hotel or building a new one is a difficult process. Since this village was not affected much by the earthquake, new infrastructure has not been made. The old hotels can host up to 400 tourists and they still have a classic vibe as well.
Langtang village
The old village of Langtang which was destroyed by the earthquake is left as it is. The locals, with help from volunteers, built a better, newer infrastructure. The new hotels are bigger. They have larger rooms, in-room plugs, better beds, and attached bathrooms. Currently, there are around 20 big hotels/ guest houses in this village that can accommodate more than 500 tourists at a time. The earthquake has greatly reduced the local population. The remaining people have worked hard to improve infrastructure for tourists
Kyngin Gompa
Although their settlement is at a higher altitude than Langtang, the hotels and infrastructure here are very good. With few locals around, there are some big hotels. They have attached bathrooms and good internet. Kyngin Gompa can accommodate 700 to 800 tourists at a time. So, this means, even in the busiest months everyone gets a good accommodation.
How are the people of Langtang now?
After 2015, this region was a mess. But, the villagers worked hard to rebuild it and reopen the trekking trails. The old houses are now replaced with big concrete homes. These homes provide earthquake resistance, and better insulation to the locals. Both homes and schools, hospitals, and monasteries, including Kyanjin Gompa (with Japanese support), have been revealed. The reconstruction has allowed the locals to live a vibrant lifestyle once again. The children can go to school regularly and feel safe within the thick walls. The Gompa is once again filled with prayers and people often gather to remember the lost souls.
The earthquake destroyed most of the village's farmland. So, only a few villagers farm. Tourism is the main income source in this region. Your visit will help rebuild Langtang. Join our trek to support this local community. Your adventure will boost sustainable tourism in the Himalayas. It will also empower local families and businesses.
Is Langtang Trek safe now?
The 2015 earthquake in Nepal was an unfortunate event in the history of Nepal. Although Nepal is a bit prone to earthquakes, such catastrophic events only happen once in a century. It's unfortunate that such a large number of tourist also lost their life in the Valley. But there is no chance of such an event to be repeated shortly.
Further, this village has new houses made after 2015 that are earthquake-resistant. They will remain unharmed even in high-magnitude earthquakes. Also, the new villagers have now shifted to avoid the avalanche zone. So, in short, yes this Trek is now safe for tourists. Not only is the village made safer, but the locals have also made the trekking trial easier. The route built with stones and railings is less prone to landslides.
Is the Langtang trek worth it?
This trek now holds two big values for Mountain trekkers. First is obviously to experience the nature and culture of Nepal in a very short time from Kathmandu. You can see the beautiful Himalayas up close. You can also stay in luxury hotels in new buildings. The other purpose is to contribute to a healing society. You cannot physically volunteer to build the village now. But, your trip can help boost the local economy. While You are on the trek, be sensitive to the loss that the people of this Valley have faced. Langtang Village now is worth your time and effort.
