| |
|
Honey hunting is an age-old tradition here in Nepal. Local honey hunters show
their exceptional skill by hanging themselves from cliffs as high as 300 meters
using bamboo ladders and hemp ropes, while harvesting the honeycombs.
See the spectacular honey hunting on the steep bee cliffs to experience the
tradition and culture of the local people. See them while you trek in the foothills of The Himalayas. |
 |
Bee Tourism in Nepal
The group envisions tourists swarming to Nepal communities to view
traditional honey hunters dangling from cliffs on roped ladders. In the process,
tourist dollars will pour into the community.
Nepal is very rich in honeybee diversity. There are at least five different
honeybee species in the country. A large quantity of honey and beeswax is being
produced from indigenous honeybees (mainly Apis dorsata and Apis laboriosa).
These bee species play vital role in pollinating mountain crops and wild flora.
However, there is a significant lack of information in understanding the
population status of indigenous honeybees, their relationship and role in
regulating honey-hunting traditions, livelihood issues and biodiversity
conservation.
Each area has its own distinctive style of honey hunting to suit local
resources and bees. The basic method of lighting fire under the bee cliffs to
smoke the bees from the combs appears to be universal. However, socio-cultural
and spiritual practices carried out prior to hunting honey are quite different
from community to community. Following are the most popular honey hunting
destination in the lap of Nepal Himalayas:
|
S N |
Location of the
cliff |
Cliff face |
Altitude |
Distance from the
ground* |
Number of
Colonies |
| 1986# |
2001 |
| 1 |
Tamejung, Lumle VDC 2 |
NW |
1500 |
30 |
11 |
-c |
| 2 |
Landruk, Lumle VDC 9 |
SW |
1250 |
20-30 |
17 |
20 |
| 3 |
Jhilbarang Bhugatangle VDC 8, Parbat |
S |
1600 |
50 |
20 |
12 |
| 4 |
Kuli Chhomrong, Ghandruk VDC 9 |
S |
1708 |
30 |
26 |
16 empty combs |
| 5 |
Obio Chhomrong, Ghandruk VDC 9 |
S |
1647 |
60 |
14 |
-c |
| 6 |
Khuldi Chhomrong, Ghandruk VDC 5 |
SE |
2226 |
20 |
10 |
-c |
| 7 |
Chhomrong/Silasi bhir Ghandruk VDC |
SE |
1860 |
150 |
15 |
8 occupied + 2 empty |
| 8 |
Ghachowk Machhapuchre VDC |
E |
1220 |
15-60 |
76 |
2 |
| 9 |
Ghachowk Machhapuchre VDC |
SW |
1350 |
15-30 |
13 |
-c |
Following equipments are mostly used for honey
hunting.
|
N. |
Name |
Description |
| 1 |
Prang (ladder) |
Made from bamboo fiber, 70
meters long (depending upon the height of cliff) and 2 cm in diameter. The
steps are made of wooden planks |
| 2 |
Uab (Rope) |
A kind of rope used for
tightening the ladder to the tree trunk on the top of the cliff. It is made
of bamboo fiber. Its length ranges from 5-10 meters depending upon the
distance between tree trunk and the cliff |
| 3 |
Pechho (Rope) |
It is also a kind of rope
used for hanging bamboo basket. It is made of Allo (Girardia diversifolia)
fiber. Its length ranges between 50 - 70 meters |
| 4 |
Korko/Tokari (Bamboo basket) |
It is used for honey
collection and is made of bamboo strips with the holding capacity of 20
liters |
| 5 |
Chhyakal/Khaal (Basket
lining) |
Earlier lamb's skin was used
in the basket to prevent honey from leakage but plastic sheets are being
used these days |
| 6 |
Tango/Ghochma (Stick) |
A bamboo stick fixed with a
sickle or wooden plate at one end, which is used for cutting combs during
honey hunting. It is about 7 meters long depending upon horizontal distance
between nest and cliff end |
| 7 |
Saaton (Stick) |
A bamboo stick similar to
Tango but with notched end to fix the hook. It is also 7 meters long |
| 8 |
Koili chho (Rope with hook) |
A rope fixed with hook and
made of locally available fiber materials. It is around 14 meters long and
used for separating the brood portion from honeycomb |
| 9 |
Koho chho (Fastening belt) |
A rope used for fastening
honey hunter to ladder for safety. It is made of local fiber materials |
| 10 |
Chhora (Filter) |
It is made of bamboo cortex
for filtering honey |
| 11 |
Donga (Wax pot) |
It is made of wood and used
for wax collection |
| 12 |
Tuju (Rope) |
It's a rope being used to
balance ladder by tightening in different points and positions |
| 13 |
Whibe (Rope) |
A rope made from bamboo
fibers and used for manipulating ladder's direction and positioning from the
ground |
| 14 |
Dabilo (Wooden knife) |
Wooden or iron knife fixed to
the one end of bamboo stick used for cutting brood combs |
Following is a sample honey hunting tour
itinerary in Nepal. If you like to change or customized following itinerary,
please email us.
Itinerary:
|
Day 01 :
Arrive Kathmandu, transfer to Hotel. O/n at Hotel. |
|
Day 02 :
Kathmandu – Besishahar (5hr Drive). O/n at hotel. |
|
Day 03 :
Besishahar – Ghalegaun (6-7hr trek). O/n local lodge. |
|
Day 04 :
Ghalegaun – Bhujung (3hrs trek). O/n local lodge. |
|
Day 05 :
Bhujung – Thaku Bhir (hunting place). O/n camping. |
|
Day 06 :
ThakuBhir (Free day to watching hunting). O/n camping. |
|
Day 07 :
ThakuBhir – Bhujung (3hrs trek). O/n local lodge. |
|
Day 08 :
Bhujung – Besishahar (6hrs trek back). O/n at Hotel. |
|
Day 09 :
Besishahar – Kathmandu. (5hrs Drive Back). O/n at Hotel. |
|
Day 10 :
Kathmandu (free day your own). O/n at Hotel. |
|
Day 11 :
Departure. |
Eco-friendly Trekking operate Honey Hunting Tours service in different
destinations in Nepal, for
program and price, please inquire us by filling up following "INQUIRY FORM"
below to contact us or send email at:
tours@nepalholiday.com. We request you to write us how long duration you
have for this tour.
|
|
|
|
|
