Tamu is the name the Gurung people use for themselves, and Lhosar means new year. The Gurung calendar runs in a twelve-year cycle of animal years, called lho, and Tamu Lhosar marks the move from one to the next. It is a public holiday in Nepal and is celebrated wherever Gurung communities live, from Pokhara and Kathmandu to Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, where many Gurkha families settled. In the hill villages of Kaski and Lamjung it is still a homecoming festival, when relatives who work in the cities or abroad come back to their family houses.
In Ghandruk the day usually begins quietly at home, with visits between families and plates of sel roti, achar and other festival food. Later people gather in open spaces in the village wearing Gurung dress: women in velvet blouses, gold earrings and the patterned cloth called ghalek, men in the white bhangra wrap and the kachhad. There are group songs and dances, and in some years local clubs and the mothers' group organise cultural programmes, raffles and small fairs. The schedule is set by the community and changes from year to year.
For visitors, late December is a good time to be in Ghandruk anyway. Mornings are often clear, with Annapurna South at 7,219 m, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre sharp against a blue sky, though nights fall close to freezing at 1,940 m. The village is quieter than in October, so lodges have space, but the festival brings relatives home and some rooms fill. We can add Tamu Lhosar to a Ghandruk family trek or a Poon Hill loop timed to end in Ghandruk on 30 December. Festival dates follow the lunar-solar calendar, so check current status before you travel.
Tips
- Ask before photographing people in traditional dress, and accept a no without argument.
- Bring warm layers: evening programmes run outdoors and the temperature drops to around 0–3 °C after dark in late December.
- Book your Ghandruk lodge early, because returning families and Pokhara day-trippers fill rooms around 30 December.
Questions travellers ask
When is Tamu Lhosar in 2026?
Tamu Lhosar falls on 15 Poush in the Nepali calendar, which in most years is 30 December. For the 2026 celebration that means late December, but the exact Gregorian date can shift by a day, so confirm before you book. In Ghandruk the main gatherings happen on the day itself, with some families visiting relatives on the days before and after.
Can tourists join Tamu Lhosar celebrations in Ghandruk?
Yes, visitors are generally welcome to watch the public dances and songs, and lodges in the village often share festival food with guests. It remains a family and community event rather than a staged show, so behave as you would at a neighbour's celebration: dress modestly, ask before taking close photographs, and do not walk into homes or circles uninvited. Your guide can explain what is happening.
Is Tamu Lhosar the same as Tibetan Losar?
No. Nepal has three Lhosar festivals. Tamu Lhosar is the Gurung new year on 15 Poush, around 30 December. Sonam Lhosar is celebrated by Tamang communities, usually in January or February. Gyalpo Lhosar is the Sherpa and Tibetan new year, usually in February or March. All three share the word for new year but follow different calendars and customs.
How do we reach Ghandruk for Tamu Lhosar?
The quickest way is a 3-hour jeep ride from Pokhara via Nayapul and Kimche to the edge of the village. You can also walk in on a 3-day family trek via Landruk, or time the last night of a Ghorepani and Poon Hill loop to land in Ghandruk on 30 December. Winter roads are usually open, but allow a spare day in case of delays.
