Khangsar lies about 2–3 hours west of Manang on the trail to Tilicho, set on a terrace above the Khangsar Khola. Its houses are built of stone with flat roofs piled with firewood, and the lanes between them are lined with mani walls and prayer wheels. Barley and buckwheat fields surround the village, worked by families who keep yaks, horses and goats on the high pastures in summer. The light in the late afternoon is warm and good for photographs of the old houses.
The village gompa, on the upper edge of the settlement, is small and old, with painted walls and statues in the dim interior. It is not always open; ask your guide, who can usually find the person with the key. Remove shoes and hat inside, walk clockwise and leave a small donation. Many trekkers simply pass through Khangsar for lunch, but stopping an hour gives a feel for life in the upper Manang valley.
Some itineraries spend the night here rather than at Shree Kharka, which gives a gentler altitude gain from Manang. Lodges are simple family places with hearty food. Above Khangsar the trail splits; the lower route continues to Shree Kharka and Tilicho, while a higher path runs north-east towards Old Khangsar and Yak Kharka, which trekkers use on the way back to the main circuit. Your guide will choose based on conditions and how the group feels after Tilicho.
Good for
- Couples
- Solo
- Photographers
- Seniors
Questions travellers ask
How far is Khangsar from Manang?
About 2–3 hours' walk west of Manang, with a gain of roughly 200 m from 3,519 m to 3,734 m. The trail follows the valley past fields and a small river crossing. It is a gentle walk that makes Khangsar a good lunch stop or overnight on the way to Shree Kharka and Tilicho Base Camp.
Can I stay overnight in Khangsar?
Yes. Khangsar has a few small lodges with basic rooms and good local food. Sleeping here instead of continuing to Shree Kharka keeps the day's altitude gain small, which suits slower walkers or anyone with mild symptoms after Manang. It does make the next day to Tilicho Base Camp longer, about 5–6 hours.
Is Khangsar a Buddhist village?
Yes. Like Manang, Khangsar follows Tibetan Buddhist traditions, with a gompa, chortens, mani walls and prayer wheels. Local families observe Buddhist festivals and rituals through the year. Walk clockwise around religious structures, do not sit on mani walls and ask before photographing people or the inside of the gompa.
