Ekle Bhatti means lone teahouse, from the days when one inn stood at the fork. Today there are a couple of tea stops and a signboard marking the routes. Look east and you see the Siyar Khola cutting a steep, forested gorge towards Lokpa and Chumling; look north and the Budhi Gandaki narrows into the gorge that leads to Deng.
Tsum Valley trekkers spend about a week in that side valley before returning to this same fork, so for them Ekle Bhatti is a landmark passed twice. For circuit trekkers it marks the point where the lower valley's mixed villages give way to the Buddhist Nubri world ahead.
Stop for tea, refill water and check the time. From here to Deng is a further 2 to 3 hours with a narrow path cut into the gorge wall, so groups usually take lunch at or near the fork.
Good for
- Solo
- Groups
- Photographers
Questions travellers ask
What is Ekle Bhatti on the Manaslu trek?
Ekle Bhatti is a small stop with a couple of teahouses north of Philim, at the junction where the Tsum Valley trail leaves the main Manaslu Circuit. The name means lone teahouse. Groups often take tea or lunch here before continuing north to Deng or east into Tsum.
Can I visit Tsum Valley as a short side trip?
Not really as a day trip. Reaching the upper Tsum around Chhokangparo and Mu Gompa needs three to four days from Ekle Bhatti and the same back, plus a separate Tsum Valley restricted area permit. We recommend at least 6 to 7 extra days on a combined Manaslu and Tsum trek.
Do I need another permit at Ekle Bhatti for Tsum Valley?
Yes. The Tsum Valley has its own restricted area permit, separate from the Manaslu one, and you need it before entering the Siyar Khola valley. We arrange both in Kathmandu before departure. Check current fees and rules before you travel.
