I and four others, who shared a similar interest in exploring places, slipped out of our busy schedule in the mid of November 2017 to make our trip to Laya. I was always fascinated by the towering mountains, monstrous yaks and the peculiar costume of the Layaps seen mostly in magazines and documentary shows.
Laya is a beautiful village located at an altitude of 4300 meters above sea level. There are 600+ households with over 1000+ inhabitants living a semi-nomadic lifestyle. Layaps agree that the shift in their lifestyle is mainly accredited to the sale of fungus (cordyceps) which fetches them over quarter million Ngultrums per kg. They are now connected with mobile network and electricity. What stands out with the Layaps is their warm heart and hospitality shown towards guests and visitors.
For any average hiker, the route is about 5-6 hours from the road-end meandering along the river. During the journey, one can enjoy the serene flow of the river as well as the gradual change in vegetation.
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