Gurung - the honey hunters

27.02.2018 14:12

It’s a hundred years old tradition carried for generations. Only few people are chosen from Gurung tribe – an ethnic group that occupies different parts of Nepal.

Two times per year there’re ritual sacrifices. The hunting is very dangerous. First they passed extreme way to the hunting place. Then the hunters are climbing by 200 – 300 m by hand – woven rope ladder. They use smoke to sedate the bees. Next step is to drill the honeycomb with long sharp bamboo ‘ tangos’ ( it’s an ancient tools too). The Himalayan bee is called Apis laborriosa – the world’s largest honeybee that can grow up to 3 cm.

The honey is known for it’s hallucinogenic potency and specific strong intoxication over human body.