Honey harvesting in Nepal
We saw some of the famous beehives of Nepal while we were driving from Charikot town to Tatopani, close to the Chinese borders. The distance was short – less than 100 km – yet, the road was difficult, and it took us more than four hours to reach our destination, crammed in our small van, which was decent for Nepali standards but, to our eyes, it seemed to be falling apart.
The scenery was idyllic as we followed the capricious bends of the Upper Sunkosi River, surrounded by the forest-covered slopes of the gorge. We passed by the Last Resort point – the tallest bungee jumping spot in Asia and third in the world – and we made a slight detour just to locate the beehives.
Honey harvesting is an ancient tradition in Nepal and relies mainly on the wild bees since apiculture has only recently been introduced to the country (just a few decades ago). Nepal is also home to the largest honeybee in the world.
The beehives are formed in high, inaccessible places, perched among or hanging from the mountain rocks. They are large, semi-circular formations that, when covered with bees, vibrate as if they are fluid, despite their solidity.
There are still villagers (the honey hunters) who make a living through the twice-per-year honey harvesting. However, the process is risky and physically demanding since, given the location of the hives, the people have to hang from rope ladders over the void, reaching the beehives with sticks while exposed and vulnerable to the anger of the agitated bees. Unfortunately, I did not have the chance to observe such a process during my visit – nor, to my dismay, was I able to find a jar of honey, given the limited production.
It is uncertain how long this old tradition will continue since technology will soon make the process much easier and safer, while the younger generations are not keen to risk their lives over honey collection. Perhaps, it is the remaining echo of this practice, shrouded in mystery and reverberating by the threat of extinction, that turned the mere sight of the wild beehives into a lasting memory.
Photo credits: © Konstantina Sakellariou
