Where Can You find Nepal’s Mad Honey

Gathering honey from hives built in craggy cliffs is not less than dicing with death, but this honey hunting practice is a centuries-old tradition.

In some parts of the world, this traditional practice is often accompanied by rituals. All thanks to the spectacular species Apis laboriosa, the giant honey bee.

1. laboriosa is one of the essential pollinators at higher altitudes of the Himalayas. This species has a restricted distribution along the Himalayas and neighboring mountain ranges of Asia. The honeycomb is collected from 400-600 m tall cliffs at heights ranging from 1200-4100 meters above sea level.
2. laboriosa build their hives among inaccessible cliff faces in the Himalaya mountains near the water or the waterfalls. Likewise, they also seek places away from direct sunlight and safe from the natural attackers.

The localities of A. laboriosa foragers or nests are mapped in Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, and Vietnam. The species is distributed almost continuously over a distance of >2500 km along the Pan-Himalaya region from Uttarakhand, India, eastward through Nepal, Sikkim and northern West Bengal (Darjeeling), Bhutan, northeastern India, Yunnan and southern Tibet in China, and the northern part of Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam.

Some records also report their occurrence southward along the Arakan Mountains in eastern Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram (India) to Matupi in west-central Myanmar. It also occurs in the Shillong Hills of Meghalaya.

The ardent media coverage that depicts the gathering of A. laboriosa honey in the Himalayas of mountainous country, Nepal, lures large numbers of foreigners in the hunting seasons. Images of brave Gurung and indigenous hunters suspended in the void and gathering honeycombs using long bamboo stems have for spread throughout the world.

This honey is called ‘mad honey’ for its interesting hallucinogenic properties due to a substance called Grayanotoxin that comes from rhododendron pollen.

Mad honey is harvested from the foothills of the Himalayas amid the deep lush forests of Nepal. Honey hunting is an old tradition exercised by Magar, Gurung, and other indigenous tribes of Nepal.

There has been very little scientific study and research regarding the distribution of A. laboriosa honey in Nepal. Many information and resources in concern to the availability of mad honey are based on anecdotal evidence.

The Budhi Gandaki valley of the Manaslu region and some of the Annapurna region’s cliffs is famous for wild honey bees. Khudi, Besisahar, Bhujung, Ghalegaun of Lamjung district are popular places for mad honey hunting in Nepal.

It is also practiced in different places of Kaski, Dhading, Gorkha, Myagdi, Baglung, Rukum, Rolpa, Parbat, Dolpa, Rasuwa, Dolakha, and Solukhumbu districts. The upper regions of the Myagdi, Baglung, and Lamjung districts of Nepal are the most challenging places for honey hunting. Mudi, Gurja, Kinney, Chimkhola and Narchyang villages of Myagdi district are famous for honey hunting. Taprang, Sikles, Landruk, Lumle, Ghandruk, Chhomrong, and Ghachok of Kaski are other major honey hunting areas.

Once honey hunters harvest honey, risking their lives, they tend to filter near the cliff before bringing it down to the storehouse. After carrying filtered honey to the storehouse, honey hunters are again engaged in the filtration process.

The honey color varies based on the bee forages and age of the honey, which comprises colors like red, orange, yellow, whitish-pink, and dark brown. Finally, the honey is loaded in drums to send to Kathmandu.

The Budhi Gandaki valley of the Manaslu region and some of the Annapurna region’s cliffs is famous for wild honey bees. Khudi, Besisahar, Bhujung, Ghalegaun of Lamjung district are popular places for mad honey hunting in Nepal. It is also practiced in different areas of Kaski, Dhading, Gorkha, Myagdi, Baglung, Rukum, Rolpa, Parbat, Dolpa, Rasuwa, Dolakha, and Solukhumbu districts.

The upper regions of the Myagdi, Baglung, and Lamjung districts of Nepal are the most challenging places for honey hunting. Mudi, Gurja, Kinney, Chimkhola, and Narchyang villages of the Myagdi district are famous for honey hunting. Taprang, Sikles, Landruk, Lumle, Ghandruk, Chhomrong, and Ghachok of Kaski are other major honey hunting areas.

Mad honey is available in a few shops in Kathmandu, Chitwan, and Pokhara. We, best mad honey is the only Nepal based company that supplies the purest and rich mad honey.

We promise you the best quality of wild and raw dripping red honey from the Gurung honey hunters dwelling near the Himalayas in the isolated forests. The honey will melt in your tongue with a fresh, natural flavor and earthy smell. Remember us for the best quality, mad honey, in Kathmandu.

If you are in the city and have some time to spare, you can visit our store to see how we store, package, and see the overall picture of what we do. Also, we organize honey-hunting expeditions annually that you can participate and see the rarest adventure first hand.

bestmadhoney.com is also shipping wild, mad honey at the best price for sale to the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and Europe.