Despite the fact that Helambu is only three days walk from Kathmandu and is one of the most popular trekking areas, virtually nothing is known about the socio-cultural organisation of its inhabitants. Sherpas live here and it is precisely because of its differences (and similarities) with other Sherpa and Bhotea areas that Helambu is an important area anthropologically. The extent of these differences became apparent to the author during the course of a short (17-day) visit to the area in January 1974.
