Yarsagumba, commonly known as the ‘Himalayan Medicine’, is in constant decline in Nepal, biological conservationists warned. This is a very expensive medicinal fungus, which is only found between the altitudes of 3,000 to 5,000m above sea level. The caterpillar fungus (cordyceps sinensis), which is considered as the most expensive medicinal fungus in the world. High-price and good demand of the yarsagumba around the globe has resulted into over-harvesting of the fungus in Nepal and other countries with Himalayas like China, India and Bhutan, reducing its yield in the following year, Xinhua reported. Yartshagumba is extremely rare. It is distribut ed in the alpine region of the Himalayas at the elevation of more than 4000m.
It is mainly found above the snowline in Dolpa, Jumla, Humla, Kalikot, Bagl ung, Mustang, Manang, and Rasuwa districts of western and central Nepal. Major confinement of this species in Jumla district is within Patarasi, Chhumchaur, Dillichaur and Patmara VDCs of eastern sector Chauda visa river valley
