With a land area of 7,889 km2, the Dolpa region is Nepal's biggest district, with Dunal as its administrative centre. This district's elevation ranges from 1,525 meters at its lowest point to 7,625 meters at its highest point.
Tibet to the north, Jumla and Mugu to the east, Myagdi, Jajarkot, Rukum to the south, and Mustang to the east surround the Dolpa district.
Introduction To Dolpa District
Shey Phoksundo National Park is the district's focal point, and it is located in a remote part of Nepal. This area is home to Shey Monastery, which goes back to the 12th century, and Phoksundo Lake, Nepal's deepest lake.
This park is home to endangered species such as the snow leopard, Musk Deer, and Tibetan Wolf. This park is Nepal's sole Trans-Himalayan National Park, as well as the country's largest.
The journey to Dolpa offers views of isolated Himalayan slopes, Tibetan Highlands, a lovely lake, and spiritual monasteries. The Dhaulagiri range may be found in the south and east, Mt. Sisne and Kanjiroba in the west, and the Tibetan plateau in the north.
Snowy peaks, old settlements, abundant wildlife, and yak caravans are among the prominent aspects of the Dolpa area. Locals will also greet you since they are straightforward and warm-hearted people with great culture and customs. Tibetan culture has had a significant effect on the local people's culture and traditions.
How Can You Reach Dolpa District?
There are three ways by which a traveller can reach the district of Dolpa. They are:
- By Road
- By Air
- By Air and then Road
By Road
Road to Dolpa is only recommended for individuals who are looking for adventure or have a limited budget. Because the Himalayan area is full of adventure and rough terrain, you may rapidly become exhausted.
By road, it might take up to 24 hours to go from Kathmandu to Jumla via Surkhet. It takes 14 hours by public bus and then 8-9 hours in a tiny Jeep. From Kathmandu, the bus will take you to Jajarkot via Nepalgunj. We will go from Jajarkot to Talubagar through Rari, which will take around 9 hours and be a difficult journey.
By Air
Because there are no direct flights to Dolpa, you must go to Nepalgunj first. It'll take you around 50 minutes to get there on a plane. That day, you must stay in Nepalgunj and fly to Juphal in the early morning. The trip from Nepalgunj to Juphal takes around 35 minutes and is rather exciting.
Another alternative is to take a midday flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj and stay the night there. Fly to Talcha airport the following day for a 45-minute trip. You may hike across Rara Lake and the Upper Dolpo from there.
From Kathmandu, you may also board a reserve helicopter that will take you directly to Juphal.
By Air and then Road
A 45-minute flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara is recommended. It takes 4-5 hours to drive from Pokhara to Beni. Drive to Takam from Beni, which will take about 6 hours. After that, you can enjoy the trek from Takam.
What Are Permits and Regulations Required To Reach Dolpa?
The Dolpa area, which opened in 1989, is cut off from the rest of the world. This region has a lot of cultures that have been kept and is unaffected by contemporary civilization. Tourists must get special permissions to access the Dolpo Region, which is a restricted area. To hike in this region, trekkers must get a Trekking Permit from the Department of Immigration and a TIMS card.
The cost of a hiking permit to enter the Dolpa area is high. The following is the price of a hiking permit:
Upper Dolpo Region: $10 per week
Lower Dolpo Region: $50 per day
Only a handful of tourists are allowed to visit the Upper Dolpo area. Only 250 foreigners are permitted to hike in the Upper Dolpo area, according to Nepalese government regulations. In addition, trekkers entering Upper Dolpo without a guide are not allowed.
A government-licensed guide must accompany the trekkers. If you want to visit Shey Phoksundo National Park, you must pay an entrance charge of USD 15 for SAARC members and USD 33 for non-members.
Best Places To Visit In Dolpa District
There are several places to visit in the Dolpa district. They are:
- Shey Phoksundo National Park
- Tinje Village
- Chharka Village
- Shey Phoksundo Lake
- Dho-Tarap Valley
- Mt. Putha
- Kanjiroba Peak
Shey Phoksundo National Park
Shey Phoksundo National Park is Nepal's only trans-Himalayan national park and the country's biggest. This national park was created in 1984 and covered 3,555 square kilometres. The height of this national park varies from 2,130 feet in Ankhe to 6,885 feet at the summit of Kanjiroba mountain.
Various endangered floras and faunas may be found in this national park. The Trans-Himalayan slope lands, where you may discover rhododendron, Himalayan birch, silver fir, and other Himalayan plants, are located in the northern portion of this national park.
Serene Shey Phoksundo National Park
The vegetation in the Suligad valley includes blue pine, cedar, fir, spruce, hemlock, rhododendron, and bamboo. There are 286 ethnobotanical species in the national park. Himalayan Bear, Tibetan Sheep, Leopard, Himalayan Thar, Grey Wolf, Jackal, and Blue Sheep are unique fauna.
This park also has a lot of butterflies, with 29 different species to observe. Wood snip, yellow-throated marten, Tibetan partridge, and crimson-eared rosefinch are among the 200 bird species.
Tinje Village
Tinje village is located in Upper Dolpo, Panzang Valley, above the Panzang River and Polte River confluence. At the height of 4,110 meters above sea level, this hamlet may be found. In Upper Dolpo, this hamlet is a tiny terrain village with medieval fort remnants.
Chharka Village
This town sits at 4,200 meters above sea level and is also the world's highest settlement. You feel like you've stepped back in time when you approach this medieval walled settlement. The dwellings are constructed in a crowded manner.
You may also visit the religiously significant Sachen Gompa. Dorje Choekyong Sampo established this Gompa in 1400 AD, and locals reconstructed it in 1996.
Shey Phoksundo Lake
Shey Phoksundo Lake is an artificial beauty with a gleaming turquoise lake. The elevation of this lake is 3,612 meters above sea level. Shey Phoksundo Lake is made more attractive by the surrounding environment, snowy peaks, and stupas.
Shey Phoksundo's Tranquil Beauty
In September 2007, this lake was designated as a Ramsar site. A landslide at the lake's southern edge produced this lake many years ago. This lake's waters cascade over a 167-meter-high waterfall.
Dho-Tarap Valley
Dho-Tarap is the name given to Dho village, its neighbours Lang and Tokyou, and the three villages that make up Dho-Tarap. This hamlet is located in a lovely valley with amazing views of the countryside, hills, and mountains.
The valley is 3,900 meters above sea level at its lowest point and 4,200 meters at its highest point. With eight different monasteries, including a Bon monastery, this valley also follows the Bon faith. This village is critical since it is possible to visit nine Dolpo settlements in a single day.
Mt. Putha
Mt. Putha is the Dhaulagiri range's sixth-highest summit. A heavy blanket of snow mostly buries the sacred mountain. The climbing expedition that took place on the summit is well-known.
Mt. Putha is a better choice for individuals who wish to climb mountains without technical difficulties. It will remain with you for the rest of your life as a pleasant memory. This mountain may also be used as a training ground for climbing rugged summits like Mt. Everest and 8,000m peaks.
Kanjiroba Peak
In the Dolpo area, Kanjiroba Peak is also an excellent choice for climbing expeditions. This one-of-a-kind ice mountain, which stands tall at 6882 meters, is worth climbing for the thrill.
Many tourists haven't seen the summit, so this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit the most magnificent mountain in the world. In addition to adventure, the peak's initial journey is home to religious and culturally authentic individuals.