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Dolpa -
At A Glance !
The district lies completely on
the trans-Himalayan region of
Nepal and borders Mustang on the
east, Myagdi, Rukum and Jajarkot
in the south and Jumla and Mugu
districts on the west, and the
Tibet region of China on the
north.
The district spans an altitudinal
range of over 5,000 meters from a
little over 1,500 meters at
Tribeni in Kalika VDC to 7,381
meters at the summit of Churen
Himal. Kanjiroba (6221m), Mukot
(6638m) and Putha Hiunchuli
(7246m) are other noted peaks.
Physiographically the lesser
ranges of the Great Himalayas
constitute the southern border of
the district. Between these and
the border mountain ranges of
Gautam Himal and Kanti Himal to
the north Dolpa district is a maze
of often wide glacial valleys and
ridges. Kanjiroba Himal and
Kagmara Lekh running north-west to
south-east separate the valleys of
the Jagdula in the west with the
rest of the district.
Area: 7889 sq. km.
District Headquarters: Dunai
Population: 29545
Ethnicity: Hindu 60%, Buddhist 40%
(including 5.5% ancient Bonpo
Religion)
Altitude: 1525m from sea level
upto 7754m variation
Climate: Himalayan; above the snow
line, Alpine; found in Bhot region
and high mountain in the south;
Cold temperature between 7000 and
13000 feet and sub temperate
climate below 7000 feet.
Religion: Buddhists, Hindu, Bon
and Shamanistic
Language: Nepali, Dolpo (Analogous
to Tibetan with native dialects),
Kaike (indigenous to the Tichurong
valley of Dolpa)
Economic Occupations: 79.5%
agriculture, 2% service
Hidden
Valleys of Dolpa
Dolpa runs parallel to the image
of the Shangri-la of Nepal in many
aspects. One has to see the
landscape in all of its rugged
natural beauty and experience the
remoteness to understand this is
so. The nature and culture of this
place is rich almost beyond
measure. Dolpa is one of the last
sanctuaries of medicinal plants in
western Nepal. 407 species of
medicinal plants grow in Dolpa and
are used by Aamchis (traditional
healer). The eco-system is diverse
with deep valleys to the south and
alpine prairies to the north.
Thorny Caraghana ionicera bushes
can be found in this area.
The ancient
cultural traditions of Buddhists
can be experienced first hand
here. Remoteness of this place has
helped conserve the traditions
still found eminently present.
Some of the oldest monasteries in
Nepal are found in this region.
You will still see people dressed
in their religious costumes and
treading along yaks. The view of
this un-spoilt heaven hidden from
the world is magnificent to the
weary eyes of modern man.
Culture and Religion
The Bonpo tribal people (former
Buddhist followers) of the area
are unique in their cultural and
social traditions. The Tarali
people of Dolpa speak Kaike
language, which is believed to
exist only in Dolpa.
Perhaps,
impressed by these unique features
of Dolpa, the famous filmmaker
Eric Velley chose the district for
visualizing his Oscar nominee
Caravan. He selected Thinle of
local Saldang as the main
character. Caravan is famous
internationally, especially in
France and the film is still shown
in cinema halls of major cities of
France.
"Caravan has
helped promote the beauty and
lavishness of Dolpa among the
French, and I came to trek this
area after seeing the film," says
one of the members of a French
trekking team at Kagani village.
Cultural Attractions
130 gombas of
which 25 are major gombas
including the famed Shey Gomba.
Saldang, Dho, Chharka, and Bhijer
VDCs have some of the oldest
Nyingmapa monasteries in the
Himalayan region. Most of the
Nyingmapa monasteries of Saldang
and Phoksumdo are over 700 years
old .
Also, some of
the oldest Bon-po monasteries in
Nepal (Yungdung Gomba in Kaigaon,
Pumma and Thashun Gomba in
Phoksumdo) are in the region. Bon-po
faith represents the adaptation of
Buddhism in the old indigenous
religion of western Tibet (Gurung
1980). Shen-rab is the supreme
teacher in Bon-po.
Another aspect of Dolpa culture is
the unique trade and transhumance
based livelihood strategies of
Upper Dolpa exemplified in the
film "Caravan". While much of
northern Dolpa is the domain of
Buddhism, areas in southern Dolpa
such as the temple of Bala Tripura
Sundari in Tripurakot VDC are
revered by both Hindus and
Buddhists and large number of
devotees come from the surrounding
region.
This circuit is
the most popular trek of the lower
Dolpa mainly because of the Shey
Phoksundo lake. The lake featured
in the famous Documentary
'Caravan' is of great interest to
visitors. The lake cuts the
deepest gorge and owing to extreme
geographical factors, no living
beings, not even fish can survive
in the lake. The route of
Juphal-Dunai-Dho-Phoksundo-Dunai-Juphal
is a 15 days long trek, passing
through high Himalayan valley of
Dho Tarap. If lucky, one can sight
Snow Leopard and Musk |
