Trek, Bike and Raft EXPLORING THE TOURISM POSSIBILITIES OF DOLPA THE RUBY VALLey TREK GANESH HIMAL REGION DiscoveringTAAN Tourism Destinations & Trekking Trails in Nepal LOWER MANASLU ECO TREK- GORKHA LUMBA - SUMBA PASS KANCHENJUNGA & MAKALU www.taan.org.np DiscoveringTAAN Tourism Destinations & Trekking Trails in Nepal © All rights reserved: Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal- TAAN- 2012 All rights reserved. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of study, research, criticism or review as permitted under Copyright Laws of the Nepal, no part of this book may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the TAAN. Any enquiries should be directed to TAAN, [email protected] Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) P.O. Box : 3612 Maligaun Ganeshthan, Kathmandu Tel. : 977-1-4427473, 4440920, 4440921 Fax : 977-1-4419245 Email : [email protected] Price: Organizational NRs. 500, Individual NRs. 300. Publication Coordinator: Amber Tamang Designed Processed by: PrintComm 42244148, Kathmandu Printed in Nepal Discovering Tourism Destinations & Trekking Trails in Nepal 5 TAAN STRENGTHENING THE TREKKING TOURISM INDUSTRY am highly privileged to offer you this I book, which is a product of very hard work and dedication of the team of TAAN. This book, “TAAN- Discovering Tourism Destinations and Trekking Trails in Nepal”, is a very important book in the tourism industry of Nepal. There are dozens of trekking trails discovered and described in detail with day-to –day itineraries. Lumba-Sumba Pass Taplejung, Eco-cultural trails in Gorkha, high altitude treks and cultural book possible in time working days treks in Dhading Ganesh Himal region, and nights. and incredible, hidden treasures trekking in Dolpa district have been I remember all the individuals involved studied by different teams of experts in this process. Mr Malpa Lama, the and included in this book. All the newly porter involved in Taplejung Lumba discovered trekking routes Link to the Sumba Exploration lost all the fingers Great Himalayan Trail (GHT)”. of his legs, Mr. Rana Bahadur Khadka, 1st Vice President of TAAN, who was I am grateful to the Secretary of the team coordinator in Taplejung, Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and survived just because he got rescue Civil Aviation, Department of Turism in time, …, there are many stories of Industry, and Nepal Tourism Board hardships and dedication during the for institutional and moral support explorations in different districts. For to lead these jobs. On behalf of TAAN this reason, I am proud to say that and its family, I appreciate SNV for this book is truly an authentic book in supporting in the whole process of tourism market. I got to know that the identification, exploration, promotion book is handy to carry while trekking and development of these all trekking to the respective areas and is very trails. Thanks to the TAAN executive informative for the trekkers. members, general members and the staffs for their cooperation to make this mission possible. Thanks a lot to Mahendra Singh Thapa TAAN’s CEO Mr Ganga Sagar Pant, who President enjoys every challenge and made this Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) Trek, Bike and Raft EXPLORING THE TOURISM POSSIBILITIES OF DOLPA TEAM LEADER Mahendra S. Thapa Trekking Agencies' 8 Association of Nepal- TAAN Introduction Dolpa is one of the most interesting trekking destinations of Nepal for many reasons. First of all, with an area of 7,889 sq. kilometers, it is the largest district of Nepal, and yet one of the most sparsely populated. Its topography is very interesting. It contains the deepest lake of Nepal, Lake Phoksundo, which also happens to be the deepest lake of high altitude in the world. Dolpa is one of the few Nepali districts that is behind the Himalayan mountains, due to which it gets very little rain. Hence, most of the hills are bare with little vegetation. Harsh weather combined with high hills makes this area one of the most inhospitable in Nepal, and yet the barren and majestic hills lend it a rare beauty that is absolutely mesmerizing. Due to the harsh living conditions, Flora and Fauna few people live or travel in these Upper Dolpa region is full of rare areas. As a result, the people of herbs and wild animals. Lucky Dolpa are part of a very isolated tourists can sight blue sheep, culture found in specific pockets ghoral, and even cheetahs, of northern Nepal. This is a land and many other species of wild where life still revolves around animals. Also, the forests of Upper horses, mules, and yaks, people still Dolpo are home to rare plants like wear traditional attire and jewelry, Yarsagumba, Jatamasi, Panchaunle, waters are still divided on the basis Chimailo, and many others. of a dice game, and the remains of the dead are given to wild vultures. Yarsagumba Even today, much of Dolpa is Upper Dolpa is one of the few restricted area for tourists, which remaining sources of Yarsa Gumba, contributed to the preservation of an exotic half plant, half animal unique culture of Dolpa. that is considered a powerful aphrodisiac. Every year, in May- Some of the attractions of this route June, the Shey Phoksundo National are: Dho Tarap, a human settlement Park opens its doors to the seekers at the highest altitude in the world, of Yarsagumba. Local villagers travel Shey Gumba, religiously the most in droves to great heights to seek important Gumba in Nepal, and this elusive plant that is found only lake Phoksundo, the deepest lake of in high altitudes under specific high altitude in the world. weather conditions. At a diminutive Discovering Tourism Destinations & Trekking Trails in Nepal 9 six inches, the Yarsagumba is hard Trekking in Dolpa to spot on ground for anyone but The months of March to September local experts. Even the locals have are good for embarking on this trek. to endure tough hardships of high After September, it starts snowing altitude, cold, and harsh topography heavily, and trekking is possible to reap the Yarsagumba in its prime only with heavy duty equipment. condition. They then sell it to local From November it is completely dealers at up to Rs. 1,200 per piece. impassable. The best time is from The economy of Dolpa leans heavily March to May, as it may rain in June on Yarsagumba, called simply “the and July. insect” by locals, and “Himalayan Viagra” by its enthusiasts. In July- Communication August, droves of local traders can Travelers may lose communication be found collecting Yarsagumba at many stretches of the journey. from villagers, and taking it over to Satellite phones work in any place, China or Kathmandu for sale. At the but are expensive. Phone networks end of the chain, Yarsagumba sells which are popular in other parts for more than Rs. 5,000 per piece in of the country do not work well retail. here. Ncell works in big towns like Trekking Agencies' 10 Association of Nepal- TAAN Dunai and Khalanga, but not at altitude sickness. Though anything smaller villager. Namaste is only abnormal that happens above available at Khalanga and Dunai. 3,000 meters is considered altitude Hello Nepal is the most popular sickness, some of the common network, and works in some of the symptoms are listed below. larger settlements like Saldang, l Headache and Bhijer. Hello Nepal towers are l Difficulty in breathing being constructed , Tinje, Dho Tarap, l Disinterest in food Chharka, Kagkot, Mukat, and a few l Vomiting other places. Sky Nepal is the second l Difficulty in walking most popular phone network. l Dizziness l Sleepiness High Altitude l Tiredness Any height more than 3,000 meters l Anger / Irritation above sea level is considered to be l Body aches high altitude. During Dolpa trek, l Slurred Speech travelers frequently go above 3,000 meters and there are several passes Travelers should carry enough of more than 5,000 meters. Hence, water, food, and medicines to travelers should be well prepared for alleviate altitude sickness. Itinerary of Upper Dolpa Circuit Day Place of Lunch (L) Destination (D) Altitude of Waling time Walking Max altitude Origin (O) Destination from O to L time from of the day (in meters) L to D (in meters) 1 Juphal Kageni Chhepka 2,491 3 hrs 3 hrs 2,491 2 Chhepka Rechi Chunuwar 3,130 3.5 hrs 2 hrs 3,130 3 Chunuwar View Tower Ringmo 3,647 2.5 hrs 1 hr 3,715 4 Ringmo Choklapuk Ruktang 3,594 4.5 hrs 2.5 hrs 4,026 5 Ruktang Pack Lunch Base Camp 4,677 4 hrs 2 hrs 4,677 6 Base Camp Pack Lunch Shey Gumba 4,354 2.5 hrs 4.5 hrs 5,352 7 Shey Gumba Namgung Gumba Saldang 4,085 7 hrs 4 hrs 5,120 8 Saldang Namdo Rhakyo 4,151 2 hrs 4.5 hrs 4,151 9 Rhakyo Pack Lunch High Camp 4,850 3 hrs 3 hrs 4,850 10 High Camp Takshi Dho Tarap 4,090 5 hrs 1 hr 5,107 11 Dho Tarap Lang Tangum 3,586 3 hrs 5 hrs 4,090 12 Tangum Laini Odar Lashikyap 2,718 5 hrs 2 hrs 3,586 13 Lashikyap Shahar Tara Dunai 2,095 3.5 hrs 4 hrs 2,718 14 Dunai - Juphal 2,250 4 hrs 2,250 Discovering Tourism Destinations & Trekking Trails in Nepal 11 DAY l1 he trek starts from Ranjha From Suligad the road becomes airport, a small airport on horizontal, with mild inclines in Ttop of the town of Juphal. between. The road is populated Currently, it is the only airport with tea shops in between at in Dolpa and can be reached Khalaripi, Kageni and Sangta.