Destination of the Week Dolpa: a unique tourist site

Dolpa, an outreach district of Karnali, has been a tourist attraction, mainly due to the unique natural objects and mountainous landscape. Dolpa is often portrayed as 'The Hidden Heaven', 'Mysterious Dolpa', 'Dream Land Dolpa' and 'Exciting Dolpa'. Though it lacks much publicity, Dolpa has every possibility to be developed as a major tourist destination of Nepal.

Dolpa is the largest district of Nepal (area: 7,932 sq kilometers). She-Phoksundo, the largest national park of Nepal, is in this district. Established about 21 years ago, the national park spreads over an area of 3,550 square kilometers. Considering the decent and balanced combination of natural, social, cultural and geographical aspects, the park has been proposed by His Majesty's Government to be enlisted into the inventory of the world heritage.

Situated in the park area is Phoksundo Lake. It is the deepest lake of Nepal (about 650 metres) and the second largest from the viewpoint of area. This lake is often talked the 'Lake of Mystery'. Located at an altitude of 3,600 metres from the sea level, the lake does not contain any living creatures. Some experts attribute this to the low temperature. The lake covers an area of 7.6 sq. km. Needless to say, the clear, blue water-mass of the lake is alluring to any tourist reaching to the site; the surrounding landscape and vegetation is equally fascinating. The wonderful cliffs, various types of layered rocks, gorges, hills and the Suligad River pouring out of the lake at its southern border are very attractive. The river changes into the 167-metre high Suligad Fall afterwards. This fall is situated at the highest altitude in Nepal, according to Dolpa DDC.

The Bonpo tribal people (former Buddhist followers) of the district are unique in their cultural and social traditions. They speak Kaike language, which is believed to exist only in Dolpa.
Perhaps, impressed by these unique features of Dolpa, the famous filmmaker Eric Valli chose the district for visualizing his Oscar nominee film '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.

Of the tourist destinations of Nepal, Dolpa is the most exquisite but least explored trekking site only. Few tourists, so far, have exploited the beauty and freshness of Dolpa. This area is a peerless site for the domestic tourists, let alone the foreigners. The high snow-white peaks of the north, mountain ranges, the Bheri, Suligad, Jairigad and Rupgad rivers, canyons, ravines, large and small cascades, varieties of plants/herbs, about 197 species of birds, 32 types of mammals, communities with unique cultures and social aspects and ancient religious structures including temples and Gumbas (Buddhist monasteries) are the major sources of tourist attraction.

'Dolpa is a place where one should visit at least once in a lifetime,' says one of the domestic tourists.
Dolpa is a very remote and backward district. It is still chaste from the perspective of development. 'But this very virginity can be the motivating force to lure many tourists,' says Tourism Planning Specialist, Mingma Norbu Sherpa.

The development of tourism in the district should be in parallel with the livelihood of the local people. "Responsible tourism in any place should contribute in improving the life of local people, otherwise it becomes a mere external exploitation of the people in the name of tourism," opines National Programme Manager, Rabi Jung Pandey.

With the view to developing tourism in Dolpa, 'Sustainable Tourism Plan of Dolpa' has been brought out with tourism as its central focus. Introduced last year, the plan has prepared a framework and paved the way for promoting tourism in the district. If works are carried out as per the plan, it will be probably to bring the 'Hidden Heaven of Dolpa' to light.

Extension of road facilities, regularity of air transportation, increment of flights, reliability of air services, management for operating flights from Pokhara apart from Nepalgunj, restoration of peace (through national efforts), diversification of heritage and their protection, identification and promotion of market facilities, establishment of information centers are some of the major works that should be accomplished for the real development of tourism in Dolpa. Additionally, the exploration of new sites, increasing tourist facilities and extended publicity can play substantial role in the promotion of new rural tourist destinations like Dolpa.

There are many alternative tourist paths and trekking trails in Dolpa. New and convenient trails are being identified and developed for better accessibility of the area. Different bodies and organizations related to tourism are disseminating information about the tourist activities at national and international levels. In this context, the leading role of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) cannot be denied.

Despite ample tourist attractions in Dolpa, the number of foreign visitors has not exceeded 1000 since 2000(a total of 1190 tourists had visited the district that year). It is a matter of great sorrow that although both the upper and lower Dolpa are equally replete with natural attractions, foreign tourists have been really been to the upper one. Main reason for this is the compulsion on the part of tourists to pay the charge of 70 US dollars per day. 'If the charges were reduced, more tourists would come to visit the area and stay for additional days. It could be more beneficial to us,' says an entrepreneur of Ringmo VDC.The tourists visiting Dolpa stay for 12 days in average. Dolpa District Development Committee along with the local people have been making various attempts to lengthen the stay of tourists. As a result Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Program (TRPAP) has been introduced in the district. Assisted by SNV-Nepal, UNDP and DFID (British Organisation), the programme has been running various activities including development of new tourist products, mobilizing local people in tourism, building tourist infrastructures, improving the facilities and services, increasing publicity and carrying out coordinated efforts marketing.TRPAP is involved in the publicity through posters, brochures, documentaries, postcards, trekking maps etc about the natural scenes, heritage, religious structures, lakes and hot water springs. The prgoramme has helped bring more managed, reliable and experience-based trekking packages branding the area as 'Dolpa Experience Circuit', 'Dolpa Heritage Circuit', 'Experience with Rare Phoksundo', 'Sahartara Culture Trip', 'Hot-water Bath Excursion', 'Sahartara Camping' and many more.In association with Nepal River Conservation Trust, TRPAP has been working for the management of rafting in Bheri River. It has been assisting the local people in collection, protection and promotion of herbs including Yarsagumba. Yarsagumba is a wild mushroom which is used as a herbal medicine. Yarsagumba is collected in May-April, which is the main tourist season in the area. 'The Yarsagumba collection system can be incorporated with tourism,' opines tourist facilitator Sujeet Shrestha.

With proper promotion & publicity, awareness on environment and managed tourism, Dolpa can, no doubt be the most sought after destination of the world.