Upper Dolpo Trek.
Upper Dolpo being one of the remotest, poorest and
backward regions in whole of Nepal with its difficult
terrains and extreme cold weather has been overlooked
despite being a land of tourist potential and other
opportunities. There are no motor able roads or airport
in upper Dolpo, except the airport near district
headquarter, Dunia which is several days journey from
upper Dolpo. The people of upper Dolpo are deprived of
fundamental rights of good education, basic medical
facilities, and others such as postal and electricity
services. The death toll cause by lack of basic medical
facilities is quite alarming. The existing schools in
upper Dolpo have only primary levels and health posts
are functional only for a brief summer season. Recently
some western NGOs have supported in opening up schools
and health posts but due to the insurgency going on in
Nepal, these NGOs are being apprehensive of fully
implementing further programs. Therefore, some of the
NGOs are being inconsistent in supporting their programs
in upper Dolpo.
Dolpo Society continues to seek help from the govt, and
I/NGOs for the development of upper Dolpo as a whole. As
envision in Dolpo Society’s aims and objectives
significant contribution has been made for the
restoration and renovation of religious monuments,
preservation of its valuable religious scriptures,
artifacts and its unique monastery at Namdho monastery,
Shalri monastery, Karang gonpa, Charkha Gonpa, Dho-Tarap
Gonpa, Vijer Gonpa, Kupa Gonpa, Komang Gonpa, Shimong
Gonpa, Nyishal Gonpa, and Tichurong Gonpa with cash or
kind. Further, Dolpo Society has donated Buddhist canons
text (Kagur & Tengur) to some monasteries. In an effort
to improve village infrastructures, Dolpo Society has
built and repaired 10 bridges at Phosumdho, Saldang and
Dho-Tarap villages.
Besides, 55 old and new stupas were renovated and built
at Shilri gonpa, Saldang gonpa, Karang gonpa, Yashir
gonpa and Margum gonpa. Though modern schools are
relatively new in upper Dolpo, in the early nineties,
NGOs like “Friends of Nepal” opened up one school in
Saldang village, and another NGO “Dolpohilphe”, Germany,
started schools in Namdho and Karang villages, Dolpo
Society have lent all the support needed to establish
these three schools according to the wishes of donors
such as donating land for the schools and by providing
free labors for building construction of the schools.
The centre also helps provide water supply and other
help that is needed for the smooth running of the school
locally.
The altitude
ranges from 2500m to 5070m.The best known of the many isolated high Himalayan
valleys across northern Nepal, Dolpo preserves one of
the last remnants of traditional Tibetan Culture.
Surrounded by high mountains including the Dhaulagiri
massif to the southeast and cut off by high passes
closed by snow half the year, Dolpo is close to Tibet,
where people emigrated from perhaps 1,000 years ago.
Dolpo remains a truly isolated corner of Nepal. Time has
stood still here for centuries as the inhabitants of
Tibetan stock continue to live, cultivate and trade the
way they have done since time immemorial.Shey-Phoksundo
National Park in the core of Dolpo Region is famous for
snow leopard. A great Naturalist Rodney Jackson
conducted his research on snow leopards in Shey
Phoksundo area. The finally preserved Eco–system
encompasses a wild and wonderful variety of plants and
wildlife, including the blue sheep and leopard. A trek
through Dolpo is an experience not easily forgotten.. |
