In the fabled land of Peter Matthiessen’s ‘Snow Leopard’, behind the Dhaulagiri massif and towards the deep ends of the Tibetan plateau, lies Dolpo. The Shey-Phoksundo National Park of Dolpo is the largest of the trans-Himalayan national parks in India and Nepal. The region is cut off from the rest of Nepal with its high passes clogged with heavy snow most times of the year. Lack of express connectivity has somewhat fossilized this place with its distinctive people and cultures. Cultivation and trade in these parts of Nepal are curious and remindful of an ancient order. The people of Dolpo are of the ancient Tibetan stock who follow an extremely spiritual path in their day to day lives. Bon - the religion of the indigenous Dolpo people is an accepted branch among the fifty schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
The Dolpo excursion sufficiently offers an exposure to the many aspects of indigenous life in these faraway corners of the earth, living and traveling with the ‘Dolpa-pas’ or the people of Dolpo. The region is geologically akin to the sedimentary Tibetan-Tethys zone, with a distinctive moonland-like texture. Dolpo is climatically semi-arid, owing to reported annual precipitation below 500 millimeters. In the rainshadow area of the mighty Dhaulagiri Mountains, agriculture is sparse, though possible in the valleys of Dolpo. In the recent times, Dolpo has been discovered to be the endemic plantation land for ‘Yarsagumba’- a medicinal herb known for miraculous healing effects. This high-value medicinal plant is inviting a gold rush in Dolpo during its harvesting season vacating several villages as entire village communities go in its search.
However, the best-known endemic treasure of Dolpo is of course the very elusive and extremely enigmatic of all Himalayan beasts, the Snow Leopard. Established in 1984, the national park of Shey-Phoksundo is home to these stunning Himalayan big cats and the venue of a number of snow-leopard hikes being conducted round the year.
Highlights of Dolpo Excursion
The simplicity and hardships of life in these rugged mountain highs is the stuff of our wildest imaginations. People of Dolpo go on living in the face of extremities with immense spiritual fervor and faith in the gods. They travel for miles in yak caravans in search of resources. Salt, herbs, and medicinal plants found in these hinterlands are of great value in the outside world, which the Dolpo-pa (nomads of Dolpo) exchanges in the lowlands for food and various other essentials. To be a witness to the unique life and the exemplary inner strength and passion for survival of the Dolpo-pa people from close quarters on this trek is perhaps the most beautiful take away from this excursion.
Recommended apparels and equipments you need to carry on the Dolpo Excursion:
The simplicity and hardships of life in these rugged mountain highs is the stuff of our wildest imaginations. People of Dolpo go on living in the face of extremities with immense spiritual fervor and faith in the gods. They travel for miles in yak caravans in search of resources. Salt, herbs, and medicinal plants found in these hinterlands are of great value in the outside world, which the Dolpo-pa (nomads of Dolpo) exchanges in the lowlands for food and various other essentials. To be a witness to the unique life and the exemplary inner strength and passion for survival of the Dolpo-pa people from close quarters on this trek is perhaps the most beautiful take away from this excursion.
Recommended apparels and equipments you need to carry on the Dolpo Excursion: