A mountain helper at Shey Phoksundo hill.
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, few people live or travel in these areas. As a result, the people of Dolpa are part of a very isolated culture found in specific pockets of northern Nepal. This is a land where life still revolves around horses, mules, and yaks, people still wear traditional attire and jewelry, the waters are still divided on the basis of a dice game, and the remains of the dead are given to wild vultures. Even today, much of Dolpa is restricted area for tourists, which contributed to the preservation of the unique culture of Dolpa. Some of the attractions of this route are: Dho Tarap, a human settlement at the highest altitude in the world, Shey Gumba, religiously the most important Gumba in Nepal, and lake Phoksundo, the deepest lake of high altitude in the world. The upper Dolpa region is full of rare herbs and wild animals. Lucky tourists can sight blue sheep, ghoral, and even cheetahs, and many other species of wild animals. Also, the forests of Upper Dolpo are home to rare plants like Yarsagumba, Jatamasi, Panchaunle, Chimailo, and many others. Upper Dolpa is one of the few remaining sources of Yarsa Gumba, an exotic half plant, half animal that is considered a powerful aphrodisiac.
Size: 4288px × 2848px
Location: Shey Phoksundo Lake, Ringmo village, Dunai, Dolpo, Western Nepal.
Photo credit: © Prakash Khadka / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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