Beyond Everest and Annapurna Treks- Dolpo Trek, Location of Eric Valley’s “Himalaya Caravan” and the land of Bons and Snow Leopard

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Camping with Explore Dolpo

There’s something interesting about Nepal, even to those who haven’t been here yet. The country’s holiday packages have been a challenge for many and a long waited dreams for most. Nepal, well known amongst the trekkers is the only trekker’s paradise on the earth. Its celebrated Everest Base Camp Trek or tantalizing Round Annapurna Trek have had entertained and tested the endurance of many trekkers for centuries. But Nepal’s Trekking is not only defined by just the facilitated Everest and Annapurna Regions Treks. While the hunger to achieve the base of world’s crown Everest or a human nature to chase the trail traced by former trekkers are being accomplished, few untrodden trekking trials which lead to the best part of the world are being neglected. One of them is Dolpo. Dolpo is defined by the small piece of heaven that is missed when trekkers rush to scale higher altitude or witness close up views of world renowned Himalayan peaks including Everest, Annapurna, Makalu, Manaslu and Kanchenjunga.

Eric Valli’s movie Himalayan Caravan exposed the part of Dolpo. Wild West of Nepal, Dolpo still has so many places unexplored and untouched. Trekking to Dolpo is a challenging trek where the trials have no luxuries as Everest and Annapurna trials. Dolpo Treks are absolutely camping treks which definitely adds adventurous aura to the trek. While talking about the trek to Dolpo the highlights of the trek shall be eventually talked. Here we have listed five reasons why Dolpo shall be explored.

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Primitive lifestyle is what we people miss a lot

Shey Gompa and Shey Festival

Shey Gompa at the base of Mt. Crystal is the prime highlight of the Dolpo Trek. Ancient Gompa revered by Tibetan Buddhists and Bon Buddhists is regarded as second Kailash Mansarovar. Popular Buddhist monks arrive to Shey Gompa for the circumambulation of Shey Gompa. Shey Festival which is celebrated in every 12 years at Shey Gompa has huge religious value. Tibetan Buddhists and Bon Buddhists throng to Shey Gompa when its Shey time. Last year Shey Gompa celebrated Shey festival and it was Dragon Year according to Buddhist calendar. The devotees born in Dragon Year visited to Shey Gompa to circumambulate the Gompa. Besides during Shey Festival mask dances, local cultural dances and Buddhist religious rituals can be well observed here.

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Wheels are not the part of culture to Dolponians

Culture

The entire Dolpo Region is full of unique cultures. Beginning the trek at Lower Dolpo the Thakuris and Shahis dominate the place where the typical Chettri culture can be observed. In the mid-Dolpo the ethnic tribe, Magars dominate the region and in the Upper Dolpo Tibetan Buddhists who are also known as Bhotes dwell. So the cultural encounter as the elevation is gained during the Dolpo Trek varies drastically. Since, Upper Dolpo borders the Autonomous Region of Tibet the Tibetan culture spills over in the region. Dolpo though is regarded as the home to Bon Buddhist; the region also enjoys the culture Tibetan Buddhism. However, Dolpo is the best opted trekking destination to witness the Bon culture. Bon, Buddhism prior to Buddha is practiced in several hamlets in Dolpo including Shey Village. Bon has some unique practices which are totally different to Tibetan Buddhism. For example Bon allow animal sacrifice which is totally against Tibetan Buddhism. Similarly, the direction of circumambulating the religious shrine between Bons and Tibetan Buddhists is just opposite.

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The angel of west Shey Phoksundo Lake

Shey Phuksondo Lake
Shey Phuksondo, one of the most beautiful lakes in the world is the major highlight of Dolpo Trek. Three special features of the lake make this lake different to other lakes of the world. The color of lake water changes is the first characteristic of the lake. Similarly the lake has no aquatic life is the second feature and the third specialty of the lake is that, the lake water never freezes even during the winters. The camping site during the Dolpo Trek, Shey Phuksondo is probably the most peaceful lake shore in the world.

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Crossing Shey La Pass a challenging endeavor

Trekking trial to Dolpo
Trekking to Dolpo has an amazing trial which is full of surprises. The trek exposed to maximum wilderness where the sparse human population can be observed winds through 5000m+ pass from one village to the next. The trial is equally challenging. Pemba, our Dolpo Guide last year went to Dolpo with a group of Russian trekkers. During the trek few members had hard times crossing the pass that took them to Shey Village. So, the group made to Shey in a helicopter. Also, the trial demands a very cautious walk as it scarily nestles above a high cliff.

Flora and faunas
Dolpo is the home to famous Shey Phuksondo National Park. So, the floras mostly used as herbal medicines and the animals including an elusive Snow Leopard have made this place their suitable home. A research made in 70s by a British group says the density of Snow Leopard in the region is relatively higher to other parts of the Himalayas.

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Human foot prints are identifiable to the ones of elusive snow leopard