Dolpo-Tse Phoksundo

Of lately Dolpa has gained itself as a popular destination for trekking tourism. Although some restrictions apply, it is still possible to venture out in this windswept high altitude desert. This is a culturally Tibetan region mostly in the upper part and was the site for the 1999 Oscar nominated film/documentary by French man Eric Valli titled Himalayan: Caravan.

Technically, this region is the extension of high Tibetan Plateau where majority of the people follow Buddhism. The locals are adherent of Bon - the origins predate Buddhism – now considered the fifth school of Tibetan Buddhism.  This remote region has preserved its Tibetan culture in a relatively pure form, which is an attraction in itself.

This region is historically divided into four valleys - lower valleys of Tsharka (“fertile land”) and Tarap (“auspicious/excellent”),  higher valleys of Panzang (“abode of monks”) and Nangkhong (“innermost place”)