Archive for September 2020

Home Archive for September 2020

The government has opened the door for foreign tourists to come to Nepal from November 20. The government has not been able to decide what services to provide to foreign tourists even with one month left for the arrival of tourists. The protocol prepared by the ministry stipulates that the PCR report must be negative and must be quarantined for seven days after arrival in Kathmandu. This provision is in accordance with the procedures issued by the World Health Organization.

However, tourism entrepreneurs have been demanding the removal of the quarantine requirement to come to Nepal on the basis of a 72-hour PCR report being negative. Even though foreign tourists want to come to Nepal now, the businessmen say that they are a little shocked by the provision of staying in quarantine for seven days. Binayak Shah, the operator of the airport hotel and the first vice-president of the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), said that even though tourists from Europe are ready to come, they feel hassle to staying in quarantine for seven days.

Shashikant Agrawal, the manager of Marriott Hotel, says that the health protocol has brought problems even though it is open for tourist arrivals. "If I have to stay in quarantine for one day when I go abroad, I don't know which foreigner comes here to stay for seven days," said Agarwal. Now, Dubai has made a provision for those with a 72-hour PCR report to come back to their country. Entrepreneurs say that the possibility of tourists coming to Nepal immediately is low unless a similar provision is made.

Senior tourism entrepreneur Karna Shakya said that there is a need to amend the tourism-oriented protocol. He said that those with negative PCR report should come to Nepal without any condition. "No tourists come here because they are sick. They come here to have fun," said businessman Shakya. As Nepal's quarantine system is not good, it is necessary to relieve the tourists from such hassles.

Secretary General of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAN) Sarita Lama informed that the Ministry of Tourism has been suggested to reduce the quarantine system from 7 days to 3 days. She has requested the government to create a conducive environment for the tourists.

Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Tourism Board Dhananjay Regmi said that the protocol targeting tourists is being amended. He said that the government is also creating an environment for tourists to come to Nepal easily and simply.

Dolpo Region Trek(Best off the beaten path trek in Nepal)

Dolpo is one of the remote areas of west Nepal where peoples are dwelling some of the most glorious places without being remotely aware of it and preserving their cultures, traditions, costumes, religions, and ethnicities. Dolpo region has many trekking routes known as Lower Dolpo Trek, Upper Dolpo Trek, and Dolpo to Mustang trek although the Inner Dolpo trek is being very popular among the trekkers due to its natural beauties and the wide diversity of gobble position.

Dolpo is divided into the four valleys known as Dho (Tarap valley), Saldang (Nankhong valley), Tinje (Panjang valley), and Chharka (Tsharka valley), which are inhabitant by the Tibetan people although, they would like to introduce themselves as Dolponese people instead of Tibetan. Most of the people from Dolpo region are practicing Buddhism, shamanism and Bon-Po doctrine so during the trekking period trekkers may get great chance to learn Tibetan culture, tradition, customs and exploration of pilgrimage sites as monasteries, historical places, and mystic caves, gigantic pastureland and one of the pristine Lake called She-Phoksundo Lake.

The inner Dolpo trek start from Jhupal airport where can reach a short and scenic flight from Nepalgunj then the trail passes continuously through the Juniper scrub, River valleys, wide meadows, canyons, pasturelands, deep gorge, and impressive hidden valleys to get higher region. The higher region commands to see massif view of Dhaulagiri, Kanjirowa, ancient settlements, dozens of sacred sites and a beautiful Lake called Phoksundo, which is known as the deepest lake of Nepal. Apart from the High Himalayan view and natural beauties the Upper Dolpo region offers to see some wildlife such as Deer, Blue sheep, Musk deer, wild yak, wild goat, Marmot, snow-leopards, and many species of butterflies and birds such as Babbler, Golden eagles, and vultures.

Peoples and their income source

According to the Nepal census of 2011, there are 36700 peoples are living in the Dolpo district. Although; the population would be more than the declared number. Most of the settlements are settled between 3600 meters and 4700 meters above the sea level. People grow only the cabbage, Wheate, Buckwheat, Garlic, carrots, and barley which won’t be enough for the whole year so peoples are depending on herbs. They collect many kinds of herbs from the forest like Panch Aule, Tin Aule, Nirmasi, Jatamasi, Shilajeet, Himalayan salt, and Yarshagumba and they sell it to Tibet and they buy all eatable things from Tibet.

Major Festivals of Dolpo region – Shey Festival

is one of the most important festivals in the Dolpo region which is held every twelve years in the month of August in the Dolpo region during the ‘Dragon year’ of the Tibetan Calendar. It is a grand celebration for including Upper Dolpo people and all Tibetan Buddhist followers. In this festival, people make circumambulating the holiest Crystal Mountain. Many devotees and pilgrimages from different places and countries come here to participate in the festival. Apart from She Festival, there are hundreds of festivals in the Dolpo region known as Losar, Sagadawa, Yungney, Chhaye chu, Tse Tar, Chhaigo, Chhaiti, Keja, Yachha, and Rungma which are celebrated in different places of the region with different ways.

Highlights of the Dolpo Region Trek.

Living antique of Tibetan Buddhism and Bon

Tibetan Buddhism and Bon – Po religion still exists in the Dolpo region so during the trek, trekkers can explore Bon Monasteries and hermitages to see ancient Buddhist manuscripts and textAncient Buddhist texts and as well as Bon religion follower’s culture, society, costumes, festivals, and rituals.

Diverse Biodiversity

Dolpo region purpose to see great global diversity, it is expanded very low areas to the high Himalayas where can be seen different species of Flora and Fauna depending on the elevation. The Phoksundo national park is the biggest preserving area of Nepal and well known as the habitat of many different species of flora and fauna.

Strenuous High Passes

Dolpo region winds through the traversing across strenuous high passes above 5000m several times. So, one should be full of courage and mentally and physically fit. All of the high passes commands to see mind-blowing mountain views, glaciers, glacial lakes, and charm landscapes.

Beautiful hamlets

During the trek in the Dolpo region, trekkers pass by several villages which are inhabitant by Tibetan Buddhist peoples, therefore; travelers get a great chance to explore very old monasteries, Mani walls, Kani Gates, mystic caves, Chhortens, villages and, interesting houses which are well decorated with colorful Buddhist prayer flags.

Caravan of Yaks, Mules, Horses, and Tzopas

The people from the Dolpo region grow only the potatoes, buckwheat, barley, cabbage, garlic, and some seasonable vegetables but it won’t be enough for a whole year so they bringing eatable things from Tibet by Yaks, Horses, Mules, and Tzopas(Hybrid between Yak and cow) so during the trading time travelers can see the caravan of these animals are going to Tibet and coming back from Tibet.

Trekking and mountaineering groups will also be allowed to take foreign clients up to the mountains from 17 October, government spokesperson and Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali told a briefing. The decisions were taken on Monday’s Cabinet meeting on the recommendation of the Covid-19 Crisis Management Committee (CCMC).

From 1 September, limited regular international flights were also allowed as long as the total number of arriving passengers daily did not exceed 800. Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Yogesh Bhattarai hinted last week that up to 3,000 passengers a day may soon be allowed to land.

Passengers must have RT PCR negative reports done 72 hours before departure. Despite this, inbound passengers have complained about unnecessarily long waits at holding centers in Kathmandu on arrival.

All the hotels in Nepal are almost empty since March. This decision of the Nepal Government makes it somehow a relief to Nepalese Hotel entrepreneur. Last year in 2019, 1.3 million tourists had arrived in Nepal but this year 2020 which was announced as visit year totally get lost due to the corona pandemic. It is a bitter history in the tourism history of Nepal.

Tourism brought in $700 million in 2018-19 and makes up 8% of Nepal's GDP. Nearly half-a-million Nepalis are directly employed in the trekking and mountaineering sector, with 2 million others benefiting indirectly from tourism.

Nepal is the paradise for trekking, heaven for adventure lovers. Trekking is the biggest sector that makes Nepal known to the world. Everest Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Everest Expedition, Off the beaten path trek are the most famous trekking and adventure destination in Nepal.

Even prior to this announcement, two expeditions had been granted permission to climb in Nepal. One was a special permit for the as all-Nepali expedition to Baruntse which has already left for base camp, and the other to a 15-member Bahraini Military expedition to Mt Manaslu that includes three Britons. The Bahrainis are arriving in Kathmandu on a charter flights on Wednesday.