Nice Dolpa

Dolpa The “Hidden land”

Dolpa is one of the largest and most remote district of Nepal which covers 7,888 sq.km. of the total landmass of the country but least populated and Dunai is the District Headquarter. It is situated far to the North of Kathmandu (capital) and borderly touched with Mustang on the East, Myadgi, Rukum and Jajarkot on the South, Jumla and Mugu District on the West and the Tibet Region of China on the North. This district completely lies in the Trans-Himalayan region of Nepal and is separated in Upper and Lower Dolpa. Where as an attitudinal range from just over 1,500 meters in the Southern part is called Lower Dolpa and to 7,381 meters at the summit of the Chure Himal is called as Upper Dolpa. Dolpa is known as “Hidden Land” as well “Hidden Paradise”, because of its mysterious Natural Beauty. From Upper Dolpa, nature decorated scenery such as wide glacial valleys, high rock headwalls/peaks, steep slopes, folded/faulted limestone and sandstones can be viewed. In Dolpa there we can find many Historical Ancient Buddhist Monasteries, Gompas and remote villages which are waiting for reconstructing.

Shey Phoksundo National Park, Lake Phoksundo and Ancient Monasteries are the prime attraction of this region. Except Natural Beauty, Dolpa is rich in Natural Resources. More than 1,200 plants species, over 400 species of Medicinal and Aromatic Herb Plants such as Meconosis, Wild Rose, Wild Asparagus, Scrophulari, Orchid, Dipsacia Hookeri, Lilac, Aconities, Halenia, etc. including Yarshagumba as well as medicinal minerals like Calcium, Iron Magnetite, Pitch/Bitumen. Precious stones like Turquoise, Pearls and Zhi are also found in the mountain regions which are used as a jewel.

Nature, Nature gave many Natural Gifts to Dolpa which can be unforgettable memories to experience. But a problem to be in Dolpa is about Land Transportation. There are no roads built still, so only the way to Dolpa is by Air, from the city of Nepalgung, in the Western Terai region of Nepal.

Great Himalayan Trail in Dolpa

See more view of Dolpa on Google Map>>>

Dolpa People

Dolpa people are generally seen to settle at an altitude of 3,660 meters to 4,070 meters from sea level probably highest settlements in the world. The people there are warm hearted. Approximately Dolpas population is around 29,550 where ethnically Hindu people live 60%, Buddhist 35% and 5% ancient Bonpo and Shananistic Religion. Mostly In Lower Dolpa, Chhettri, Brahman, Thakuri, Newar, Sarki, Damai are found to be live where as in Upper Dolpa Bhotiyas, Sherpa, Gurung and Magar are live. And the languages, mostly they speak are Nepali, Dolpo, a local dialect of Tibet and Kaike.

Due to Remote district of Nepal the people in Dolpa are not getting proper basic governmental supports such as Transportation, Education, Healthcare service, Electricity, Telephone, Pipeline water etc. Thus the district still is one of the most underdeveloped and economically poor districts of Nepal.

Most people in Dolpa live in the river valleys of Lower Dolpa, where the higher rainfall supports a lush vegetation and forest. Agriculture is the major occupation of Dolpa People where 79% of the population is depends in Agriculture and 3% in service. Most households have some small plot of land where the inhabitants of Lower Dolpa people grow Rime, Millet, Potatoes, Wheat, Buckwheat, Maize and Native Crop as well Upper Dolpa People grow Tibetan Barley as sole crop. Due to few land they can grow food hardly for 6 to 7 months.

Animal farming is another major occupation of Dolpa People. This farming is their traditional and most economical support activity. They keep Yaks, Sheep’s, Goats and Cattles. From the hair of Yaks and Sheep’s they make warm blankets and clothes for their own use and also sale. Milk for these pets are the major diet of Dolpa People. Even dried dung of Yak is used as fuel in the lack of firewood. As the district is so remote and mountainous, Yak is supposed to be the vital means of transportation, by the help of which Dolpa people trade Salt, Medicinal Plants and other Mineral resources for Food grains and other essentials they need from neighboring VDC, district and across the border into Tibet.

More the number of Pet Animals they owned recognized the Wealthy Person in their society.

Summer Grass, Winter Worm

Another highly income resource of Dolpa People is Yarshagumba. This is a combination of Insect and Mushroom so called “Summer Grass, Winter Worm.” It is a rare fungus, grows only at the High Altitudes Himalayans of 3000 to 5000 meters in Tibet, Nepal, China, Bhutan and North-East India.

Yarshagumba is a Tibetan word and it literally means summer plant and winter insect (caterpillar). The caterpillar of moth genus Thitarodes lives underground in alpine grass and shrubland spending up to 5 years before pupating, feeding on roots of plants. During the larva stage, just earlier in the rainy season, spores of Cordyceps fungus infect these caterpillars found on moist grass and hollow soul. After the infection of fungus it works as a parasite. The fungus parasite gets the energy form the caterpillar and gets so much into the body of the caterpillar’s that it drains all the energy from the insect and ultimately it dies. As temperature increases and melts snow, mushroom emerge out from the forehead of the caterpillar. Matured mushroom grows from 5 to 15 cm above the surface are ready to collect as Yarshagumba. The Matured Mushroom that releases its spores on the ground and the cycle repeats.

Medicinal Uses

Yarshagumba is scientifically known as “Cordyceps Sinensis” and numerous scientific studies and research reveals that it has properties of antibiotic in it which is used for :

1. Treatment of lung and respiratory infection, pain, sciatica and backache.

2. Increases physical stamina of the body.

3. Cure for hepatitis B and immune function such as dysfunction of the liver, cancer.

4. Effective against Tuberculosis as well as in the treatment of leprosy.

5. Treatment of Leukemia.

6. Energizes lung, kidney and liver.

7. Improves memory and purified blood; keeps a person physically and mentally sound. It is the importance of great for any age group, players, people working with physical stress, suffering from premature ejaculation and sexually inactive ones. It gradually empowers internal energy of our body in a natural way.

Due to such medicinal uses, it is known as “Himalayan Herbal Viagra” with no side effects as well as “Himalayan Gold” as it has high commercial value.

Source: http://dolpadevelopmentsociety.com/