Dolpa District


Dolpa District, a part of Karnali Pradesh, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. The district, with Dunai as its district headquarters, covers an area of and has a population of 36,700.

Geography and climate

Dolpa is the largest district of Nepal covering 5.36% of the total landmass of the country, located at 28°43’N to 29°43’N latitude, and 82°23’E to 83°41’E longitude. Elevation ranges from. The district borders Tibet on the north and northeast, Jumla and Mugu districts of Karnali on the west, Myagdi, Jajarkot and Rukum on the south, and Mustang on the east.
A large portion of the district is protected by Shey Phoksundo National Park. The name is derived from the 12th century Shey Monastery and the deepest lake in Nepal, the Phoksundo Lake, both of which lie in the district. The park protects endangered animals like the snow leopard, musk deer and the Tibetan wolf. Shey Phoksundo is the largest and the only trans-Himalayan National Park in Nepal.
It is the biggest area occupying district of Nepal.
The district distances an altitudinal range of over from a little over at Tribeni in Kalika VDC to meters at the peak of Churen Himal. Kanjiroba, Mukot and Putha Hiunchuli are other renowned peaks.
Physiographical the smaller ranges of the Great Himalayas comprise the southern border of the district. Between these and the border mountain ranges of Gautam Himal and Kanti Himal to the north, Dolpa district is a labyrinth of often wide glacial valleys and ridges. Kanjiroba Himal and Kagmara Lekh running northwest to southeast separate the valleys of the Jagdula in the west from the rest of the district.
Climate ZoneElevation Range% of Area
Subtropical1,000 to 2,000 meters
3,300 to 6,600 ft.		0.3%
Temperate2,000 to 3,000 meters
6,400 to 9,800 ft.		5.1%
Subalpine3,000 to 4,000 meters
9,800 to 13,100 ft.		12.2%
Alpine4,000 to 5,000 meters
13,100 to 16,400 ft.		8.2%
Nivalabove 5,000 meters3.8%
Trans-Himalayan3,000 to 6,400 meters
9,800 to 21,000 ft.		70.2%

Demographics

At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Dolpa District had a population of 36,700. Chhetris is the largest group with 30.000 population, Of these, 94.4% spoke Nepali, 1.6% Gurung, 1.9% Sherpa, 1.2% Magar, 3.4% Dolpali, 1.8% Bote and 1.7% Kham as their first language.
Most of the people are Hindu Buddhist. 5.05% belong to the ancient Bonpo religion. Dolpa's major occupations are agriculture and service.

Tourism

Dolpa region is a distant region of Nepal and the central point of this area is Shey Phoksumdo National Park. The east and south of Dolpa are surrounded by the Dhaulagiri and Churen Himal ranges and to the west is the Jumla district. Trekking to Lower Dolpa offers you the remarkable and breathtaking experience of a lifetime. The notable features seen here are snowy peaks, ancient and remote villages, rich wildlife, lovely Buddhist monasteries and wonderful lakes. The people of this area are simple and warm-hearted with an enthralling culture and traditions. The cultural traditions of this area are basically linked with the Tibetan culture.
Trekking into Dolpa presents an exposure to the high and remote Himalayan valleys, resembling the Tibetan highlands. The main highlight of Dolpa trekking includes “Shey Phoksundo National Park” which is one of the major National Parks of Nepal. “Shey Phoksundo Lake” is another famous feature of this region. The lake is totally free of aquatic life, which the crystal waters clearly demonstrate. Surrounded by rocks, forests, and snow-capped peaks, the area has been described as one of the world's “Natural Hidden Wonders”.
The Dolpa trekking starts at Juphal and follows the track to Dunai, then continues to Tarakot, way up to Bang la Camp, the uppermost point of Dolpa trekking. After passing through Sanu Bheri village, we then descend to the good-looking Phoksundo Lake, which is a piece of the Shey Phoksundo National Park.

Transport

This district, despite being the largest in area in the nation, has only 1 vehicle as of November 2012, and no road links to other districts. Government is trying to link roadway to Dolpa,Dunai. The road is linked to Rukum, Jajarkot districts. The road is long, of which road construction is completed and is planning to complete up to Asaar.

Administration

The district consists of 8 Municipalities, out of which two are urban municipalities and six are rural municipalities. These are as follows:
Prior to the restructuring of the district, Dolpa District consisted of the following municipalities and village development committees: