The
trek to Shey Phoksundo Lake starts from Dunai, the district headquarters
of Dolpa district and takes a little over 20 hours spread over three days
to reach there. It is a tiring walk: first, all along the Bheri river and
then the Phoksundo khola from Suligad all the way to the top. The trail
from the gateway of the Park to the lake is striking. The lake's surface
is azure and pure on clear days. In addition, the lush green surroundings,
the mountains, the cool breeze all combined to reach us to the height of
3660 m. Before the lake you will have a glimpse of the breathtaking waterfall,
just 10 minutes from the turquoise lake.
The
lake is surrounded by hills on all sides. You will feel in the pristine
and unspoilt beauty of the lake which is the highest and deepest and second
largest (after Rara Lake) lake of he country. On clear sky it is possible
to see the three glaciers . The sight is really breathtaking. You can sit
there for hours, gazing at the lake and enjoying the serene surroundings.
The good part about the lake is that it is still free from any pollution
and any filth. There is no ugly littering around. The lamas of the Shey
Monastery have forbidden anyone from having any bath (holy or otherwise)
or washing their clothes.
On
the way back you will have a view of the big waterfall.
| Maoist
area
|
 |
Dolpa
is one of the districts most affected by maoist activities. The Communist
Party of Nepal (Maoist) is doing what the government is unable to do outside
the district headquarters, Dunai: collecting "taxes" and issuing trade
"guidelines". Maoists move more freely around Dunai and elsewhere. The
rebels collect "taxes" and "trade license fees" in the areas falling outside
the district headquarters. The rebels have imposed "tax" on Yarsagomba
(Cordyceps sinensis) - the "Himalayan Viagra"-, which has a big market
in Tibet, India and in South East Asia for its use as an aphrodisiac, among
other uses. It is found in the Shey Phoksundo National Park area and outside.
| Advice
|
|
The
entire trail of 2-3 days' trekking from Dunai to Shey Phoksundo Lake, the
deepest lake in the Himalayan Kingdom, is dotted with do's and don'ts "notices"
by the Maoists. Mostly tourists are not affected by any Maoist activities.
