Dolpo Short Trek is a natural splendor and a first choice to the trekkers who seek unspoiled and unexploited lands that gives a pure vibe of trekking. If you have been a serious trekking enthusiast and prefer routes that have not been rearranged by the influx of crowd, then Dolpo Short trek is just for you.
Located in the Northwest region of Nepal, and nearby the Tibetan border, the Dolpo region has its own rustic charm because of its remoteness. Opened for travelers after the late eighties, this region got its fame after Peter Mathesons narrated his journey of the Dolpo Region in his book “The Snow Leopard”.
Dolpo Region has so much to offer despite its wilderness and remoteness. The hidden valleys, the Shey Gumpa; an ancient Buddhist monastery, breathtaking view of turquoise Phoksundo lake, the high Himalayas, The largest National park: shey Phoksundo National Park, live in Buddhism Bon Po Culture, witness Yak Caravan walk-in desert, pie forests, high passes trails and rare wild animals such as musk deer, thar, blue sheep, ghoral, snow leopard and the unique and astonishing culture of the local people. The Dolpo region trek is filled with Buddhist lifestyle, culture, tradition and history. It has also been a shooting hub for many movies such as “Himalayas” which was nominated for an Oscar.
Dolpo region is very vast in size and covers about 6% of the total area of the country Nepal. Split into two regions; Upper dolpo region and lower Dolpo region, the areas have been explored frequently in the recent years to understand the depth of beauty Dolpo region has to offer. However, the treks to the Upper Region and the lower region are usually done separately and are comparatively very long treks.
With years of experiences in the Dolpo region and by understanding the need of a shorter dolpo trek that covers both the region in a shoter time frame, the team of Orbit Alpine Adventure has designed a short itinerary for fellow travelers. This short Dolpo Trek can be experienced by any trekkers who want to explore both the regions but are short of time.
Highlights
1. Polyandry:
Polyandry is a ancient tradition in the Dolpo region in which the brothers of a family share the same wife. The wife usually has more than 2 husbands numbering upto 6-8. The wife has a major role to maintain equal relation, affection and love among all the husbands. She has to read the psychology of the husbands and provide sexual satisfaction to them. Sometimes she has to provide the sexual services to three of four husbands in a night. This tradition is has a history of development to prevent from splitting the property of the house.
2. Sky Burial :
Sky burial is considred to be a practice of Buddhism in the Upper Dolpo region. This ritual was developed to imitate the act of compassion shown by Buddha who saved a starving tigress by offering his own body. This belief has shaped a foundation that even after death, the human body is useful and can be used to satisfy the hunger of the starving vultures. The rital is so famous that Buddhist people from all over the world bring dead bodies to the Dolpo region to perform this ritual. In this ritual, the lama separates the hair from the skull, separates flesh from the bone and chops down all the bones into small pieces. At first he gives the bones and organs to the wild vultures and later serves the flesh. The tradition is held three days after the death of the person. This tradition is said to clean all the sins done by the person and get a place in heaven.