By Bagaman Kulung:
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| Survey team at Jurekom Jungle photo Prakash Gopali |
Immediate first Constituent Assembly
(CA) had proposed Khotang as a future state capital among of 14 proposed that
came in debate of its' name but not more in place where it had been proposed
can be forecasted future of Khotang in the upcoming new constitution. But what
Khotang does, if the new constitution determines capital of a new state in the
federal structure? What is the vision to make capital with sufficient infrastructure
and well managed city with sufficient facilities? What Khotang thinks as a leader
of the future of sub provinces around it? Under those development visions it
may be tourism development, infrastructure, hilly and mountain herbal
plantations and its' exports and development of electricity as well. This
article I have here has been prepared after when we completed 36 days new
trekking trails survey from Solukhumbu Phaplu to Setipokhari and then Lamidada
and Tumlingtar through Bung, Chheskam, Kenpa, Salpa Danda in collaboration with
Samas Media Pvt, Ave-news national television and district technical office
Solukhumbu Salleri in coordination of an NGO Hill Development and Conservation
Group Nepal. This article also can be said a report of that survey works.
Recent trails to Everest and its' weaknesses:
The highest mountain Everest is in
Khumjung village of Khumbu valley Solukhumbu Nepal. In
the Khumbu
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| Khotang to Everest Map (but it not technical map) |
valley there are dozens of mountains including Lyhotse,
Kalapatthar, Kongde, Amadablang, Pumori, Choyu, Nupse, Iceland peak, Gokyou,
Labuche and many more. However the only one enter gate to access those
mountains is Lukla. Each time tourists who go there by plane take risk of their
life, since this is a world's top 10th dangerous airport. The landed tourists
then have to follow the Khumbu glacier to access those all mountains. They can
observe dozens of mountains in the Khumbu valley but they have to follow the
same visited route to back from that valley, because tourists have to pass
either Amphulapcha pass 5,800 m to make round trek through Hunga valley or
Tashilapcha pass 5,700 m to make round trek through Tamakoshi valley of Dolakha
which are not easy accessible to all tourists. Even those geographical
difficulties, tens of thousands tourists go to
Khumbu valley each year. The busiest airport of Nepal records by the Lukla
airport with around of daily 75 flights. Namche VDC keeps record of more
tourists' number each night than the number of locals.
Setipokhari Valley and Lamidanda from there:
Setipokhari a pond in Setipokhari valley
is the beginning source the greatest
river Shaptakoshi of Nepal falls
under Setipokhari valley. Setipokhari can be found after
when passed Amphulapcha 5,800 m. from Chhikung of Khumjung under Khumbu valley
in Solukhumbu Nepal. In the Setipokhari valley there are several mountains
including Barunje, Chamlang, Mera, Hungu Chuli I, Hungu Chuli II and Charpate.
Trekkers can reach Tumlingtar from this valley by passing Sherpeni- col 6,135m
of the east, but by passing Merala pass 5,415 m trekkers reach Naulekh village
of Bung under Ingkhu valley. Similarly by passing Mingbola pass 5,817 m.
trekkers reach Tengboche village of Khumjung nearby Amadablang peak.
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| Setipokhari valley in October season Photo: Purna Kulung |
Similarly
tourists reach Muddikharka of Chheskam, if they flow the Hunga River from
Setipokahri through the places Magandovan, Watelmadovan and Jurekom. But yet to
be finished to constructed this way (Feb.2015). As per a technical survey
report of district technical office Salleri the total cost to construct this
new trekking trails is Rs. 6 million 800 thousand. Lo
cals have already
implemented construction of Rs. 1.8 million while they are preparing to
implement of Rs. 2.2 million very soon (status of Feb.2015). Locals are trying
to find out further needed funds to success their dream to open this trails.
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| Khongmadingma valley (Photo: Lakpad Kulung) |
Except
the aforementioned four alternatives it can be reached Kenpa the middle point
of Sangkhuwasabha and Solukhumbu from Setipokhari through a next possible new
trekking rout that goes through the 4,483 m. Bagaledeurai pass.
Except
the proposed new trail from Setipokhari to Muddikharka this will be the easiest
pass to come back from Setipokahri valley among the 5 alternative passes. An
NGO Salpa Shilucho Mera Tourism Promotion Centre based on Sangkhuwasbha has
been initiating to construct the trekking route. Report of district technical
office Sangkhuwasabha has
mentioned that total 8.2 million budgets is needed to
construct the whole trail of Kenpa to Setipokahri. The NGO has raised Rs. 0.7
million budgets in 2015 (status of Feb.2015).Tourists who arrive Kenpa from
Setipokhari can reach Khotang through Bhukur Danda and Salpa Danda ranges. But
they also can go Bhojpur Bazar and Tumlingtar from Kenpa. Under the proposed
way there are two famous pilgrim places in Kenpa and Salpa (Please see details annex about pilgrim place in Kenpa). Tourists
can view the mountain range of Makalu, Mera, Everest, Dhudkunda, Chamlang,
Kanchanjanga and many more from Kamire Danda, Bhukur Danda and Shilucho peak.
In this way water can be found easily in October season. This trail will be
suitable for mountain views but in case of snowing in Setipokhari the way to
Muddikharka will be a rescue way since trekkers do not have to pass any
peaks
to come back from the Setipokhari valley.
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| Kenpa place Photo: Lakpad Kulung |
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| Salpa Bhojpur Photo JB Kulung |
In
this case tourists from Khotang can chose either through the bank of Hunga
River or through the hill ranges of Bhukur and Kenpa to reach Setipokhari. In
case of lack of water in Bhukur area tourists can go Kenpa through Mamerku,
Bhaisiri and Mekato one of the most solitary Jungle of Makalu Barun National
Park.
Concepts
of Cable car in Amphulapcha pass for round trekking in the future:
After
the proposed two trekking trails construction Trekkers from Khotang, Bhojpur or
Tumlingtar can go to Setipokhari through the proposed two trekking trails.
Simply there is way of Sheeps and Yaks that can
be followed before well construction
In overall, there are possibilities
of three ways from Khotang to Setipokhari that can be said lower, middle and
upper trail. Trekking through the hills to view mountain ranges are upper,
Jungle safari covers major Jungles of Bhaisiri and Mekato areas in Makalu Barun National Park is middle and in case
of snowing that
can be used through Muddikharka as a rescue way is lower way.
In the future it can be constructed a mountain cable car in Amphulapcha pass
that will joint Setipokhari Valley and Khumbu valley. In this case the tourists
landed in Lukla by 75 flights daily can easily access Setipokhari valley and
will end their trip at Khotang, Bhojpur and Sangkhuwasbha. Karma Tschiring
Sherpa the first vice Chairperson of Trekking Agent Association of Nepal (TAAN)
said 'it can be fixed rope initially there in Amphulapcha that can be developed
in cable car in the future when we can do'.
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| Sherpa village after crossing Amphulapcha (Pt Kamal Kulung) |
If we recap the points with
explaining from Khotang Halesi, tourists who arrive to visit Halesi pilgrim can
visit local indigenous cultures of lower Solukhumbu and upper Bhojpur and
Khotang can access mountaineering of Setipokhari valley and Khumbu valley by
passing Amphulapcha finally will end their trip at Lukla and can back
Kathmandu. In this situation, it will be the best round trek of religious,
cultural and mountaineering in the same time. Khotang is demanding to be
capital there with demonstration have to start to implement this dream, why not
it takes two decades or more.
(Author is a management coordinator of the 36
days' survey work)
Annex: Kenpa Gaubitta Kalpokhari ( Death lake)
Around in the sixteenth century, a Gurung person with more than 1000 sheeps had come in this Kenpa area. Gurung wanted to
cook some foods. He used 3 stones as kitchen milestone. When he cooked some
foods like milk and such kind of foods, it didn't create any problems. But when
he cooked some meats or such kinds of food, the milestone brokken and spelled
all his foods. This event repitted mo
re than 5 times and finnaly he becaome
very angry and he cut that stone. As result there was very big stromming and
all his sheeps died there. He forcasted that the
stone should be God and he kept it separately and made a temple there. When a
local Kulung Ancestor namely Thimra listen that event, he decided to go there
for worshiping. He went there with his other more team members on the occassion
of Janai Purnima (special date as Nepali callender comes in each year of Auguest).
When he reached there he said to his assistants and he promised to go inside
the lake and bring a buffelo. But it was a term for his assistants that they
had to play his drome very loughly. But when he brough a buffelo as he said his
assistants affried and they run away.
Then the buffelo backed him inside the lake. It indicated some bloodshed in
that lake. The Thimra person never returned. Since this day, it started to be
recognized as a death lake. now also tourists can see that cut sore of the God
at the temple and the lake at Gaubitta. Since that event many peoples from
Bhojpur, Solukhumbu, Sangkhuwasava have been worshiping in this place on the
accasion of Janai Purnima. The temple can be found under the proposed trail. For translated article in Nepali Please click here
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| Kenpa Pilgrim temple (Photo JB Kulung) |
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