Output Level Program Survey Report

Phaplu and Lamidada to Setopokhari Tourism Trail 

survey partnership program

Output Level Program Report

Bhukur peak left and Shiluchho peak right side

Prepared By : Phaplu and Lamidada to Setopokhari Tourism Promotion Committee

Hill Development and Conservation Group Nepal

Bung, Solukhumbu

Acknowledgement

 From Lukla airport of Solukhumbu, trekker reach Setopokhari valley (around 3,700 m. and which is also 

 the origin place of Saptakoshi the greatest river in Nepal) through Kothe, Naulekh and Merala pass

 (5,415). There are following four alternatives for trekkers to reach this Setopokhari valley:-

1. From Lukla through Namche, Tengboche and Mingbola pass (5,817 m.),
2. From Lukla through Namche, Chhukung and Amphulapcha pass (5,800 m.),
3. From Tumlingtar through Makalu base camp and Sherpenicol pass (6,135 m.) and
4. From Tumlingtar through Tamku, Kenpa and Gaubitta pass (around 3,900 m.).

 It is compulsory to pass at least one from aforementioned five peaks Merala, Mingbola, Amphulapcha,Sherpenicol and Gaubitta to come back for the trekkers. In the case of unfortunate snowing, many trekkers cannot cross the mountains and have been being rescued by the helicopter. But most of the porters have to face big problems and sometime they die there. However, trekkers go there in every season to submit Mt. Barunje, Mera, Chamlang, Makalu and many more. In the trekking season the valley becomes like a recognized town.

 In this situation, it is extremely needed to develop new trekking way through the bank of Hunga River (branch of Saptakoshi), which never passes any peaks. If it is developed a new trekking way to reach   Muddikhadka of Chheskam from Setopokhari, trekkers can back Phaplu through Chheskam, Bung, Sotang, Pawai, Deusa, Mukli, Garma and Salleri, which also will be a rescue way for the trekkers. They also can back Tumlingtar through Chheskam, Gudel, Bhojpur Dobane or Khotang Lamidada airport through Salpa pass, Dharmapeak, Aiselukharka of Khotang. The name of this trail may be the Phaplu Setopokhari trekking trail and Lamidada Setopokhari trail as well. It was a preliminary survey by local peoples of Chheskam, however it is the first time that District Technical Office jointly with Chheskam 

 Village Development Fund on behalf of Nepal government has planned to perform survey work of this

 Phaplu Setopokhari trail. 
 We local youths in Kathmandu shared this government plan and possibilities of that two trekking trails with 

 the team of Yatra (Travel) program in Avenues national television, which is relating to promotion of virgins tourism in Nepal. Then they interested and proposed to go there with the integration of that government team. We tentatively calculate the budget and it was nearly Rs. one million. However we decided to go anyhow and we became success because of financial assistances of different trekking companies, organizations and persons. We became success to make video documentary of phaplu Setipokhari and Lamidada Setopokhari trekking trail within 36 days. This Program report is for acknowledgement to these who contributed this program and to recommend to the concerned governmental and nongovernmental organizations to develop these trekking trails.

Special thanks go to the major partner organization Samas media Pvt. Ltd. I also would like to extend my great acknowledgement for the financial support to the District Development Committee, Tchiring Sherpa director of Alpine Adventure Trek and Expedition, Mindhan Kulung director of Himalayan Garden Trek and Expedition, Shreedhan Kulung director of Kulung Ethnic Trek and Expedition, Bhim Kulung and Kamal Ram Kulung from America, Eka Kulung, Kalka Kulung, TilaJang Kulung and others. Similarly I would like to extend my great thanks to Him Nachhiring and Khila Raj Basnet for their valuable lobby and advocacy to release budget from District Development Committee Solukhumbu. Thank goes to Chandra Kumar Luitel the secretary of Cheskam Village Development committee, Chatur Kulung and Ram Kulung who integrated this program with VDC fund. I would like to extend my grateful to Param Dwaj Kulung, Dilli Kulung, Bikash Kulung, Jas Bahadur Kulung, Tara Kulung, Dependra Kulung, Keshav Kulung, Parkhi Dhan Nachhiring, Gom Bahadur Kulung, Chandra Kumar Kulung, Chhalak Ram Kulung and others who actively involved in program of grassroots in the villages. Special thanks also go to Kulung cultural group, local clubs, ladies and others who actively contributed by performing their cultural programs. I also would like to extend my grateful to leathers of political parties for their support. I would like to extend my grateful to the trekking companies and my friends of Executive Board of Hill Development and Conservation Group Nepal, who provided me these sensitive responsibilities of the program coordinator.  I would like to thank to members of this survey committee, who has been continuously supporting me even still now. Thanks go to Binod Kulung and Pasang Sherpa who continuously guided to the team of television in the site area. 

Finally I would like to extend my grateful also to the team of Solu F.m including journalist Bhojendra Basnet, team of Himalayan Indigenous Online including journalist Tchering Sherpa and team of Soluonline, who contributed by dissemination our program activities. I hope you all will continuously keep your cooperation in the future too.

Finally I would like to request you to send your valuable suggestions in our program as well as in this our  program report.

Bagaman Kulung

Coordinator

(Phaplu and Lamidada to Setopokhari Tourism Trail survey partnership program)

Hill Development and Conservation Group Nepal, Bung 6, Solukhumbu  Nepal

Email: bmkulung@gmail.com

www.bagaman-kulung.blogspot.com

Phone: 977-9849235245

Place nearby Khongmadingma valley

 Background

 Solukhumbu Nepal is known as a tourism destination due to Mt. Everest, cultural diversity, wild life, flora and fauna in Sagarmatha National Park and Makalu Barun National Park. However the southern part of Solukhumbu has been over shadowed mainly due to the lack of infrastructure development, dissemination, lodges and hotels etc. However there is the possibility of tourism development, if it an effective development strategy is implemented. Also the other reason not to develop in southern part of Solukhumbu is the trekking trails of lower Solukhumbu have not been linked with upper recognized trails. Although there are enough possibilities of new trekking trails development. 

 Possibilities of new trekking trails in southern part of Solukhumbu

 A. Phaplu Setopokhari tourism trails 

 From Lukla airport of Solukhumbu, trekker reach Setopokhari valley (around 3,700 m. and  which is also the origin place of Saptakoshi the greatest river in Nepal) through Kothe, Naulekh and Merala pass (5,415).There are also following four alternatives for trekkers to reach in this Setopokhari valley:-

a.      From Lukla through Namche, Tengboche and Mingbola pass (5,817 m.),

b.      From Lukla through Namche, Chhukung and Amphulapcha pass (5,800 m.),

c.      From Tumlingtar through Makalu basecamp and Sherpenicol pass (6,135 m.) and

d.      From Tumlingtar through Tamku, Kenpa and Gaubitta pass (around 3,900 m.).

 It is compulsory to pass at least one from aforementioned five peaks Merala, Mingbola, Amphulapcha, Sherpenicol and Gaubitta to come back for the trekkers. In the case of unfortunate snowing, many trekkers who cannot cross aforementioned peaks have been being rescued by the helicopter. But most of the porters have to face big problems and sometime they die there. However, trekkers go there in every season to submit Mt. Barunje, Mera, Chamlang, Makalu and many more. In the trekking season the valley becomes like a recognized town. In this situation, it is extremely needed to develop a new trekking way through the bank of Hunga River (branch of Saptakoshi), which never passes any peaks. If it is developed a new trekking way to reach Muddikhadka of Chheskam from Setopokhari valley, trekkers can reach Phaplu through Chheskam, Bung, Sotang, Pawai, Deusa, Mukli, Garma and Salleri. They also can go Tumlingtar through Chheskam, Gudel, Bhojpur Dobane or Khotang Lamidada airport through Salpa pass, Dharmapeak, Aiselukharka of Khotang. The name of this trail may be the Phaplu Setopokhari trekking trail.

View of Kenpa dada From Chhemsing

 B.Lamidada Setopokhari Trekking Trails:

Lamidada Khotang to Solukhumbu Phaplu and Kangeldada airport through Salpa pass, Gudel,Bung, Sotang, Deusa is already a normal way for trekking. This way is more suitable for village base tourism than mountaineering. It is possibility to develop a new trekking way from Salpa Pokhari midpoint of Sangkhuwasava, Solukhumbu and Bhojpur districts to Setipokhari through Bhakari Chhiruwa, Kongkho, Bhukur Dada, Batase dada, Kamire, Kenpa and Dharmadhoka as a new mountaineering trekking trail. The main feature of this concept is to organize trekking through the hillsides from 2700 m. to 4200 m. By using this new trail trekkers can enjoy with mountains views and many pilgrim places like Gaubitta Kal Pokhari (Death lake see annex 3 for details) and Salpa. The name of this trail may be the Lamidada Setopokhari trekking trail.Jointly Samas Media Pvt. Ltd, local NGO Hill Development and Conservation Group Nepal,Trekking companies and other stakeholder local peoples have completed a survey work of these two aforementioned trekking trails with findings its' possibility in the future. 

 Objectives of this survey work:-

 The major objectives of survey work of this trekking trail is to study the possibilities of trekking trail in these aforementioned two proposed areas by making video documentary of local cultural, natural and historical tourism parts for documentation and dissemination.

     To study the possibility of two trekking trails in lower Solukhumbu specially Phaplu Setopokhari and Lamidada Setopokhari for dissemination by the Avenues national television and to recommend to the governmental and nongovernmental concerned organizations for it's' development in the future.To make video documentary of local cultures, natural and historical heritages of Solukhumbu Pawai, Sotang, Bung, Chheskam and Gudel for documentation and dissemination by Avenues national television.

Major target area and places:

The major targeted areas of this program are naturally tourism parts like mountains, lakes, jungles, rhododendrons and others of specially Solukhumbu Salleri, Garma, Mukli, Deusa, Pawai, Sotang, Bung, Chheskam, Gudel and some parts of Khotang and Bhojpur districts. Similarly local cultural, historical and local lifestyles of Solukhumbu Pawai, Sotang, Bung, Chheskam and Gudel are the other major targeted subjects of this program.

Program Survey Methodology:

Major team members of 3 persons from Kathmandu           1.       Parkash Gopali          ( Avenues Television)           2.       Shukra Raj Dhital       ( Avenues Television)           3.       Binod Kulung Chheskam 2, ( Local representative) Additional included with major team members from Chheskam to Setopokhari valley: 1.       Mansingh Kulung ( Technician from district technical office Salleri) 2.       Jas Bahadur Kulung       Chheskam 3 ( Local assistant) 3.       Nai Barna  Kulung          Chheskam 3 ( Local assistant) 4.       Tila Raj  Kulung             Chheskam 3 ( Local assistant) 5.       Harka  Kulung                Chheskam 3 ( Local assistant) 6.       Nimai  Kulung                Chheskam 1 ( Local assistant) 7.       Phatte Ram  Kulung      Chheskam 6  ( Local assistant) 8.       Raj Kumar  Kulung       Chheskam 9 ( Local assistant) 9.       Khadga Raj  Kulung      Chheskam 1 ( Local assistant) 10.    Nichchhal  Kulung        Chheskam 1 ( Local assistant) 11.    Sahupa  Kulung             Chheskam 6 ( Local assistant) 12.    Pasang Sherpa               Chheskam 2 ( Local assistant) 13.    Namgel Sherpa              Chheskam 3 ( Local assistant) Additional included with major team members from Kenpa to Mamerku :         1.       Pasang Sherpa       Chheskam 2 ( Local assistant)         2.       Namgel Sherpa       Chheskam 3 ( Local assistant) From Mamerku to Lamidada the major 3 members team included :         1.       Parkash Gopali              ( Avenues Television)         2.       Shukra Raj Dhital           ( Avenues Television)        3.       Binod Kulung Chheskam 2, ( Local representative)

The team of 3 persons, 2 from Avenues national television and 1 person from local initiators had started their survey work from Salleri Solukhumbu. Additionally 13 persons including a technician person had involved from Chheskam to Setopokhari valley. Then this team of 16 persons completed the survey work from Chheskam to Setopokhari valley through Muddikharka, Jure kom, Saggol dovan, Wattelma. Then in the second phase of survey work of Kenpa to Mamerku through Kamire, Batase dada and Bhukur dada 2 persons involved with the main team of 3 persons from Kathmandu. Then from Mamerku to Lamidada through Gudel, Pomlalung, Salpa dada, Shiluchho peak the major team members from Kathmandu have involved.

Their travel schedule is as bellow:

Date/ Time	Survey work areas	Date	Survey work areas
2012 March 27 to 30	Kathmandu to Solukhumbu Sotang through Salleri.	April 15, to 18	Survey work from Chhemsing  to Kenpa dada through  Boksuwar, Dhaddi
March 30 to April 1, 2012	Survey in Sotang, Bung and Chheskam	April 19 to 22	Survey work from Kenpa to  Mamerku through  Gaubitta, Kalpokhari,  Kamire, Bhukurdada
April 2, 2012	Chheskam to Muddikharka with additional 13 members	April 23 to 26	Survey in Gudel video documentary  of Pomlalung
April 2 to 12	Survey from Muddikharka to Khongmading valley through Sukshula, Magandovan, Watelma, Saggol Doban	April 27	Survey in Salpa area  including Shiluchho peak.
April 13 and 14	Additional video documentary in Chheskam	May 2, 2012	Kotang Lamidada to Kathmandu

 Program Outputs:

This program prepared survey report of two aforementioned new trekking trails with conclusion of it's' possibility in the future. The team found that area in details for trekking is as bellow:-

A.    Phaplu Setopokhari Trekking Trail:

Days	Destination place	Details descriptions
First day	Kathmandu to Phaplu to Ghumnepani	This day tourists can reach Ghumnepani keeps meaning  round water/river of Solukhumbu through Salleri after 35  minute flight from Kathmandu to Phaplu airport.
Second day	Ghumnepani to Sotang	This day tourists can see the Himalayan ranges of Chamlang, Shiluchho and Mera. They can worship in Huludevithan a  famous pilgrim place of Mahakulung area.
Third day	Sotang to Chheskam	This day after coordination with local cultural clubs tourists  can observe cultural performance program such as Tosh,  Dedam of Nachhiring community in Sotang and  Kulung community in Bung and Chheskam.
Forth day	Chheskam to Muddikharka	This day tourists can observe Kulung pilgrim place such  as Chalimkham, Toshkham. They also see Sala, Diritti and  others falls and other Himalayan ranges.
Fifth day	Muddikharka to Jurekom	Today more adventure travel starts. Tourists enter in to  the Makalu Barun National park area. They may see  some wildlife animals. Up to Jurekom there is simply the  good way to go.
Sixth day	Jurekom to Saggol Dovan	Today tourists have to go through solitary jungles. Tourists  may see some wildlife in Makalu Barun National park.  For immediate there is not comfortable way to go.  Team concluded that there will be possible to develop  new trekking way.
Seventh Day	Saggol to Watelma	Now it doesn't take long time to reach Setopokhari valley.  Today all the tourists have to walk through the bank of  Hunga river. At least in 4 places it should be build new bridges  in the way for today. There are enough woods for bridges. So  it can be made of wooden bridges until new developed bridges.
Eighth day	Watelma to Khongmading	Today comparatively the way is good then yesterday. The way  is wide. You have to walk though bank of river. There should  be construct at least 2 bridges for today. The survey team  build temporary types of bridges by woods.
Ninth day	Khongmading to Setopokhari valley	Today you will reach at your destination Setopokhari. Today  you will never get trees. Today you will reach at the midpoint  of Mingboala, Sherpenicol, Amphulapcha, Merala and  Gaubitta pass. You may choose these alternatives to back  Lukla or Tumlingtar. It is the last point of Phaplu  Setopokhari trekking trail.

 B.     Lamidada Setopokhari trekking trail:

Days	Destination place	Details descriptions
First day	Kathmandu Lamidada to Tapkhola	Today tourists can fly Kathmandu to Lamidada and  reach Tapkhola place. They can see the Chamling  indigenous culture there.
Second day	Tapkhola to Holylack Bane	Today you will see the village lifestyle of hilly side of there.
Third day	Bane to Sawa	Today tourists can reach Sawa tiny and beautiful village.
Forth day	Sawa to Salpa pass	Today tourists reach capital of rhododendron Salpa. There  is famous Salpa pilgrim place and Salpa lake. Tourist can  submit Shiluchho peak of around 4200 m. to see  Mt.Everest, Makalu, Kanchanjangga and other more  than 22 mountains.
Fifth day	Shiluchho to Bhukur dada	Today tourist walk though 2700 m. to 4000 m. ranges. They  will see mountains views of Khumbu valley.
Sixth day	Bhukur dada to Kenpa dada	Today you will find cowsheds of Himalayan Sherpa peoples.  You can view Mahakulung the big area of historical   territory lands of Kulung community for Kenpa.
Seventh day	Kenpa to Dharmadhoka	Today you can worship Gaubitta the famous pilgrim place  of eastern part of Nepal (See annex 3). You can see  Barunje, Chamlang, Mera and Makalu from there.
Eight Day	Dharmadhoka to Kongmading	Today you may get snow in the way. You will not get jungle  and other trees.
Ninth day	Kongmading to Setopokhari	Today you will reach Setopokhari.

Choose Alternatives:

Alternative 1: Tourists also can go Setopokhari from Salpa through Gudel, Mamerku and Bhaisiri. If so,

Days	Destination place	Details descriptions
Fifth day of Lamidada	Salpa to Gudel	Today tourists can observe the historical and culturally  very important place Pomlalung (see annex 2). Tourists also  can see the Kulung cultural program with the coordination  of local cultural groups.
Sixth day	Gudel to Mamerku	Today you will reach a tiny and beautiful Shepa  village Mamerku. It is falls bellow of Bhukur dada. Tourists  can see Sherpa Shebru dance with coordination of local  Sherpa cultural groups.
Seventh day	Mamerku to Kenpa	Comparatively you have to walk long today. You will go  through Bhaisiri jungle under Makalu Barun National Park.  You will get cowsheds on the way.

Alternatives 2: Tourists also can go Muddikharka from Gudel to joint in Phaplu Setopokhari trekking trail. If so comparatively they have to walk longer to reach Muddikharka from Gudel.

Alternative 3: Tourists can reach Kenpa from phaplu through Chheskam. If so:

Days	Destination place	Details descriptions
Forth day of Phaplu	Chheskam to Boksuwar village	Today you will cross the Hunga river and reach Boksuwar a  tiny Sherpa village. You will see the Khempalung cave there.  It is believed that the cave reach Khempalung place  of Sangkhuwashave.
Fifth day	Boksuwar to Kenpa	Today you have to climb Kenpa dada. You will  reach rhododendron jungle at Daddi place.

Note: The financial and Technical details report to developed Phaplu Setipokhari trekking trail has been separately prepared by the district technical office Salleri.

Output indicators:

Video documentary made by team, photos of that area and program report are the major indicators of outputs.

Conclusion:

In overall the survey report will be an instrument for lobby and advocacy to develop these trekking trails in lower Solukhumbu. It is believed that all other stakeholders will start to understand that these trekking routes are not only the issues of Solukhumbu but also the common issues of Sangkhuwasava, Bhojpur, Khotang. What is more this issues also a national issues for promotion of tourism in Nepal. Peoples of Sangkhuwasava, bhojpur, Khotang and Solukhumbu will be benefited by this trails. Tourists can trek cultural and mountaineering in the same time. If they can pass Amphulapcha they will reach Mt. Everest too. In this situation it will be the round trekking trail from Lamidada and Phaplu to Lukla.  

    

Tosh Seel Annex 1

In normal sense a culture worshiping of nature (lands) in Kulung community is called Tosh. The major theme of Tosh is to thank to nature (God in Kirati religion) for providing foods and to pray again to provide foods to all the animals of earth. The history of Tosh is interested.

Before 22 generation (Kulung genealogy published by Kulung Association),Dhanamukha a powerful ancestor of Kulung used to live there in Chhemsing village under Mahakulung. He was really powerful. He used to bring whole big tree without making piece. He used to eat 12 times more than normal person. Once in a spring season there was food scarcity, because of drought. Kulung peoples became worried to live.

One day Dhanamukh collect many bulls of village, choose the most powerful one and killed by beating. The bull shouted. That evening it was big rainfall there. What was the actual scientific relation of two events killing bull and rainfall. But peoples believed that it was because of sound of bull, god got message of peoples of earth and sent water. Anyway all the peoples became very happy on rainy. Then they celebrate party together by eating the meat of bull with all their foods stored to save their life. And they expressed their thankful to the nature and again prayed for further more foods. They danced like some plants moving by wind. They celebrated this occasion at least 4 days. The first start day is called Telsam and the place to organize Telsam is called Denam. The last day or forth day celebration is called Tosh. The original Denam, where Dhanamukh killed the bull is lies in Chheskam 3, Chhemsi of Solukhumbu.  

Since this event Kulung community had been celebrating this festival by killing bull per year. But when Nepal was declared Hindu country legally. Kulung community was not allowed to celebrate their culture by killing bull. Then they started to celebrate by mixing some part of meat of death cow in collected food from community and kept continue to save their theme of culture. Now they use to dance at least twice per year in Kulung community as well as in Kirati community by worshiping for more food and thanking to provide now. The dance is likely the moving style of crops by wind. This kind of cultural dance is called Tosh Seel . Chamling peoples say Sakela seel, Bantawa say Sakewa seel. The common name of this dance is Chandi nach (Chandi dance). But Chandi is not a language of Kirati indigenous. So they want to recognize their own culture in their own language.    

                                                             Pomlalung : Annex 2

In the age of hunting one of the Kulung ancester Ratapkhu had gone to Pomlalung area above the Gudel village in Mahakulung for hunting with his son.They found very big cave there and they lived there during their hunting. This cave is called Pomlalung in Kulung language. Unfortunately one night the son of Ratapkhu died there. Ratapkhu became very sad. He wanted to bring that death body of his son but it was not possible to bring alone himself. Then he told to his son's death body that he could send all spirits of Kulung there. So his son gets more friends there in that slitary jungle. Then Ratapkhu buried his son's death body there. Since this event Kulung community have been sending their spirite of  death bodies there. It is therefore Pomlalung is one of the most importaint place of Kulung indigenous peoples.

                     

Kenpa Gaubitta Kalpokhari ( Death lake): Annex 3

Around in the sixteenth century A Gurung people 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 food. This event repitted more than 5 times and finnaly he becaome very angry and he cut that stone. As result there was very big stromming and all his sheps 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 to there with his other more team members on the occassion of Janai Purnima ( special date according to Nepali callender and it is in the month 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 went away. Then the buffelo backed him inside the lake. It indicated some blood in that lake. The Thimra person never returned. Since this day it started to be recognized as a death lake. now days also tourists can see that cut sore of god at the temple and that lake at Gaubitta. Since that event many peoples from Bhojpur, Solukhumbu, Sangkhuwasava have been worshiping in this place on the accasion of Janai Purnima.