Ongoing Construction of Setipokhari Trails in National Medias.

Translated from Paryatan Abhiyan 

Developing new trekking trails in lower Solukhumb 
 

Kathmandu Feb. 2, 2015: The concern authorities have started to interest in lower Solukhumbu for Tourism Trail Development.

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has allocated Rs. 3.5 million budget to construct Chheskam Muddi to Setipokhari and PK peak trekking trail under lower Solukhumbu.

As per authority delegated letter of Board, this program will be implemented through District Development Committee Solukhumbu and allocated Rs. 2 million and 1.5 million for Muddi to Setipokhari and PK peak Trekking trail respectively.

A local NGO Hill Development and Conservation Group Nepal and Trekking Agent Association of Nepal (TAAN) had jointly organized a monitoring trip of National Planning Commission authorities in last June 2014. Similarly Paryatan Abhiyan a half month magazine has been disseminating the possibilities of tourism possibilities in lower Solukhumbu. Please click here for original news in Nepali.     

Documentary Television programs of Setipokhari Valley

Hill Development and Conservation Group Nepal and Samas Media Pvt Ltd have developed and disseminated at least four episode programs by Av-news national television about new trekking trail development from Setipokhari to lower Solukhumbu. These program were disseminated in 2012 then latter it has been compiled, summarized and translated in English. Please for translated English version Click here.

Similarly Hill Development and Conservation Group Nepal and All three Media House Pvt. Ltd have developed a Television Program for Sagarmatha Television. This also was about needs of Setipokhari new trekking trails. It was disseminated in 2014 in Sagarmatha National Television. This original program in Nepali can be seen. Please click here for details.     

Story of Setipokhari Trekking Trail in National Newspaper

Translated from Kantipur Daily

Search of Mountain Trails

By Baga Man Kulung

February 14, 2015,Solukhumbu Setipokhari is a piece of Heaven for tourists

Setipokhari in trekking season (Photo Purna Kulung)

but spider silk of death for porters. This place is called Khongmadingma in local Sherpa language, where so many tourist porters have been dying. Before a couple years Sapte Kulung died, last year Urane Maila and this year Mekh Raj Kulung. This is just from Chheskam village of Solukhumbu and an example of how many porters are dying there. But nobody keeps records of this incident.  

Trekkers who try access this valley from Lukla airport have three well recognized alternative ways. One is Lukla to Setipokhari by passing Merala 5,415 m through Tholdanda, Kothe and Naulekh, second alternative is by passing Mingbola pass 5,817 m. through Phakding, Namche and Tengboche and final or third alternative is by passing Amphulapcha 5,800 m through Namche, Tengboche and Chhukung.

Trekkers who go from Tumlingtar can access by passing Sherpeni col pass 6,135 m through Seduwa village and Makalu Based camp. More than dozen of mountains

Khongmadingma valley (Photo Lakpad Kulung)

including, Makalu, Mera, Barunje, Chamlang, Hungu Chuli cannot be accessed without reaching Setipokhari valley, that is the reason why so many tourists go to Setipokhari valley in each trekking season.

This valley is really a piece of heaven, but when it starts snowing and already reached tourists cannot back by crossing those available 4 alternatives, they start to feel themselves in a spider silk of death. In this critical situation helicopter rescue from Kathmandu is the first and last solution. But some time sent helicopter also cannot be landed in that place.

Is there any ways can be constructed without passing any peaks? This is a main research topic of we locals since last 5 years. In Setipokhari valley there is a Setipokhari pond from where Hunga River is flowing down to joint in Dhudkhoshi River. It could be easily seen in Google Earth and was explained by some shepherds, who already went there with their sheep. That made us more excited and optimistic.

We firmed a research team and decided to go for research. We accompanied some technicians of District Techincal Office Salleri Solukhumbu for technical reports. After observation and research, our team concluded that it can be developed a trekking route through the bank of Hung River that arrives Muddikharka of Solukhumbu Chheskam and another can be extended towards Sangkhuwasabha till Kenpa and both can be rescue ways. The trekkers who arrive Kenpa or Muddikharka can go Tumlingtar, Lamidanda or Phaplu airport. 

Research team (Photo Parkash Gopali)

We accompanied 16 locals to construct temporary ways, bridges, to cut jungles and to carry our foods. As per technical reports, for the way which goes from Muddi to Setipokhari through Jurekom, Magandovan and Watelma Dovan, it is needed Rs. 6 million and 800 thousand budget excluding costs of 6 needed suspension bridges. 

Our team decided to extend our research works towards Kenpa from Khongmadingma after when we reached there. But due to started snowing and finishing our foods, we backed through the same way we took. We went to Kenpa side through Chhemsing, Boksuwar after when we backed but we lost opportunity to survey of Khongmadingma to Kenpa, which are the most important parts. Then we moved towards Salpa Pokhari through Bhukur and Mamerku then finished at Lamidanda Khotang. It took 36 days to complete this work and was before 2 years.

The survey work we did not complete has been completed by an organization Makalu Mera Shilichong Tourism Development Center based in Sangkhuwasabha. Their report requires Rs.8.2 million to complete construction of Kenpa to Khongmadingma. But those two ways from Muddi to Setipokhari and Kenpa to Setipokhari are yet to be constructed. 

Both ways can be used as rescue way, if we could develop, but what is more those ways benefit around of 128 thousand population of 28.5 thousand households of lower Solukhumbu, Upper Bhojpur and Khotang and west north Sangkhuwasabha. For original Nepali version please click 

Tourism Board funds for Muddi to Setipokhari trail

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has funded Rs. 2 million for the proposed Muddi to Setipokhari Trekking trail

Site Monitoring Visit of Somlal Subedi the Secretary of NPC

construction by the government budget of income year 2071/072. This budget will be implemented through the District Development Committee (DDC) Solukhumbu. Before by the regular government budget it has already been allocated Rs. 200 thousand for this trail development. As the technical report of district technical office Salleri Solukhumbu, it is needed Rs. 5 million budget in total to finish this whole trail construction excluding needed suspension bridges. It was managed a round monitoring visit of National Commission Plan secretary Somlal Subedi by helicopter in last summer and had committed to address this construction through the National plan.

Mountain cable car compete tourism market in Nepal

By Bagaman Kulung:

Thai Airways offers Kathmandu Bangkok round tickets in around of 335 USD that can be made in

Sherpeni col 6135 m. pass (Photo Purna Kulung)

2 days, while Nepalese trekkers are offering to locals of Kathmandu to visit Mustang and Namche that requires 10 days with more or around expenses. Thai Airways a leader member agency of star alliance a network company of the world's top 27 airlines brings tourists to Thailand in very cheap price through their networks that schedules for or more than 18,521 flights daily by using 1,321 airports of 193 countries. But Nepal Airlines established in the same year with the Thai Airways flights 5 countries daily. This is just an example of how difficultly Nepalese tourism sector is doing competition in the international tourism industry. If we look in major touristic cities of Nepal, hotel entrepreneurs are not getting sufficient electricity and drinking water that directly effects in their room standard since they cannot manage temperature of room with sufficient hot and cold water. Of course our cities are more polluted than others. But because of those minors we are selling our service in 4 time's cheap price than of European touristic destinations. We are conducting home stay that is for experiences in cheap price for tourists. But we have also not so much alternatives of it. This is what in reality of the Nepalese tourism sector is facing in the tourism markets. 

Napal has a lot of fantastic destinations in terms of geographical, cultural diversity and natural beauties. But why we are not meeting competition? Everest region is ranked as the top fourth best trekking destination in over the world after GR20 France, Inca Trail Peru and Pays Dogan Mali but less number of tourists visits this area why? Lack of easy access is the main reason why less and less tourists visit those areas. If we look our major touristic mountain destinations from Kathmandu to east, those are all in the four major valleys that are Tamakoshi, Khumbu, Setipokhari and Arun valley. Due to geographical difficulties, it takes at least 3 months to visit those all valleys.

Tourists easily access Gaurishankar base camp of Dolakha under Tamakoshi valley from Kathmandu by bus till Jagat then walking. But to access next Khumbu valley from Tamakoshi tourists have to cross Tashilapcha pass of at least 5,700 m. Normal tourists without mountaineering training and equipments, can't pass this place and have to back through the same way they reached there. Then if they want to access Khumbu valley, they have to go through Charikot, Jiri, Lukla, Namche and Thame that requires at least 22 additional days. Tourists who reach Thame can visit so many mountains including Everest under Khumbu valley. But to access next Setipokhari valley to see more than dozen of mountains including Barunje and Chamlang they have to pass Amphulapcha of at least 5,800 m at Chhukung place. Again tourists can't cross Amphulapcha without equipments and back to Lukla through the same way they went and have to reach Setipokhari valley through Tholdanda, Kothe, Naulekh and Khahare that requires additional a month. Similarly when tourists reach Setipokhari and want to pass next valley that is Arun where more than dozen of next mountains including Mt. Makalu are situated, they have to cross Sherpeni-col pass of 6,135 m. Similarly they can't cross this pass also and have to back through the Ingkhu valley to Arun valley through Kenpa pass that requires more than a month. Not only Nepalese but also world's top famous mountains are under those four valleys, but really difficult to access, that is the main reason why tourists of the world rank in front position but not visit our touristic Himalayan destinations.

To make easy access to those mountain valleys, we can construct mountain cable cars in those Tashilapcha, Amphulapcha and Sherpeni-col that is also the way of proposed Upper Great Himalayan trail. If we could do that, tourists from Kathmandu by bus can easily access Khumbu valley, Setipokhari valley and Arun valley in at least two weeks. Due to rapid ongoing road construction we will access bus service till Gaurishankar base came, Thame and Chhikung of Khumbu valley and Arun valley and those valleys can be bridged by the three cable cars. It may take maximum a decade or more, but why not we dream about it now? Why not we include this plan in our national plan as national pride project? In this case tourists will get a lot of short and long trekking alternatives like Kathmandu to Khumbu valley and round through Salleri, Kathmandu to Khumbu and Setipokhari valley and round through Salleri or Halesi Khotang and Kathmandu to Khumbu, Setipokhari and Arun valley and round through Tumlingtar by bus or plane.

If we could develop those infrastructure, that makes more easy to compete international mountain tourism in Nepal. Otherwise tourist again rank our destinations in the world's top positions but will not visit. What we have to be considered is tourists calculate limitation of time, budget and facilities before starting their visit. That is the reason why 55 million tourists visit China, 26 million visit India yearly but hardly 0.7 million visit Nepal.           

Khotang to Everest new Trekking Trail Possible

By Bagaman Kulung:

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

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

Setipokhari valley in October season Photo: Purna Kulung

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.

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

Khongmadingma valley  (Photo: Lakpad Kulung)

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.

        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

Kenpa place Photo: Lakpad Kulung

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

Salpa Bhojpur Photo JB Kulung

peaks to come back from the Setipokhari valley.

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

Sherpa village after crossing Amphulapcha (Pt Kamal Kulung)

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'.

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

Kenpa Pilgrim temple (Photo JB Kulung)

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 

Two trekking trails from Setipokhari to Muddi and Kenpa benefit 4 districts in Nepal

This is not a technical map but just tentative

Setipokhari is the origin pond of Saptakoshi the greatest river 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 6135m 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. Setipokhari itself is a fantastic touristic place around in 4,840 m, but trekkers have to pass at least one among of those four alternative passes. Due to several mountains and recently proposed the Upper Great Himalayan Trail comes through this valley are making more valuable Setipokhari.

Merala is the easiest pass to come back from this valley since it is the lowest but of 5,415 m. among aforementioned four alternative passes. In the situation of unable to back of tourists from this valley due to sickness and snowing of main reasons, helicopter rescue from Kathmandu is the first and last alternative to save them that has been using by the trekking company till now. Some company can't send helicopter but sometime sent helicopter cannot be landed due to snowing. In this bad situation so many trekkers mostly porters have been dying there.

Setipokhari valley (photo Purna Kulung)

A River namely Hunga from Setipokhari arrives to Dhudhkoshi of Solukhumbu Pawai through Chheskam village. It can be constructed a trekking trail through the bank of Hunga River that arrives Muddikharka of Chheskam through Khongmadingma, Watelma Devan, Saggol Dovan, Jurekom and Lonamchhi of Chheskam. If so, a usable way from Chheskam to Muddikharka is already developed that connects till Chheskam easily. This way will be important to visit Jungle safari and observe to wildlife under Makalu Barun National Park. Another possibility is to construct another trekking trail from Setipokhari to Kenpa through Tiwagairi, Tohobari and Bagaledeurali under Gaubitta hill range that connects Kenpa to Chheskam and Tumlingtar by using the two already developed ways from Kenpa to Chheskam and Kenpa to Tumlingtar. The proposed way from Setipokhari to Kenpa comes from Setipokhari 4,840 m. to Kenpa 3,950 m through 4,770 Khongmadingma valley and 4,483 m Bagaledeurai also will be a simple rescue way to come back from Setipokhari since the altitude from Setipokhari to Kenpa is in decreasing range. But what is more this way will be a fantastic touristic way for tourist in terms of viewing different mountains ranges.

If we could construct the two trekking trails from Setipokhari to Muddi and Kenpa that will be used for rescue way for the trekkers and that creates economic opportunities in the western parts of Sangkhuwasabha, northeast parts of Bhojpur and Khotang and western parts of Solukhumbu districts of Nepal.

After construction of the two proposed trekking trails, trekkers, who arrive

Khongmadingma valley (Photo Lakpad Kulung)

Kenpa and Muddikharka from Setipokhari can go Phaplu, Kangeldanda and Rumjatar airports through Chheskam, Bung, Sotang, Pawai, Deusa, Mukli, Kangel, Nele, Garma, Salleri and Necha. Similarly they also can go Khanidanda and Lamidanda airports of Khotang through Mamerku, Gudel, Lokhim of Solukhumbu and Bakachaul, Aiselukharka, Makpa, Jalpa, Maheshwari, Hainchaur, Kubinde, Karpa and Lamidada. But trekkers also can access Tumlingtar through Gudel, Solukhumbu, Salpa, Dovane, Chaukidanda, Khatamma, Kulung of Bhojpur or direct through Shisuwakhola, Tamku, Mangtewa, Shitalpati, and Khandbari of Sangkhuwashava.

When we see the possible tourism networks after the two trekking trail construction, 51,132 population of 11,374 household of 13 VDCs of Solukhumbu, 41,788 population of 9,598 household of 6 VDCs of Sangkhuwasabha, 13,111 population of 2,728 households of 4 VDCs of Bhojpur and 22,640 population of 4,869 households of 9 VDCs of Khotang that comes in total 128,671 population of 28,569 households will be benefitted directly.

Right top peak Kenpa peak

From local level it has been initiating for both trails construction. Solukhumbu based an NGO Hill Development and Conservation Group Nepal for Muddi to Setipokhari and Sangkhuwasabha based an NGO Makalu Mera Shiluchong Tourism Development Center have been initiating for Kenpa to Setipokhari. The forecasted costs for the two trekking trail construction based on the district technical offices Sangkhuwasabha and Solukhumbu comes around Rs. 15 million 659 thousand 948. The rapidly growing road construction in lower Solukhumbu, Sangkhuwasabha, bhojpur and Khotang also are pushing this trails construction since the trekkers have to start their trekking by bus. It is therefore, people of 4 districts have to effort for those trails construction rather than some small team.

Bagaman Kulung

Coordinator Tourism Development Committee

Hill Development and Conservation Group Nepal