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