Tourist accommodation facilities remain quite limited
in Dolpa. Organised group trekking is the norm rather
than the exception in Dolpa. There are no survey data
but the trekker-porter ratio in organized groups is reported
to be 1:3. As a result all essential supplies as well
as porters are brought from outside Dolpa by trekking
agencies in Kathmandu. This has inhibited the development
of lodges and hotels for foreign tourists outside the
SPNP. Available figures show that there are altogether
14 lodges in nine different trail locations. The airport
at Juphal has 5 lodges, while Dunai itself has 2 lodges
and 15 tea shops. Given the number of tourist that visit
Dolpa existing facilities are much lower than would be
needed if most tourist were to stay in lodges. Even FITs
travel with porters and carry camping and other gear.
If FITs were to be encouraged to trek in Dolpa clearly
the present tourism infrastructure leaves much to be desired.
Tea shops and Tourist Lodges
in Dolpa:
|
Place/Location
|
Lodges
|
Teahouse |
| Juphal |
5 |
9 |
| Dunai |
2 |
15 |
| Sangta |
1 |
- |
| Chepka |
2 |
- |
| Ringmo |
1 |
7 |
| Tarabagar |
1* |
- |
| Khani |
- |
4 |
| Kaigaon |
- |
3 |
| Tripurakot |
2 |
2 |
| Total |
14 |
40 |
Source: SPNP and BZ. A Five Year Management Plan. Annex
2.5.
* Observation during field trip.
List of Camping sites along
Dolpo trekking circuit and Kagmara La trail:
| Place/Location
|
Sites
|
Capacity
(no of tents) |
Owned
by |
| Juphal |
1 |
4-5 |
Lodge |
| Dunai |
1 |
6-7 |
Lodge |
| Sangta |
1 |
4-5 |
Lodge |
| Chepka |
1 |
5-6 |
Lodge |
| Ryanchi |
1 |
5-6 |
Community |
| Pugmo |
1 |
7-8 |
Community |
| Ringmo |
1 |
20-25 |
Community |
| Sagar la |
1 |
4-5 |
-- |
| Camp Kapuwa |
1 |
5-6 |
-- |
| Larcha |
1 |
8-9 |
-- |
| Shey Gomba |
1 |
10-12 |
Gomba |
| Saldang |
1 |
15-16 |
Community |
| Dho |
1 |
15-16 |
Community |
| Numa la base |
1 |
20-25 |
-- |
| Themcha |
1 |
12-13 |
-- |
| Bhijer |
1 |
7-8 |
Community |
| Kaigaon |
1 |
7-8 |
Eco club |
| Baga la base |
1 |
10-12 |
-- |
| Choilapu |
1 |
7-8 |
-- |
| Kagmara base |
1 |
10-15 |
-- |
| Tarabager* |
1 |
7-8 |
Lodge |
Source: SPNP and BZ. A Five Year Management Plan. Annex
2.6.
* Observation during field trip.
There are a total of 21 places with camp sites mainly
in the Dolpa trekking circuit. Most have bare minimum
facilities and are owned by lodges in major settlements
and communities at other places. Most of the campsites
are in the SPNP and are overseen by the Park authorities.
In many camping sites tourists camp for free.
Amenities:
Telephone facilities (150 lines)
Hospital in Dunai
