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Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve is Nepal’s only game sanctuary. Established in 1983, it spans 1,325 sq km, touching the districts of Baglung, Rukum, and Myagdi. I had been hearing about the untamed beauty of Dhorpatan since childhood and always longed to see it. But as I grew older, adult responsibilities, jobs, and family commitments pushed that wish aside for years.

I believe that anyone who has heard of Dhorpatan feels its pull, the desire to experience its raw, untouched beauty. So, I finally ventured into this hidden paradise of Nepal that many have heard of but few have truly explored. I was joined by a group of acquaintances, for adventures are best when shared.

We gathered at the New Bus Park in Gongabu at 3:30 pm to begin our 400 km overnight journey from Kathmandu. My long-cherished dream to see Dhorpatan—a land of vast grasslands, dense forests, rivers, and timeless mountains—was finally taking shape. As we left behind the bustle of Kathmandu, the cityscape gradually gave way to lush hills and serene valleys.

The bus stopped at Naubise for tea and later at Damauli for dinner. The Prithvi Highway up to Muglin was in miserable condition, but beyond that, the road improved, carrying us smoothly toward Pokhara. Fatigue soon took over, and I fell asleep scrolling through Facebook.

When I opened my eyes, it was around 7 am, and we had already reached Burtibang, the second-largest commercial center in Baglung district. Since we hadn’t eaten dinner the night before, we decided to have breakfast before continuing our journey to Dhorpatan.

At around 9 am, the jeep we had booked from Kathmandu arrived. The driver told us it would take roughly three hours to reach Dhorpatan from Burtibang. We drove along the river, passing cascading waterfalls and small hamlets. The road, however, was rough and poorly maintained. With rain adding to the challenge, the drive became an exhilarating adventure.

When we finally entered Dhorpatan, a thick fog blanketed the valley, concealing everything in sight. But as the mist began to lift, the view before us was simply breathtaking. Wide grasslands dotted with wildflowers, canals glinting in the sunlight, crystal-clear rivers winding through meadows, herds of grazing horses, and lush forests. It felt like another world.

‘Dhor’ means marshland, and ‘Patan’ means flat meadow. These meadows are home to blue sheep, Himalayan tahr, and other wildlife. After checking into our hotel and having lunch, we rested for a while and spoke with the owner about places to explore in the valley.

Following his suggestion, we set out for a place called Kang to see a wooden bridge that had recently become quite popular. A 45-minute jeep ride followed by a 20-minute walk brought us to an enchanting spot. There were rolling hillocks blanketed with wildflowers of every imaginable color, the turquoise Uttarganga River flowed gently below, and we could see a backdrop of verdant hills. The sheer beauty left us speechless. We spent hours taking photos and videos, hoping to capture even a fraction of what we felt.

After feasting our eyes on nature’s splendor, we went in search of more vibrant wildflowers and later set up a tent by the river to enjoy the scene until dusk. We returned to the hotel afterward, had dinner, and went to bed early.

The next morning, we woke up late, as the hotel owner had told us that our next stop, Bukipatan, could be reached in five to six hours of trek. After breakfast, we began our journey at around 10 am. The trail was scenic and gentle from the start, leading us through lush forests and along a lively river. There was only one teahouse along the way, where we stopped for tea and noodles.

Suddenly, it began to rain. We put on our raincoats and continued toward Thade Khola. Since we had enough time, we paused often to enjoy the views and document the journey through photos and videos.

We reached Bukipatan around 3 pm. As it was raining heavily, we spent the evening playing games inside a large tent that sheltered about 25 people that night. Dinner was served around 11 pm, after which we went to sleep to the sound of rain drumming on the tent.

At dawn, we began our hike, guided by the soft glow of headlamps. When we reached Tikadhar, the sun was just rising, painting the sky in shades of pink, orange, and gold. The sight was surreal, dreamlike, and unforgettable.

The weather favored us that day, offering clear views of the stunning landscape. We spent a couple of hours soaking in the serenity, surrounded by wildflowers and whispering wind. As fog slowly enveloped the valley and the air turned cold, we descended back to Bukipatan for breakfast before returning to Dhorpatan. Two of our friends boarded a night bus to Kathmandu, while the remaining four of us took a jeep to Pokhara, grateful to have finally lived the dream of Dhorpatan.

When thousands of youths marched onto the streets on September 8, many in school dresses, they challenged the traditional power structure using digital platforms. Two things were particularly uncommon in this protest: First, the term “GenZ” and the second, the use of digital platforms. GenZ, often referred to as the first tribe of digital natives, are the demographic cohort after millennials. Analysts describe GenZ as compassionate and thoughtful, yet also anxious in a world of global crises and constant information flow. Second, their reliance on digital tools for communication and mobilization was a defining characteristic during the recent protest.

This decentralized and leaderless protest was a grassroot movement coordinated by GenZ through digital platforms. Platforms like Discord, YouTube and TikTok acted as a central point for information sharing, coordination and collaboration, building consensus and amplifying actions.

As Virginia Matthews once noted, GenZ channels their political power via online identities and digital activism. This holds true in global stage too, movements such as #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter have shown how digital platforms can amplify voices and turn local frustrations into global advocacy.

Fueled by deep-seated frustration over corruption, inequality and systematic failure, the protest moved beyond the political ideology. It highlighted the ability of digital space to form a common voice, organize and pressure change—faster than conventional politics. It unified young people across cities and even inspired older generations and Nepalis living abroad to offer their support.

Why it matters

The significance of this protest goes beyond the moment of anger and frustration over corruption, inequality and growing influence of a generation in reshaping Nepal’s future.

The oldest members of GenZ are moving through universities, entering the workforce and even stepping into government, just like the previous generation but at a faster pace. They bring entrepreneurial spirit, a comfort with technology and impatience with outdated systems.

Many GenZ are already running digital startups from clothing brands on instagram to gaming companies and e-commerce platforms. For them, digitalization has provided unique opportunities to develop skills, remove social barriers and create sustainable growth. The restriction in the access to the digital world not only limits their potential but also their access to information and social support. The recent protests set a powerful reminder that comprehensive digital education is fundamental for civic participation, economic opportunity and accountable governance.

The protest also exposed how fragile Nepal’s governance system remains. When the public records and digital infrastructure were affected by the protest, it highlighted the vulnerability of paper-based systems. In contrast, data centers and backup availability protected countless documents. For a generation raised online, digitalization is not a luxury or convenience but a necessity, it is more about security, accountability and future stability of the nation.

What the protest revealed?

Education gaps

The protests clearly highlighted that Nepal's GenZ workforce is technologically-driven. This spotlighted the mismatch between GenZ potential and Nepal’s education system. While the jobs like software development, digital marketing and fintech are emerging, most schools place little emphasis on developing these skills. Schools’ curriculum rarely include practical IT training and entrepreneurial skills. If this continues, Nepal risks losing its first generation of digital natives to opportunities abroad. GenZ may be fluent in digital platforms but there is a gap in translating it into the production skills required for Nepal’s digital economy.

Continuing instability

The destruction of the private assets during the GenZ protests highlighted the uncertainty facing entrepreneurs and investors. This widespread fear is rooted in an unstable political-economic environment—most prime-ministers served less than two years in the last decade. This cycle of uncertainty poses a threat to aspiring entrepreneurs to innovate with confidence and ensure support for their products/services. As Nepal aims for graduation from the club of least developed countries in 2026, an unclear and uncertain roadmap threatens to drive both the talent and investment away. The urgency to build stronger and resilient systems to withstand social and political shocks is indeed necessary.

Misinformation and trust

The protest demonstrated how quickly the unverified rumors can spread in times of unrest even as the digital platform helped in forging coordination and sharing verified updates. This highlights the lack of strong foundation in digital literacy, fact-checking mechanisms and responsible online engagement. Without safeguarding, misinformation can distort public understanding and further weaken institutional trust.

Digital readiness

Although the GenZ protest showcased the power of technology to organize and mobilize, it also revealed the uneven digital readiness. The persistent digital divide among urban and rural areas, limited connectivity and uneven digital access among the youth limited the equal participation. Such divides led to an uneven voice among GenZ, these gaps are not only a matter of equality, but also of national progress. Without bridging these gaps, the transformative potential of GenZ to address long-standing issues such as inefficiency, corruption, and inaccessibility might remain limited.

Looking ahead

The GenZ protest revealed the beginning of a digital movement. If nurtured in time, GenZ could lead Nepal’s first true digital transformation. This includes e-government services to make public institutions more transparent, connecting local entrepreneurs with global buyers through digital marketplace and establishment of innovation hubs for young people to design solutions for pressing needs. However, all this depends on today’s choices. Without infrastructure, investment, digital literacy and supportive policies, the movement’s potential will be lost. What is needed is a strong commitment that turns the protest energy into a blueprint for a more open, efficient and inclusive Nepal.

The author is a graduate student in International Cooperation and Development and an EdTech researcher

Nepal is set to send a significantly smaller team to 30th UN Climate Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil. The conference will be held from Nov 10 this year. Environment Secretary Rajendra Prasad Mishra told ApEx that negotiations are ongoing to decide the representatives.

The decision comes in line with the Sept 21 Cabinet meeting, led by interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki, to curb non-essential overseas travel and limit official delegations. To cut government expenses, the government has capped heads of state or government-led delegations at 10 members and limited other government-sponsored teams to only three members.

The choice also shows Nepal’s political instability following the abrupt political change brought about by the GenZ protests that led to the fall of the KP Oli government. The new government is now tasked with rebuilding scores of government buildings, as well as fixing the infrastructure damaged in recent floods and landslides.

When Nepal first started going to UN climate talks in 1995, it had just two delegates, while the United Kingdom and United States had 19 and 27 respectively. Its delegations expanded incrementally over the years. Sixty-nine delegates attended COP26 in Glasgow and, at COP20 in Lima, the government was reprimanded for sending a ‘jumbo delegation’ on limited resources.

A 2024 ApEx report revealed that Nepal’s delegation missed 68 out of the 392 sessions at COP29 because of overworked negotiators. Organizational shortcomings aside, Nepal has used the COPs to lead mountains and climate justice causes. At COP29 in Baku, Nepal sent its high-level team led by President Ramchandra Paudel, where Nepal emphasized mobilizing climate finance, protecting mountain habitats, and triggering the Loss and Damage Fund.

The delegation also pushed for an annual financing target of $1.3trn for developing countries, gave highest priority to mountain‑specific risk exposures, and made appeals for finance for adaptation and technology transfer. President Paudel called for the reallocation of military expenditures to climate efforts, made calls for grants‑based climate finance and the polluter‑pays principle, and asserted that saving the Himalayas is saving the planet.

Nepal also organized a ‘Sagarmatha Sambaad’ dialogue on mountain resilience in May this year.

Analysts note that although the agendas of Nepal have become more expansive, its bargaining power has not increased. The new ‘small’ negotiation team may therefore push the government to concentrate on core issues such as climate finance, adaptation and mountain conservation and eliminate ceremonial or non‑technical members.

Meanwhile, Brazil’s hosting of COP30 in the city of Belém in the Amazon region has created an accommodation crisis. Reuters reports that Belém hotel rates have risen between $150 and $4,400 a night, and some developing nations could not secure a room.

Latvia climate minister Kaspars Melnis said that the expense is prohibitive and that his nation is considering whether to attend via video link. Lithuania has even talked about boycotting the summit on the same grounds, and the Alliance of Small Island States is concerned that reducing delegations will result in priceless expertise being lost.

African delegates have told Reuters that they have been quoted $700 a night, a far higher sum than the UN daily allowance. In response, the UN International Civil Service Commission has increased the subsistence daily allowance for 144 developing countries from $144 to $197. Brazil has offered restricted available rooms up to $220 a day for developing countries, but with only approximately 18,000 hotel beds for an estimated 45,000 participants, demand outstrips supply.

The cost crisis provoked a wider backlash. During an emergency session in July, the UN climate office listened to complaints from the African group and others. The group chairperson, Richard Muyungi, told Reuters that poor nations cannot cut delegations and make themselves heard. Nevertheless, some wealthier EU states, like the Netherlands and Poland, have said that they might halve or drastically reduce their delegations, with Polish officials warning that they might cut the delegation to the bone or stay away altogether.

With Nepal looking at its COP30 participation, it must juggle local austerity, global cost pressures and the imperative of good representation. An experienced-officer austerity-cut delegation aligns with former Environment Secretary Deepak Kumar Kharal’s proposal of a full-time negotiation team but risks Nepal’s voice in a platform where the more, the merrier is the motto.

Large rates of accommodation in Belém and Nepal’s internal budget crisis also put additional constraints. The ability of the interim government to balance these competing pressures will make or break Nepal’s climate diplomacy and its ability to attract financial and technical aid for its poor hill communities.

Less than a month after the formation of the new government, the private sector has hailed five major initiatives announced by the Ministry of Finance as crucial steps toward fostering greater transparency, economic reform, and business optimism. Presidents of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Confederation of Nepalese Industries and Nepal Chamber of Commerce praised the government’s recent moves to push businesses ahead and re-boost private sector morale during a meeting with Finance Minister Rameshore Khanal on Monday.

The five big initiatives of the government are tax relief for reconstruction, initiation of banking facilities to ease financial access to reconstruction and trade activities, and streamlining of insurance procedures. Likewise, abolishing the system of reference values at customs, long desired by the traders, and introducing an online customs database system were hailed as great reforms to make the system transparent and accountable. The new digital platform, according to the Ministry of Finance, will monitor the prices of cleared goods, facilitating analysis and comparison of customs statistics and preventing irregularities.

Finance Minister Khanal indicated that the government was gradually involved in strengthening the morale of the private sector and establishing an environment conducive to business. FNCCI President Chandra Prasad Dhakal, CNI President Birendra Raj Pandey, and NCC President Kamlesh Kumar Agrawal expressed gratitude for the reforms and urged the entrepreneurs to utilize the new database system appropriately. The system, launched by Minister Khanal on Sept 25, is going to refresh its reference catalog every six months and clear the grievances of traders through regular updates.

Private sector representatives also presented strong criticisms against acts of vandalism, looting, and arson in recent times in the youth-led GenZ movement, which allegedly were directed toward the business community. They added that infiltration in the movement had led to targeting of private companies, highly discouraging an industry that has a contribution of 81 percent to Nepal’s economy and 86 percent to national employment. They called on the government to act swiftly and prosecute the perpetrators in the courts, warning that doing nothing would further discourage businesspeople.

Minister Khanal assured the delegation that the government was firm in defending the private sector and respecting the rule of law. The entrepreneurs, once again espousing their policy of “zero tolerance toward corruption,” invited the government to create space for entrepreneurs to operate freely and responsibly. They also noted that even if holding elections is critical for the government in the short run, it cannot afford to let go of the opportunity to establish pillars for sustainable economic reforms.

Moreover, the private sector leaders suggested calling for a multilateral finance conference to be led by them in order to draw in investment and instill confidence among all actors. They also confirmed willingness to collaborate with the government on the conduct of timely elections, averring that democracy and an open market system can only thrive through regular electoral processes.