Jajarkot: Domestic and foreign tourists have been advocating for the development of essential infrastructure to make it easier to reach Shey Phoksundo Lake. They believe that constructing the necessary facilities from Suligad, located near the Dolpa headquarters, to the lake could significantly enhance the region’s appeal to tourists.

Currently, visitors to the lake follow a route through the Jajarkot district and the Mid-Hill Highway, including an overnight stay in the Dolpa district headquarters before finally reaching the lake. To access the lake, one must traverse a dozen deteriorating wooden bridges over the Suligad River, a risky endeavor, according to Ram Prasad Khatri from Nalgad Municipality-8. 

To reach Dolpa’s Dunai, visitors must rely on some form of transportation, and from there, it takes two days of trekking to reach the lake. Stakeholders have expressed that it would be more convenient for both domestic and foreign tourists if a concrete bridge were constructed over the Suligad River, along with a reliable trekking route.

Located at an elevation of 3,600 meters above sea level, the lake covers an area of 4.94 square kilometers and is situated near Rigmo village in Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality-8. 

While the lake is said to have a depth of 145 meters, local residents claim it reaches depths of up to 650 meters. The lake’s unique feature is its changing colors, which vary with the weather. It is shaped like the English letter Y and is often said to resemble a human lung.

Visitors should use the footpath for Shey Phoksundo Lake, Shey Phoksundo National Park, Phoksundo Waterfall, and Upper Dolpa Suligad. Various names have been given to specific areas by the local people, including Kathepul, Thoso, Lapku, and Sankul.

Although suspension bridges have been constructed over many rivers in Dolpa, there are still wooden bridges from Suligad to Phoksundo that provide access to the lake. Nima Lama, the ward chair of Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality, suggests that while suspension bridges have been built along the trekking route from Suligad to the lake to facilitate local mobility and tourism, it is important to preserve the traditional wooden bridges. “Since the area is a popular trekking route, stakeholders should emphasize the importance of preserving these wooden bridges to attract tourists.”