The high mountain regions of Dolakha, including Kalinchowk, Shailung, Cherdung, and Kharidhunga, where snowfall typically begins in early October, are turning black. Snow has not fallen in these mountains for the past four years, and there is no forecast of snowfall in the upper regions or winter rain in the lower regions, even as February approaches.

Farmers in Dolakha’s highlands, who rely on snowmelt for irrigation after planting potatoes, are growing increasingly anxious. The lack of winter rain threatens to reduce potato yields. Dolakha, a district that encompasses both mountains and hills, is home to Gaurishankar Mountain, which rises from an altitude of 762 meters to 7,134 meters above sea level. Once covered in white, it is now darkening. The district has 40 mountains, both large and small.

Climate change has not only affected the Himalayas but also human life and wildlife. Farmers, particularly those engaged in large-scale potato cultivation across 3,200 hectares in Dolakha’s nine local levels, are struggling due to the absence of snow. Shailung Rural Municipality is the district’s largest producer of potatoes.

“January has ended, but there is still no rain. What can we do? We planted fewer potatoes, and now they are on the verge of drying up due to a lack of moisture,” lamented Bishal Shrestha, a farmer from Shailung. “Fertile lands can sustain some growth, but without rain, even those will suffer, and potato production will decline.” Most farmers in Shailung rely on potato farming as their primary livelihood.  

The absence of snowfall by the end of Magh has heightened concerns among Dolakha’s farmers. Locals are disheartened by the decreasing rainfall. In the past, the upper hills of Dolakha were blanketed in snow during winter, but now even the Himalayas remain barren, with their once-white peaks turning black.

The highlands of Dolakha, which were once cold at this time of year, are experiencing unusual warmth. In Charikot, the district headquarters, temperatures have already risen. Glaciers are melting at an alarming rate, and locals have been experiencing the direct effects of climate change for years. “When it snows, farming becomes easier, and production increases. Crops like potatoes, wheat, and millet thrive with snow, eliminating the need for separate irrigation,” said Shrestha.

Snowfall, which was once visible from November to February, has dwindled in recent years, with locals witnessing firsthand the consequences of climate change. The timing of snowfall has become unpredictable, and concerns are mounting over its impact on tourism.

Hotel entrepreneur Hari Oli noted that snowfall once brought a surge of tourists to Dolakha. “Three to four years ago, a significant number of visitors came to play in the snow in December. Hotels in Charikot and Kalinchowk used to be fully booked. Now, with no snow, tourism has plummeted,” he said.

Climate change is affecting not just the Himalayas but also farmers, businesses, wildlife, flowers, red-bellied trees, human life, and birds. Rain and snow no longer follow seasonal patterns, and even forest flowers are blooming out of season. The once-vibrant slopes are now dry, and the region’s natural beauty is fading.

The gradual decline of snowfall poses a long-term threat to native crops, flora, fauna, and birds, while also negatively impacting the tourism sector. Climate change—driven by human activities such as excessive resource exploitation, high energy consumption, and industrialization, as well as natural disasters like fires, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions—has disrupted every aspect of life. However, if human-induced environmental damage is curbed, the effects of climate change may still be mitigated.