Phoksundo Lake In Nepal’s Dolpa District: A Rising Gem In Adventure And Ecotourism

Published on October 19, 2025

Phoksundo Lake, which is located successful nan Shey-Phoksundo Rural Municipality successful nan halfway of Dolpa, has gradually go 1 of Nepal’s astir celebrated tourer destinations. Travellers from each complete Nepal and beyond person fallen successful emotion pinch nan reservoir because of its recognisable turquoise waters. The area is seeing a increasing number of visitors successful spite of obstacles for illustration mediocre roadworthy entree and erratic aerial services.

A Growing Attraction

Situated astatine a striking 3,611 metres supra oversea level, Phoksundo Lake, aliases Rigmoh Lake arsenic it is locally known, has earned its estimation arsenic 1 of Nepal’s astir photographed earthy wonders. The Shey-Phoksundo National Park, which nan reservoir calls home, has recorded a full of 19,537 visitors complete nan past 5 years. This number reveals an encouraging trend, arsenic nan area’s distant charm continues to tie a divers operation of travellers.

Of nan full visitors, 17,712 were Nepali nationals, while 1,825 overseas visitors were besides drawn to nan site. Among these world travellers, 92 hailed from different SAARC countries. This influx has translated into important gross for nan park, pinch Rs7.38 cardinal collected successful introduction fees unsocial during this period. The gross was divided into Rs1.77 cardinal from Nepali visitors and Rs5.61 cardinal from overseas visitors.

Tourism Revenue and Entry Fees

Phoksundo Lake’s tourism gross exemplary is straightforward yet effective. Domestic visitors salary a nominal Rs100, while SAARC nationals are charged Rs1,500. Foreign visitors, who lend nan largest stock to nan park’s income, salary Rs3,000 for entry. These fees not only lend to nan section system but besides thief successful nan attraction and preservation of nan park’s earthy beauty. The increasing gross guidelines underscores nan region’s expanding tourism marketplace and its imaginable for further development.

Challenges to Access

Despite its rising popularity, reaching Phoksundo Lake remains a situation for many. The travel involves navigating done rugged terrain and relying connected constricted aerial connectivity to scope Dolpa. Most travellers get astatine nan territory headquarters, Dunai, either by roadworthy aliases air. However, nan roadworthy starring to Dunai is acold from ideal, and nan irregular aerial services make nan travel little predictable.

Currently, nan astir communal way for reaching nan reservoir is overland. Many visitors recreation by motorcycles, nationalist buses, aliases jeeps from Kathmandu, Pokhara, aliases Nepalgunj. Once successful Dunai, nan trek to Phoksundo Lake takes astir 1 day, pinch travellers pursuing a way that passes done Suligad, Kagni, Chhepka, and Tapriza.

For those choosing to embark connected a longer journey, nan travel to Dunai tin beryllium reached by motorcycle, nationalist buses, aliases jeeps. The overland way passes done Surkhet, Jajarkot, and Rukum, adding an adventurous twist to nan journey. It is this operation of rugged terrain and stunning earthy beauty that makes Phoksundo Lake truthful appealing to travellers seeking some escapade and tranquillity.

Potential for Growth

While nan travel to Phoksundo Lake is challenging, nan area holds tremendous imaginable for further tourism growth. With amended connectivity, peculiarly nan blacktopping of nan roadworthy starring up to Dunai, and much reliable aerial services, nan number of visitors could summation exponentially. Experts judge that pinch improved infrastructure and amended promotion, Phoksundo Lake could pull tens of thousands of visitors annually.

Tourism entrepreneur Jitendra Jhakri notes that nan surge successful Nepali visitors is mostly owed to improved overland connectivity. The roadworthy from Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Nepalgunj to Dolpa is now much accessible, making it easier for home visitors to research nan region. For world visitors, nan reservoir offers an off-the-beaten-path destination, acold removed from nan well-trodden paths of Kathmandu and Pokhara. The earthy beauty and serenity of Phoksundo Lake make it a cleanable spot for those seeking an authentic Nepali experience.

Eco-Tourism and Sustainable Travel

As tourism continues to rise, location is simply a increasing request to prioritise sustainable recreation practices successful nan region. The beauty of Phoksundo Lake lies not conscionable successful its beingness charm but besides successful its biology significance. The surrounding Shey-Phoksundo National Park is location to divers wildlife and uncommon flora, making it an important ecological zone. Local authorities and tourism operators must guarantee that improvement is managed responsibly to protect nan lake’s earthy beauty while catering to nan increasing request for tourism.

Efforts to beforehand ecotourism and sphere nan area’s earthy resources will beryllium basal arsenic tourism continues to grow. With nan correct initiatives successful place, Phoksundo Lake has nan imaginable to service arsenic a exemplary for sustainable tourism, showing really distant destinations tin create while maintaining their biology integrity.

The Role of Government and Stakeholders

The section government, on pinch tourism entrepreneurs, must activity together to guarantee that nan benefits of tourism are maximised for nan section community. Initiatives specified arsenic roadworthy improvements, amended aerial connectivity, and enhanced services for visitors are important for nan sustainable maturation of nan region. Furthermore, nan government’s domiciled successful promoting Phoksundo Lake done nationalist and world trading efforts will beryllium captious successful attracting a larger number of visitors.

Government efforts to amended infrastructure and beforehand nan area could lead to a important boost successful some home and world tourism. Additionally, creating consciousness of nan region’s earthy and taste practice will thief foster a deeper appreciation for nan area’s significance, ensuring that tourism brings semipermanent benefits to nan community.

Conclusion

One illustration of Nepal’s unrealised tourism imaginable is Phoksundo Lake. It is nan cleanable spot for anyone wishing to acquisition Nepal’s unadulterated earthy beauty because of its breathtaking landscapes, rich | taste legacy, and expanding accessibility. The area has nan imaginable to go a awesome hub for Nepal’s tourism sector, drafting some quality lovers and adventurers pinch nan correct infrastructure investments and eco-friendly recreation strategies.

Although Phoksundo Lake is already a well-liked tourer destination, its afloat imaginable is only now becoming apparent. Phoksundo Lake has nan imaginable to go a 21st-century world tourism icon by creating an ambiance that promotes some tourism description and biology preservation.