Shey Phoksundo National Park

Sher Phoksundo National Park is one of the Largest and only Trans-Himalayan National Park in Nepal covering 3,555 sq.km area extending over Dolpa and Mugu District establishied in 1984 which is located in Lower Dolpa region. The Name Shey Phoksundo National Park is derived from the combination of famous Monastery called “Shey” and Lake “Phoksundo” (both located in Shey Phoksundo National Park). The purpose of establishing this park is to protect and preserve Trans-Himalayan Ecosystem and diversity of Flora and Founa in the Park. Shey Gompa, the famous monastery was established in the 11^th century, Thashung Gompa located near Phoksundo Lake was built about 900 years ago and believe to conserve wildlife.

Ringmo village, a typical Tibetan village, is scenically nestled in the park. The park is home to more than 9,000 people and their villages. The local people are subsistence farmers growing potatoes, buckwheat, mustard, beans and some barley and keeping livestock for food and wool. They trade with Tibetan for salt and wool. Most of the population of the park practice Bon Buddhism ancient religion with roots in Animism and Buddhism. The Bon-po religion, which forms the entire culture base for Tibetan Buddhism.

• Activities: Trekking, mountaineering
• Accommodation: Camping
• Access: Fly to Dolpa's Jufal Airport from Nepalgunj (20 minutes) and then a three-day walk
• Wildlife: Sheep, ghoral, musk deer, leopard, wild dog, marmot, weasel, mouse hare, rhesus and langur monkeys, Himalayan tahr, Himalayan black bear and jackals; 6 species of reptiles
• Birds: Over 200 species of birds including yellow throated marten, Tibetan partridge, wood snipe, white-throated tit, wood accentor and crimson-eared rose finch, impeyan pheasant, cheer pheasant, chough, raven, Tibetan snow cock, Tibetan twit, Himalayan griffon and lammergeier
• Butterflies: 29 species of butterflies
• Vegetation: 286 floral species of botanical importance: pine, walnut, willow, oak, cypress in the lower altitude and pine, spruce, juniper and birch at higher regions; berberis, wild rose and caragana are seen in alpine areas while the regions higher up are mostly arid with grass alpine meadows with barely any trees.
• Best Season: March-May and September-October
• Park Headquarter: Sumduwa
• Added Attractions: Lake Phoksundo, Dho village (one of the highest settlements in the world)
• Entrance Fee: Nepalis - Rs. 25 per person per entry, SAARC nationals - Rs. 1,500 per person per entry, foreigners - Rs. 3,000 per person per entry.