A Report on

Tourism in Dolakha: A Case Study of Kalinchok Trek

A Report Submitted to

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Science

Department of Peace Conflict and Development Studies

Tribhuwan University

In the partial Fulfillment of the Requirement of the Masters Degree Faculty of Humanities
and Social sciences

(CPD 509, Tourism &Development)

Submitted by

Mani Ram Kandel

May 2009

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 Acknowledgement

Tourism is highly considered as the most import source of foreign currency in Nepal. Hence, it is
necessary to good guideline for the good planning and policies from the various sectors to boost
the tourism. The importance of tourism is increasing day by day as a basis of development
because of foreign exchange earnings and its contribution for the creatio n of employment
opportunities

. As per assigned to students of Master’s degree of Conflict, Peace and Development Studies of
Tribhuvan university, the researcher went to Dolakha for the two days field visit.
I could not have completed this task without sincere help from various individuals and
organizations. First of all I have a deep respect and gratitude to Dr. Saubhagya shah, the
coordinator, Department of conflict peace and Development studies, Tribhuvan University, Dr.
Ramesh Kunwar, faculty member of the department and Mr Prem Chalaune, field supervisor of
this task, who inspired me to prepare this paper.

Similarly I would like to thank the people of Kuri, Gairi and Charikot. The people whom I was
encounter while during the field research was very encouraged and inspired me and provided
food and beverage was unforgettable. I could not be prepared this paper without the co-operation
of these people. So the simple words of thanks cannot express my gratitude.

Last but not least, I cannot find words to express adequately my gratitude to the colleagues of my
class, who are really enthusiastic and helped me during the field visit. I really enjoyed this field
visit. Finally, I am grateful toward all the teachers of the Department of Conflict Peace and
Development Studies, who directly or indirectly helped in course of my writing.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgements

Chapter 1: Introduction 1

1.1 Background of the Study 1

1.2 Definition of Tourism and Tourist 2

1.3 Objective of the study 5

1.4 Literature re view 5

1.5 Limitation of study 6

Chapter 2 : RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 7

Primary data 7

2.2 Secondary data 7

2.3 Field visit 7

2.4 Research Design 8

Chapter 3: Findings and discussion 9

3.1 Dolakha at a Glance 9

3.2 Kalinchok Trek an Experience 10

3.3 Tourist flow in Kalinchok 12

3.4 Impact of Tourism in Kalinchok 13

3.5 Conclusion 13

References 15

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 Tourism in Dolakha: A Case Study of Kalinchowk Trek

Chapter 1: Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Nepal is one of the richest countriy in terms of tourism potentiality. Nepal has more than 103

ethnic /caste groups and 92 spoke languages (Bhattachan, 2004). Terai, Hill and Mountain are the

main attraction of the country. Mountaineering, trekking, mountain biking, nature tours, culture

tours, pilgrimage tour s, whitewater rafting, kayaking, mountain flight, jungle safaris, bird

watching, fishing, angling, paragliding, bungee jumping etc are the world class experience which

one can get by visiting Nepal.

Nepal is the ultimate destination for the trekking enthus iast – offering lots of possibilities from

short and easy to the challenges of the snowy peaks, in this sense there is something for

everyone. Nepal has aptly been called “A Trekkers’ Paradise” as her terrain mountain trekking

routs in the world. "Trekking means travelling on foot by tourist on places where no modern

transport facilities are available, to observed varied natural & cultural sights seen." (H.M.G.,

1994:49)

Mix of lifestyles, vegetations and wild lives according to the different altitudes and climates can

found in Nepal. Varieties of cultures and people and their lifestyle have made Nepal one of the

richest countries. Different religious groups, caste groups are also another attraction for the

tourist or pilgrimage tourism. Different temples, Gumbas, Mosques and so on having different

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belief system can be memorable to whom who visits Nepal. Village tours on Nepal allow visitors

to experience a stay in typical Nepali village. This gives visitors an opportunity to observe the

rich Nepali cultural tradition from the closet quarter and intermingle with the locals.

This small sized field report deals about the tourism in Dolakha of Nepal and main focus is

Kalinchowk trek for internal visitors. Dolakha district can be termed a cache of tourism

resources. But in the lack of proper marketing and promotion of these resources, the number of

visitors to this district hasn’t been satisfactory. The religious, cultural, historical and natural

attractions of this district are yet to be explored because of effective promotion of these

resources. The Rolwaling Mountain range, the ferocious Tamakoshi River, the timeless culture

and tradition of ethnic groups Jirel and Surel, the beautiful Jiri Valley, religious sites in the likes

of Bhimeshwore and Kalinchowk and Shailunge Danda are some of the attractions of the

Dolakha district.

1.2 Definition of Tourism and Tourist

“The world is a book; he who stay at home reads only one page”- St. Augustaine (354-430 A.D)-

(Kunwar,2006:1). From this saying we can say that the tourism is leaving the home inquest of

knowledge and entertainment. “….the act of leaving and then returning to the original starting

point, and therefore, one who takes such a journey can be called a tourist.”(Theoland, in Kunwar,

2006:2).

While defining tourism, many scholars are agreed that the tourism is essentially an expression of

natural human interest for experience, adventure, knowledge and entertainment. Some

definitions regarding tourism are as follows;

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In the year 1963, the UN conference on international travel and tourism held at Rome

recommended definitions for the term “Tourism”. The World Tourism Organization (WTO) and

the united nation jointly published this definition in 1994. According to this definition “Tourism

is defined as activities of persons travelling to and staying places outsides their usual

environment for not more than one consecutive year, for leisure, business and other purpose.”

The definition incorporates the following main three basic criteria: firstly, ‘A time creation’ that

the person doesn’t stay at the place visited for more than one consecutive year, ‘A distance

creation’ that the purpose of travel should be leisure, business and others but not migration and

employment purpose. (B.K. Goswamj and G. Ravindran ,2001:13/14)

Tourism is not a new phenomenon for Hindu’s. In Sanskrit literature there is not found a

different term for tourism derived from the root Aten, which means leaving home for some time

to other places (Negi, op cit, 22). They had different types of tourism known as Parayatan

(going out for pleasure and knowledge); Deshantan (going out to other countries primarily for

economic gain); and Tirthan (going to the place of religious importance) Kunwar,2006:2.

According to Ryan (1991:5), tourism is “a study of the demand for, and supply of,

accommodation and supportive services for those staying away from home, and the resultant

patterns of expenditure, income creation and employment.” (Ryan; 1991:5 in Kunwar 2006:3).

From this definition we can see that tourism includes supply of facilities to the travelers

according to their demand and which increases the employment and income for the host or local

people. Nielsen (2001:12) comments that this is a rather bland definition. It is to be noted that

this definition (Rya n’s) excludes any reference to enjoyment and leisure. (Nielsen, 2001:12;in

Kunwar,2006).

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In this way, we can see there is not specific definition of tourism. In holistic approach we can

take following definition of tourism. This definition was firstly taken by the Tourism Steering

Group to Stratford-upon- Avon District Council in England in its 1978 report, according to this

group “…….day trippers from the cities of Midlands, evening theatergoers from London, coach-

tour passengers from all over the world hurtling through the country, conference delegates and

longer-stay customers of whole price range of serviced and unserviced accommodation… a

visitor to the District for whatever reason he or she comes, for however long he or she may stay,

and by whatever means he or she may come ….”(Tourism Steering Group, 1978; Ryan 1991; in

Kunwar 2006:5).

While defining ‘tourist’ Erik Cohen says, “The tourist is a voluntary temporary traveler

travelling in the expectation of pleasure from the novelty and change experience on a relatively

long and non-recurrent round trip” (Kunwar, 2006:10). Similarly Valene L. Smith (1989) says

“in general, a tourist is a temporarily leisured person who voluntarily visits a place away from

home for the purpose of experiencing a change” (Valene L. Smith 1989, in Kunwar 2006:10).

To sum up, tourism and tourist both are interrelated in the tourism industry. There cannot be

tourism without tourist consequently there cannot be a tourist without tourism. In my

understanding tourism is the combination of the ‘product’ and ‘tourist’. Hera product refers to

the attractions for example, different biodiversity, different cultures, different people, mountain,

hill and Terai etc where one can entertain as he or she likes. And the visitors refer to the people

who visit above mentioned things for his or her personal interest, knowledge and for experience.

Tourism also includes the services which are tended towards the tourist which is according to the

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tourist’s demand for example, accommodation, food catering, and transportation and so on in the

area where a tourist goes.

1.3 Objective of the study

The objectives of this study are as follows:

1. To know about the inflow of tourists in Kalinchowk.

2. To trace out the general impacts of tourism in the study area.

3. To deliver the experience of Kalinchowk trek.

1.4 Literature review

Regarding the socio- cultural impact of tourism, many of the fears surrounding tourism are

closely associated with uncontrolled, unsustainable and massed tourism growth. Tourism is an

industry and is dominated by private enterprise with a purpose of making money by selling

experiences. Market led planning can fail to achieve the objectives of sustainable tourism and

has a tendency to forget environmental, social and cultural impacts. Like all industries, impacts

do occur, but the extent to which impacts are negative can be minimized

Kunwar (2006), in his book, Tourists and Tourism has mentioned about the impact of tourism.

He says that tourism is genuinely powerful and unique force for change in the community. He

further adds many scholars have assumed (i) that tourism may bring about rapid and dramatic

change in the loci of authority, land-use patterns, value systems, and portions of economy; (ii)

that the study of tourism may provide another laboratory situation for the testing of

acculturation theory. Certainly the tourist today is more ubiquitous than the missionary, the

technical assistance agent, or the trader, all of whom are considered as agents of diffusion and

acculturation (Nunez, 1963; in Kunwar 2006:144).

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One possible effect of tourism on culture is trivialization, when aspect of the host culture become

a degraded and commercialized form of entertainment for tourist (Kunwar,2006). In addition to

everyday activities, religious institutions are usually affected by tourism (ibid). similarly the

creation of airport art and performance of fake folklore are, of course stimulated by tourist

demand and frequently, arts, crafts, and local culture have been revitalized as direct result of

tourism (ibid).

Nowadays the level of awareness is quite high that tourism has a general impact on the

destination. Many times it is talked about the economical impact which is mainly considered

positive as it creates jobs in that area and brings people to the destination that spend money there

etc. The environmental impact is a popular topic as well that is covered continuously in the news

mainly by claiming the airplanes for their carbon emissions but also stating the destroying impact

of mass tourism because of littering, over visitation of natural sights etc. Due to this many

tourism dedicate their CSR programmes mainly to this issue as it is the best known (kunwar,

2006:144-152).

1.5 Limitation of study

The main focus of this study is to deliver an experience of researcher. Due to the time constraint

the researcher has not analyzed the impacts of tourism deeply in the study area. It was so difficult

to meet the local people in the study area because the season was not in favor of the researcher.

On the other hand the culture existed in Himalayan region of Nepal is similar to the study area

but the researcher had not familiar with this culture. So the researcher may not sensitize to the

reader about the cultural norms and values of the study area. Because of these factors researcher

has tried to trace out the economical impact of tourism in the study area as well as some cultural

change.
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 Chapter 2

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

2.1 Primary data

The primary data for this study were collected from the field visit of the researcher. The data

were collected by raising few questions with the local people and the official personal. And some

data are collected through the simple observation of the field as well as the experiences of the

field.

2.2 Secondary data

The secondary data for this study were collected from different kinds of books, magazines,

newspapers etc. The data also collected through internet.

2.3 Field visit

The data for the preparation of this report is gathered by visiting the related field, Dolakha. At

the first day on19th February 2009, researcher leaved from Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal.

Hotal Laxmi in Charikot was the first hotel where the researcher stayed for one night. On the

second day the researcher went to Dolakha to visit Bhimeshwar temple. At the same day the

researcher visited some hotels in Charikot to know about the accommodation and food catering

for the tourist who visits Charikot . On the other hand the researcher knew something about the

economy, employers in the hotels.

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In fact the aim of this field visit is to visit Charikot because we have got only two days for this

field visit. But the researcher had spent 3 more days at the end of this tour. In these three days the

researcher visited Kalinchowk Bhagawati which is 3810m high from the sea level. The trek to

Kalinchowk was very interesting. We leaved Charikot on 26th February for Kalinchowk. It takes

6 to 7 hours to reach Kuri (near the Kalinchowk ). There are 9/10 hotels but out of them only one

hotel was giving services and others were closed because at this season there is not sufficient

dirking water. We stayed one night in Kuri and next day we went to Kalinchock Bhagawati. It

was so interesting as well as adventurous, because the high altitude is a great problem for the

visitos who visits Kalinchowk. At the same we went to Chauri Goth , there were almost all 150

Chauris. We stayed one night in Chauri Goth. This was another new experience in our life. We

talk with the local people in Gairi and we drank Chauri’s milk which was so testy. Next day we

leaved Gairi to Charikot and after lunch in Charikot we took a bus to Kathmandu.

2.4 Research Design

Research design in order to full fill the objectives of this study, descriptive as well as exploratory

research design has been applied. The descript method has been used to analyze the information

collected through different sources. The exploratory method used to find out the impacts of

tourism in the study area i.e., to analyze the modification and changes in socio-cultural features

on the local people with the inflow of tourism and the economical changes. In this study, it has

been tried to know the view of the people about the tourism.

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 Chapter 3: Findings and discussion

3.1 Dolakha at a Glance

Essentially tourism is about an experience of place and people (Kunwar,2006). Visiting new

place one can have new experience in his or her life. A new experience tends towards creating

new vision. Dolakha is mountainous district of Janakpur zone in the central development region.

Its total land area is 2191sq Km. and its borders contiguous with Solukhumbu and Ramachhap

the east, Ramachhap and Sindhupalchock in the south, Sindhupalchock in the west and with the

Tibetan Autonomous Region of People's Republic of China in the north. Sitali, the lowest part of

the district is 723 meter above sea level whereas Mt.Gaurishankar, the highest part of the district

is 7134 meter above sea level. Dolakha is the land of all seasons year around there is a myriad

place to go, place to meet and sites to see. Dolakha is an attractive tourist destination and the

people of Dolakha are eager to welcome tourist in the district.(Office of District Development

Committee, 2058 B.S)

Rolwaling Himalayan range, Gaurishankar Himal, Shailung Danda, Kalinchowk Bhagawati,

Bhimeshwar temple, deulangeshwar temple, Bigu Gumba, Beiding VDC, Jiri Bazaar, Tshorolpa

icepond, and so on the important touristic destinations of Dolakha.

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3.2 Kalinchowk Trek an Experience

Photo: Kalinchowk Bhagawati at the top

A real paradise at the 3810 miter high from the sea level, situated at the lap of the Gaurishankar

Himal and north part of Dolakha is Kalinchowk Bhagawati. After 6 to 7 hours walking from

Charikot, the district headquarters of Dolakha one can reach to Kalinchowk and can have real

experience of Himalayan paradise. Even though there is unpitched road up to Deurali VDC, there

is not any facility of public transportation. In my experience, it is better to walk than to take any

help of public transportation. On the way one can take real enjoyment of the natural scenes

which is waiting for every visitor to Kalinchowk.

On the way to Kalinchowk, there are not any hotels and restaurant to stay and to eat, so visitors

have to take foods from Charikot. In Kuri, near the Kalinchowk, there are 12/13 hotels. All most

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all hotels are run by local Sherpas. The Sherpa community in Kalinchowk , belief on Tebeto

Buddhisim. The main occupation of these Sherpas is animal husbandry. So the visitors can know

about the Sherpa’s culture and can have the different foods made by Chauri’s milk (a kind of

caw found in the himalayan region). But one should go during the mansoon season meet Sherpas

and Chauris.

Photo: Kuri bazaar at the centre

After one night stay we went to Kalinchowk which is almost 700 meter high from Kuri. It takes

almost one and half hours to reach Kalinchowk Bhagawati temple. We can see lots of natural

beauties from this temple. Gaurishankar Himalayan range, Sailung Danda, Tamakoshi river, and

other beautiful VDCs (see appendix for some photos).

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3.3 Tourist flow in Kalinchowk

According to local people of Kalinchowk, April to September is the main season in terms of

tourist flow in Kalinchowk. Sudarsan Karki, chair man, Hotel Sangam in Charikot said that

many hindu people have belief on Kalinchowk Bhagawati. They take Kalinchowk Bhagawati, as

a symbol of power. In this sense we can predict that the main tourist flow in Kalinchowk is

internal and pilgrimage tourist. Kumar Thapa, Bhimeshwor municipality-1, a devotee of

Kalinchowk Bhagawati, beliefs on Bhagawati by heart so every year in Deshain (a great festival

of Hindus) he goes to Kalinchowk with a goat to sacrifice it. Many Hindus like Kumar Thapa

used to go there basically on Wednesday and Saturday of every week and Chautra Dashami and

great festival Dashain of every year.

While talking about external tourist to Kalinchowk, some Swis tourists go there for a

enthusiastic

Trek. Binda Chaulagai, manager of ‘Hotel panorama Resort’ says that one can go to Kalinchowk

trek without taking any training of trekking. So many Swis people who have been working in

Dolakha since last 50 years, used to go for Kalinchowk trek. Similarly some Indian Hindus also

come in Dolakha to visit Bhimwshwar temple at the same time they want to go Kalinchowk

Bhagawati also.

Bishal Bhandari, a journalist, said that we can find more than 400 visitors in Kalinchowk during

the Dashain festival. Not only local people but also the visitors from different districts like

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Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Sindhupalchok, Makawanpur, Ramechhap, kabhre and so on

used to visit Kalinchowk. In this way we can say that the main tourist flow in Kalinchowk

Bhagawati is internal than external.

3.4 Impact of Tourism in Kalinchowk

While talking about the impact of tourism in Kalinchowk we can see lots of changes. There were

not any hotels in Kuri before 15 years ago. Only the local people used to know about the

Kalinchowk. After the establishment Swis development projects in Dolakha, many tourist

destinations came into account. Now a days we can find lots of foods items in Kalinchowk area

which are brought from Charikot bazaar. According to the local people, the house pattern also

has been changed now days. Similarly people of Kalinchowk have got some economical benefits

from the visitors of Kalinchowk. One of the hotel owner accepted that he learned the Nepali

language to run his business; it means earlier he had no knowledge of Nepali language. He also

accepted now a day’s Sherpas also began to worship Kalinchowk Bhagawati like the Hindus. It

is not real that they used not to worship but fact is that the pattern of worship was little bit

different than Hindus.

3.5 Conclusion

The process of tourism development in Nepal through the strategy of economically planed

development periods started from 1956. (Upadhaya and Upreti, 2007). The Mountain areas of

Nepal are rich in its old cultures. Mountains, devotedly considered as abode of gods, are source

of fresh water such as rivers, streams and lakes. Mountains are environmentally fragile but

culturally rich and inhabited by the majority of poor but hardworking Tibeto Mongoloid people.

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Nepal today is at the pathway of entire political, social, economic transformation (progress) with

the successful completion of constituent assembly (CA) poll. It is true that the Economic

development of Nepal very much depends upon the potentials of water, tourism, non-timber

forests and high- value low- volume agricultural products and human resource.

While talking about the potentiality of the tourism in Dolakha district is very high, but lack of

proper marketing it has not got important recognition in the field of Nepalese tourism. This short

field report deals with an experience of Kalinchowk trek which is really wonderful experience to

all who visits this area.

Dolakha can be considered as an important tourist destination in Nepal. It can be developed as

eco-tourism as well as pilgrimage tourism destination. Essential facilities like transportation,

guide services, accommodation, recreation and other facilities are still not properly developed in

the study area.

Last but not least, to promote tourism in this area the mountainous culture should be preserved

because Thami, Jirel, Surel, Tamang, Sherpa have rich culture which have increased the

attraction of this area.

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References

1. Dr. Bhattachan, 2004,

2. HMG Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, 1994.

3. Kunwar Ramesh Raj , 2006, Tourist and Tourism Science and Industry Interface,

Kathmandu; International School of Tourism and Hotel Management.

4. Goswami B.K. and G. Ravindran, 2005, A Text Book of Tourism, New Delhi; Har-Anand

publications.

5. Pranil Kumar Upadhaya and Bishnu Raj Upreti, 2007, Enhancing Women’s Participation

in Mountain Tourism, Prospects and Challenges.

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