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TAPLEJUNG
The Treasure of Mountains

Background

Offering some of the most spectacular Himalayan landscapes with thirteen of the world’s highest mountain peaks rising above 7000m including Mt. Kanchenjunga(8586m) the third highest peak in the world; Taplejung, the treasure of the mountains, also plays host to the longest blue glacier in the world, the Yalung and a high biodiversity rate. This area is also home to a diverse range of ethnic groups like the Limbus, Tibetans, Sherpas, Rai, Gurung, Magars, Newars and Tamangs. The Kanchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA) in the eastern Himalaya boasts of some of the most stunning scenery in all of Nepal. Traditional farming practices are a way of life here and you can encounter rich forests with more than 250 species of bird and animal life. There are a number of high mountain lakes in Olangchung Gola.

Attractions

Mountaineering & White River Rafting
This area is specially suited for mountaineering and trekking and these along with pilgrimage tours are the main tourist attractions. Waterfalls, lakes and the Tamur River offer opportunities for white water rafting. The Milke Jajale ridge forms the border between Taplejung and Terathum and this area is known for its biological diversity including the world’s largest natural rhododendron forest with the highest number of rhododendron species for any place in the world.
Flora & Fauna
Juniper and Himalayan Larch can be found in the forests in this area. With more than 1200 species of flowering plants, Taplejung is also rich in wildlife including the snow leopard, red panda, Himalayan musk deer and the Himalayan black bear.
Pathibhara Temple
Pathibhara temple in Tapethoc VDC (19kms from Taplejung) is revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. Pathibhara lies at an altitude of 3794 metres. An animist deity, it is believed that the devotee’s desires will be fulfilled with a sacrifice at the temple. The Pathibhara pilgrimage takes only three to four days with the best time to visit being March to June and September to November. Spectacular Kanchenjunga Range can also be observed.
Ancient Gompas
The richness of the cultural heritage of Taplejung is reflected in the Buddhist gompas such as the 400 year old Diki Chhyoling gompa of Olangchung Gola which houses a life size Avalokiteshwara and has a butter lamp continuously burning since its construction. 12 prayer wheels outside the gompa spin as a small stream flows by.

Getting There

In the dry season, four bus services are available daily from Taplejung down south; with two of them being to Birtamod and two to Phidim. Often an overnight stay is required; otherwise it is a full day’s journey. Taplejung is also connected to the rest of Nepal by the 227km Char Aali-Ilam-Phidim-Taplejung road and a STOL air connection to Kathmandu and Biratnagar. You can also get to the area by bus through Dharan. From this eastern town you will have to hike to Kunsa to enter the Kanchenjunga Conservation area.

Getting Around

Trans-boundary Tourism:
Trans-boundary trekking which provides a completely different experience from the adjoining Sikkim biosphere reserve to the KCA via Chongpa La can be fully explored.
Tinjure Milke Jaljale Trail:
Better known as the Rhododendron trail, the area spreads acroos Taplejung, Terathum and Sankhuwasabha districts. The trail can be visited from Basantpur (Dhankuta) to Kanchenjunga and vice-versa.
Limbu Heritage Trail:
The Limbus are the dominant ethnic group in the lower regions of the conservation area. A new trekking route between Kabeli and Khaksewa offering unique experience of cultural and traditional lifestyle of the Limbus has been developed which offers beautiful panoramic view of the Terai and the Cardamom farm and thick forest lies between Kabeli and Khaksewa. The Limbus still enjoy their ‘Paddy dance’ during various occasions. They also offer accommodation at their homes and you get to discover the true culture of this unique area.

About the area

The area is made up of alpine grass lands, rocky outcrops, dense temperate and sub-tropical forests, and low river valleys with the Kanchenjunga as its crown and is home to one of the original homelands of the indigenous Limbu people. Most practise integrated early animist religions. Agriculture, animal husbandry and tourism are the major means of livelihood for these people. In the higher altitudes, you can find Sherpa people where they arrived from Tibet more than four hundred years ago. These Sherpas have a distinct culture and tradition from those in Solukhumbu District in the Sagarmatha region. The icons of the cultural heritage are monasteries, chhortens, temples and prayer walls. And to add to the flavour, the festivals of all of these people living in harmony only serve to make the native culture livelier.

Safety/ Code of conduct:

Do not trek alone; trek with a guide or porter.
Do not light campfires; cook with kerosene.
Respect privacy; ask before photographing people or religious sites. · Documentary filming requires a special permit from the Langtang National Park.
Do not trample or remove animals or plants. Prevent erosion from staying on the main trail.
Trash must be carried out, buried or disposed of in designated areas.
Entering the National Park without a permit is illegal.
Be sensitive to the local cultural heritage; inappropriate dress and/or behaviour may offend and permanently influence the traditions and attitudes of the local people.

Statistics:
District Area: 3,646 sq km
Highest Peak: Mt. Kanchenjunga, 8586m
Population: 1, 34,698 (in 2001) Ethnic groups: Limbus, Tibetan, Sherpas, Rai, Gurung, Magars, Newars, Tamangs, Sunuwar
Literacy: female-30.6%; male-62.4%
Weather: Average temperature-11.30 Celsius, Minimum-0 degree Celsius, Maximum-30 degree Celsius, Average Rainfall-1440 mm
Economic occupations: 64.48% Agriculture. Livestock, cottage industry and trade are other occupations. Less than 5% in service sector.
Major Glaciers: Kanchenjunga, Kumbhakarna and Yalung
Major River: Tamor (rafting kayaking fishing) Kabeli(fishing) Ghunsa River(micro hydro electricity)
Accommodations: 67 lodges and 55 camp sites en route to Kanchenjunga and Pathibhara and home stay facilities at Khewang Mamankhe
Access: one hour by air from Kathmandu, 30mins on air from Biratnagar. 22 hours drive from Birtamod. 18 hrs from Panchthar and trek from Kanchenjunga. Private jeeps can also be arranged. Two days trekking from Basantpur.
Entrance fee: To Kanchenjunga Conservation Area: NRs. 1000 (must be bought prior to departure from KTM)

This extreme trekking route is promoted and supported by TRPAP (Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme), a programme of HMG/N, supported jointly by UNDP, SNV (Netherlands) and DFID (UK). The programme works to develop sustainable tourism in six districts of Nepal.

In the development of this district, TRPAP works closely with the Taplejung District Development Committee and the Conservation Area.