Dolpa District, is a district, located in Karnali Province of Nepal, It is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal and one of ten district of Karnali. The district, with Dunai as its district headquarters, covers an area of 7889 km2 and has a population (2023) of 43,000. Dolpa is the largest district of Nepal in terms of area.

Geography and climate

Dolpa is the largest district of Nepal covering 5.36% of the total landmass of the country. It is located at 28°43’N to 29°43’N latitude and 82°23’E to 83°41’E longitude. Elevation ranges from 1525 to 7625 m. The district borders Tibet on the north and northeast, Jumla and Mugu districts on the west, Myagdi, Jajarkot, Western and Eastern Rukum on the south, and Mustang on the east. A large portion of the district is protected by Shey Phoksundo National Park. The name is derived from the 12th-century Shey Monastery and the deepest lake in Nepal, the Phoksundo Lake, both of which lie in the district. The park protects endangered animals like the snow leopard, musk deer and Tibetan wolf. The Shey Phoksundo is the largest and only trans-Himalayan National Park in Nepal. The district has an altitudinal range of over 5000 m from a little over 1500 m at Tribeni in Kalika Village Development Committee to 7381 m at the peak of Churen Himal. Kanjiroba (6221 m), Mukot (6638 m) and Putha Hiunchuli (7246 m) are other renowned peaks. Physiographically, the smaller ranges of the Great Himalayas comprise the southern border of the district. Between these and the border mountain ranges of Gautam Himal and Kanti Himal to the north, Dolpa district is a labyrinth of often wide glacial valleys and ridges. Kanjiroba Himal and Kagmara Lekh, running northwest to southeast, separate the valleys of the Jagdula in the west from the rest of the district.

Demographics

At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Dolpa District had a population of 36,700. As first language, 70.1% spoke Nepali, 6.7% Gurung, 6.0% Sherpa, 5.2% Magar, 4.5% Tibetan/Dolpali, 3.9% Bote, 2.7% Kham, 0.3% Tamang, 0.1% Sign language and 0.3% other languages. Ethnicity/caste: 61.4% were Chhetri, 8.6% Magar, 7.2% Dolpo, 7.1% Kami, 7.1% Gurung, 6.4% Thakuri, 2.8% Sarki, 1.6% Damai/Dholi, 1.5% Hill Brahmin, 1.2% Tamang, 0.7% Bhote, 0.2% Newar, 0.2% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.1% Tharu and 0.3% others. Religion: 70.1% were Hindu, 29.4% Buddhist and 0.4% Christian. Literacy: 53.3% could read and write, 3.6% could only read and 43.0% could neither read nor write. Dolpa's major occupations are agriculture (79.5%) and service (2%).

Tourism

The Dolpa region is a distant region of Nepal and the central point of this area is Shey Phoksundo National Park. The east and south of Dolpa are surrounded by the Dhaulagiri and Churen Himal ranges and to the west is the Jumla district. Trekking to Lower Dolpa offers you the remarkable and breathtaking experience of a lifetime. The notable features seen here are snowy peaks, ancient and remote villages, rich wildlife, lovely Buddhist monasteries, and wonderful lakes. The people of this area are simple and warm-hearted with an enthralling culture and traditions. The cultural traditions of this area are basically linked with Tibetan culture. Trekking into Dolpa presents an exposure to the high and remote Himalayan valleys, resembling the Tibetan highlands. The main highlight of Dolpa trekking includes Shey Phoksundo National Park, one of the major national parks of Nepal. Shey Phoksundo Lake is another famous feature of this region. The lake is totally free of aquatic life, which the crystal waters clearly demonstrate. Surrounded by rocks, forests, and snow-capped peaks, the area has been described as one of the world's natural hidden wonders.

Transport

This district, despite being the largest in area in the nation, had only 1 vehicle as of November 2012, and no road links to other districts. The government was constructing a roadway to link Dunai in the district to Rukum, Jajarkot districts. The road is 118 km long and had been completed in 2018, which connected the district with the national road network.

Administration

The district consists of 8 Municipalities, out of which two are urban municipalities and six are rural municipalities. These are as follows:

Former village development committees

Prior to the restructuring of the district, Dolpa District consisted of the following municipalities and village development committees: