Shey Phoksundo Lake

The Deepest Lake In Nepal, In Shey Phoksundo National Park In Dolpo · Ringmo, Karnali

Phoksundo is a lake of an almost unreal turquoise at about 3,600 metres in Dolpo, the remote high country of northwestern Nepal, and it is the deepest lake in the country, held back by an ancient landslide dam and fed by glaciers. Beside it stands the village of Ringmo, with its stone houses and chortens, and on the shore the old monastery of Tshowa, belonging to the Bon religion, which predates Buddhism in Tibet. Above the lake rise bare, dramatic cliffs, and beyond them lies Upper Dolpo, one of the most isolated inhabited regions on earth, made famous by Peter Matthiessen's book The Snow Leopard and the film Himalaya. A high waterfall, among the tallest in Nepal, drops near the lake's outlet. Getting here is the barrier: a flight to the airstrip at Juphal, often cancelled, then several days of walking up the Suli Gad valley. Parts of Dolpo are restricted areas with special permits. The lake is considered sacred, and boating and swimming are not allowed. Few visitors reach it, and it is one of the most beautiful places in the Himalaya.

Shey Phoksundo National Park, Dolpa District, Ringmo, Karnali, Nepal

Seasonal. Best from May to October; Dolpo lies in a rain shadow and is walkable in the monsoon, while winter is harsh. A national park permit is required, and restricted-area rules apply to parts of Dolpo - confirm. Access is by flight to Juphal, then two to three days on foot.

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