The Far-West Heritage Trail
What to experience?
For those with a sense of adventure, there is still much to explore in the Farwest of Nepal, a region that is as much cultural as it is natural. This remote region, still untouched by tourism, offers many wildlife experiences. It is a perfect
destination for adventure seekers.
The Far-west Heritage trail connects three jewels of the region: Khaptad National Park, the spiritual Badi Malika area, and the unique wetland area of Ramaroshan. For centuries, dwellers of the ancient kingdom of Doti relied on this
trail for their sacred journey to Badi Malika Temple and Baijanath Temple.
Even to this day, the holy sites are epitomes of Hindu religion, and attract worshippers from across the country as well as from India.
Services included
Domestic flight ticket; ground transportation
in the Far-West; food provision, guide and
porter services; accommodation—16 nights;
cultural program.
An Advanced trek
An Advanced trek may involve steep trails
when overcoming the passes. It is a full-day
trek, often in remote areas lasting up to 6 h.
A good level of fitness and experience is required.
16 nights / 17 days
Advanced
Max. Altitude: 4200m
Guesthouses and
Camping
The Far-West Heritage Trail
ITINERARY
DAY 1: Kathmandu / Delhi —Dhangadhi
Arrival from Kathmandu or Delhi to Dhangadhi. Dinner and overnight in Dhangadhi.
DAY 2: Dhangadhi—Silgadhi
We will start our drive to the hills of the Far–west from Dhangadhi at 8 am. The road goes through some of the
steepest hills. We will stop at Dadeldhura for lunch. We will continue our drive along the Seti River. By late afternoon, we will reach Silgadhi where we can visit the Shaileshwari temple and take some rest. Overnight at a
guesthouse in Silgadhi. (6h drive)
DAY 3: Silgadhi— Jingrana
From Silgadhi, it is a gentle ascend along a rough, motorable road to Baglekh (about 3-4h trek), where we will
have our lunch. After lunch, the hike will go up to Jingrana (1-2h trek). Overnight home-stay or camping in
Jingrana.
On the way to Bagleck Village
DAY 4 Jingrana—Khaptad National Park
The trek on this day leads through a subtropical pine forest, and with the subalpine fir, hemlock, oak and
rhododendron forests in the higher area. April is the best time to see red rhododendron (laliguras) or pink
rhododendron (setiguras) in blossom. In April and May, you can enjoy being in a hilly forest impregnated
with aromas of BADU tree flowers. Don’t forget your binoculars; on the way you can see plenty of birds that
make these forests their home. Hiking upwards, we will reach mid-way in about 2.5h where we will have
some rest. Lunch will be in the afternoon when we reach Bichpani. The trek enters the middle-hills starting
from 2250 m, and going up to 3103 m. The trail is a combination of gentle paths with difficult stretches like
a steep stone staircase. 6-7h trek.
The Far-West Heritage Trail
ITINERARY
DAY 5: Khaptad National Park
Activities in the National Park may include a hike to Khaptad Daha, a small lake, and a visit to the
Khaptad Baba Ashram. This national park is named after Khaptad Baba, a researcher and a doctor,
who lived amid the solitudes of the region, meditating and worshipping, during the 1940s. Overnight
at the guesthouse or camping.
DAY 6: Khaptad—Kanda
In the morning we will enjoy sunrise from the Khaptad observation tower. After breakfast, we can
start our hike. After an hour of hike, we will reach Khaptad Lake, located at the altitude of 3,500 m.
Following a short rest, we will continue downhill, just over 1,000 m drop, to reach the village of Kanda. (5h trek)
Khaptad Plateau
DAY 7: Kanda—Maure
Today you have a chance to experience the Nepali hospitality and friendliness. Our hike from Kanda to
Maure takes us through beautiful villages of Bajura with friendly people. For sure, on the way, you will
be invited by the locals for at least a cup of tea or a cup of fresh yogurt. (8-9h trek)
Daha Lake
The Far-West Heritage Trail
ITINERARY
DAY 8: Maure—Lamgada
It’s a steep climb, nearly 1,000 m, up to Nateshwari temple and the village of Lamgada. In the village of
Lamgada, we will stay at the house of Mr Gopi Raj Padhya, a social worker who has started the
homestay programme in his house. (6h trek)
On the way to Badi Malika
DAY 9: Lamgada—Chankili
On the way to Chankili, you may feel the spirits of ancient times, of the dwellers of the kingdom of Doti
who took this same trail for their sacred journey to Badi Malika Temple. Here, we get to enjoy the untouched natural beauty. The area has around 200 species of flora and more than 100 species of herbs.
We start our trek in the middle-hills at the altitude of 2,100 m above sea level and ascend up to
Chankili at the altitude of 3,500 m. Overnight in a tented camp at Chankili. (9h trek)
DAY 10: Chankili— Badi Malika
Today, we will reach our destination, Badi Malika (4,219 m), one of the major temples in Nepal. On
the way, we will have a great view of the Himalayan range. The temple of Badi Malika is dedicated to
Goddess Bhagawati, who had arrived here, forever leaving behind her previous dwelling. She had
passed through Tribeni, and finally settled in Badi Malika.
There are a lot of legends about the Badi Malika Temple. According to one such legend, a low-caste
farmer once reached the temple spot to collect fire wood. He felt so hungry that he asked Goddess
Bhagawati for some meat and bread. The goddess gave him what he asked for. However, there was so
much food that he could not finish eating everything by himself. So he decided to give a shout-out to
his family members so they could come and partake of the meal. Since his house happened to be far
away from the spot, his family members could not hear his yelling and nobody came. The angered
farmer blurted a request to the goddess to kill everyone in his house. The goddess granted this deadly
wish too. When he arrived home carrying all the food with him, he found all his relatives dead. He got
angry and went back to the temple. The goddess closed the doors of the temple and escaped. It is said
that the imprint of the blow that the angry person had given to the door of the temple can still be seen.
(5h trek)
The Far-West Heritage Trail
ITINERARY
DAY 11: Badi Malika—Tribeni
We will take our path to Tribeni today. The pilgrims too take this route while going to visit the temple or on the
return journey. Our way lies through beautiful grass plateaus. (4h trek)
DAY 12: Tribeni - Khalachak
When we reach Khalachak, we will get the best view over Ramaroshan wetland. The area of Ramaroshan consists
of 12 lakes and 18 breathtakingly lustrous green pastures, locally known as Patans. By evening, we will reach a
small pastureland called Khalachak. Just a couple of families come here during summer months to graze their cattle. Overnight in tented camps. (10h trek)
DAY 13: Khalachak—Ramaroshan
Today, after breakfast, we will continue our hike towards one of the biggest wetlands, Ramaroshan. Trekking
from Khalachak is as authentic as it gets. According to one of the legends, the name Ramaroshan derives from the
names of two beautiful plateaus ‘Rama' and 'Roshan'. Two neighboring wetlands Rama and Roshan are located
at the altitude of 2,500 m and a distance of half an hour by foot from each other. Another story tells us about God
Rama who used to come to the peaceful place called Roshan. (2h hike)
Ramaroshan Wetland
The Far-West Heritage Trail
ITINERARY
DAY 14: Ramaroshan—Muja Bagar
Today we are hiking through the middle-hills starting from the altitude of about 2,500 m and descending to Muja Bagar located approximately 1,500 m lower. The hike will lead through the river belts and a hilly forest impregnated with mint and lemongrass aromas, with beautiful birds chirping, and trees gently rustling. Further,
we pass through some villages where we will get our lunch. We will camp tonight and prepare our dinner with
locals. You have a chance to see the kind of spices you can use to prepare the best achar (spicy source)! Camping. (5-6h hike)
DAY 15: Muja Bagar—Silgadhi
Our trip will almost certainly coincide with rice planting or harvesting events. We will pass through
the rice fields that look like colorful patchwork blankets covering hills and slopes. The hike is going
through beautiful and friendly villages. In a couple of hours, we will reach river Kailash. (3h hike).
Close to the river, in the shadow of the huge tree, we will have our lunch. You can enjoy swimming
here or just jump in and out. From here, the transportation will be organised up to Silgadhi. Dinner
and overnight in a hotel at Silgadhi.
DAY 16: Silgadhi—Dhangadhi
Early morning, we will continue our drive back to Dhangadhi through the land of Dotelis. In the 13th
century, here was the kingdom of Doti, known as Raika, spread between two rivers, Mahakali in the
west and Karnali in the east. Around 1 pm, we will reach Dadeldhura, where we will have our lunch.
By evening, we will be in Dhangadhi. Dinner and overnight in Dhangadhi. (8h drive)
DAY 17: Dhangadhi—Delhi / Kathmandu
Rest and back to Kathmandu or Delhi.
For more information, please contact:
Tourism Development Society
Phone No.: +977-091-521900,
E-mail: [email protected],
www.farwestnepal.org
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