Kunkhyen Phalak Lake, taller than Tilicho, awaiting official study (Photo Feature)
Hemant KC, Nepal News Bank
Surkhet. A lake hidden in the lap of the Himalayas. White mountains all around, blue sky and a peaceful environment away from human settlements. Kunkhyen Phalak Lake, which is full of natural beauty, is now waiting for study, research and tourism promotion.
The local people’s representatives claim that this lake is located at an altitude of 5,190 meters above sea level, which is located at an altitude of 5,
190 meters above sea level. The claim has been made on the basis of preliminary measurements made by the people’s representatives of the local level and the locals through GPS equipment. However, the concerned government bodies have not yet officially certified its height and being the highest lake in Nepal.
In August 2008, a team of 17 people including Dolpo Buddha Rural Municipality Vice Chairman Pemma Dhorche Gurung and Chairman of Ward No. 6 Nurbu Dumdul Gurung reached the lake. The team measured the height of the lake with the help of a GPS tracker and found it to be 5,190 meters. This is 271 meters more than the 4,919 meters of Tilicho Lake in Manang.
According to the local people’s representatives, the Kunkhyen Phalak Lake was already known to the locals. However, due to the difficult terrain, difficult travel and the risk of wildlife found in the mountainous region, it was not easily accessible to outsiders. To reach the lake, one has to travel by motorcycle for some time and then on foot. The local people’s representatives had said that the length of the lake was about 511 meters and the width was 313 meters. However, these figures are yet to be verified by the official technical study.
New lakes have started being identified in Dolpa in recent times. Describing Dolpa as a district full of possibilities of lakes, it has mentioned that after Kunkhyen Phalak, another lake has been identified in the high Himalayan region of Chharkatangsong Rural Municipality. This has shown the need for further study and research on the Himalayan geography of Dolpa.
Kunkhyen Phalak is also an area with important potential from the point of view of tourism. Dolpa has become an attractive destination for tourists due to its natural beauty, mountain culture, high mountain landscape and Lake Talaiya. But due to weak roads, communication and other infrastructure, many tourist areas of the district are still not easily accessible.
Locals hope that if the scientific study and official measurement of Kunkhyen Phalak is done, its actual height, geographical location, nature of water resources and environmental importance will also be clear. Along with this, there is a possibility that this area can become a new tourist destination of Dolpa if a conservation plan can be made and systematic tourism can be promoted. Local people’s representatives and stakeholders have been demanding the government to take initiative for the scientific study, measurement and official certification of the lake. Although the technical study will determine whether it is the highest lake in Nepal or not, Kunkhyen Phalak Lake has prepared the basis to add a new chapter to the tourism potential of Dolpa.
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