Dhading – Nepal Village Tour - 10 Days

Dhading district lies immediately west of Kathmandu, stretching from the Ktm–Pokhara Prithivi Highway to the Ganesh Himal range and the Tibetan border. With elevations varying from 488 to 7909 m. above sea level, we find sub-tropical, temperate and alpine climates. Average annual rainfall is around 2,121 ml. Dading Besi can be reached by bus from Kathmandu. The trip takes 4–6 hours, depending on the traffic and road conditions. Several rivers, among them the Budhi Gandaki, the Trishuli and the Mahesh, run through the district. In addition to panoramic mountain views of the famous Ganesh Himal, Dhading also boasts such scenic attractions as Bridaing Kunda and Ganesh Kunda lakes and the waterfall at Ganga-Jamuna. Dhading district, like Nepal as a whole, is marked by cultural plurality. Hindus predominate in the lower regions; in the higher areas there live a great variety of ethnic groups, primarily Tibetan Buddhist in culture and religion. The main languages spoken are Nepali and Tamang, with sizeable groups of Magar, Gurung, Newari and Rai-Kirati speakers.

Labour-intensive subsistence agriculture remains the main occupation. This in turn has meant that larger, traditional family groups are still the rule. Wheat and potatoes are among the main crops. Massive destruction of the natural forest area due to over-exploitation and mismanagement has decreased the total forest cover in Dhading. Now, under the concept of community forestry , local forest user groups have been introduced, and today much of the previous degraded forest area has regained its original composition.

Dhading boasts a considerable potential for trekking tourism, which could benefit the local communities and raise the standard of living. As yet, however, very little exists in the way of tourism infrastructure, nor is there any overall management, as elsewhere with Nepal's national parks and conservation areas. As part of a larger project to promote sustainable eco-tourism in Dhading district, the Kathmandu Environmental Education Project has been requested to provide volunteer teachers to a total of seven rural schools. To date, KEEP volunteers have taught at schools in the Sertung, Borung and Lapa village areas.