Jajarkot: Domestic and international tourists have voiced their demand for the development of essential infrastructure to enhance accessibility to Shey Phoksundo Lake, citing its potential to become a major tourist attraction.

Currently, tourists visiting Shey Phoksundo Lake travel through Jajarkot district headquarters and the Mid-Hill Highway, eventually reaching and staying overnight in the Dolpa district headquarters before reaching the lake. The journey to the lake involves crossing the Suligad River via a series of dilapidated wooden bridges, a perilous endeavor that poses significant risks, as pointed out by Ram Prasad Khatri of Nalgad Municipality-8.

It has been proposed that constructing a concrete bridge over the Suligad River and establishing a reliable trekking route would greatly facilitate the journey to Shey Phoksundo Lake. This would make it more accessible and safer for both domestic and foreign tourists, as suggested by various stakeholders.

Situated at an altitude of 3,600 meters above sea level, Shey Phoksundo Lake spans an area of 4.94 square kilometers and is located near Rigmo village in Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality-8. While the official depth of the lake is recorded as 145 meters, local accounts claim that it reaches an astonishing depth of 650 meters. The lake is known for its ever-changing colors, influenced by the weather, and its unique Y-shaped appearance, which some say resembles a human lung.

To visit Shey Phoksundo Lake, tourists are advised to follow the footpath from the lake itself, Shey Phoksundo National Park, Phoksundo Waterfall, and Upper Dolpa Suligad. Various local landmarks along this route have been given distinctive names such as Kathepul, Thoso, Lapku, and Sankul.

While there has been ongoing construction of suspension bridges over many rivers in Dolpa, traditional wooden bridges continue to be utilized from Suligad to Phoksundo, leading to the lake. Nima Lama, ward chair of Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality, emphasized the importance of preserving these traditional wooden bridges, especially considering the area's significance as a trekking route. He highlighted the need for stakeholders to emphasize the preservation of these bridges to continue attracting tourists to this remarkable destination.