Photo By: The Annapurna Express
The iconic snow-capped peaks of Dolakha's mountains are turning black as the region faces its fourth consecutive year without snowfall, devastating local farmers and exposing the harsh reality of climate change in Nepal's highlands.
In Shailung Rural Municipality, Nepal's potato farming heartland, farmers watch helplessly as their crops struggle in the unusually warm winter. "We planted fewer potatoes, and now they are on the verge of drying up due to a lack of moisture," says Bishal Shrestha, a local farmer whose livelihood depends on potato cultivation.
The transformation is stark across Dolakha district, where 40 mountains, including the towering Gaurishankar, rise from 762 to 7,134 meters above sea level. Areas like Kalinchowk, Shailung, Cherdung, and Kharidhunga, traditionally blanketed in snow from November to February, now stand bare as February approaches.
The impact extends beyond agriculture. Tourism, once thriving during snow season, has plummeted. "Three to four years ago, hotels in Charikot and Kalinchowk were fully booked with visitors coming to play in the snow," recalls hotel owner Hari Oli. "Now, with no snow, tourism has collapsed."
The environmental consequences are equally alarming. The region's ecosystem shows signs of distress – forest flowers bloom out of season, glaciers melt at unprecedented rates, and the natural habitat for local flora and fauna deteriorates. Across Dolakha's 3,200 hectares of potato fields, farmers who traditionally relied on snowmelt for irrigation now face an uncertain future.
While human activities like excessive resource exploitation and industrialization have contributed to these changes, experts suggest there's still hope if environmental damage is curbed soon. However, for Dolakha's farmers, the immediate concern is survival as they watch their potato crops wither in the unseasonably warm winter.
From Facebook