Let’s Travel: Upper Taplejung (With Photos)

Bhim Adhikari: The Loden area in Mikwa Khola Rural Municipality–5 of Taplejung stayed almost unknown until about four years ago. Except for a few locals, hardly anyone knew about it. Upper Taplejung.

Taplejung, a district in the far eastern hills of Nepal, lies in a remote region but shines with natural beauty. The upper part of this district has huge potential to grow as a major tourist destination.

After spending long months in Kathmandu during the COVID-19 lockdown. I returned to Taplejung and explored almost every corner of it. Over the past five years of travel, I’ve realized something amazing — the upper region is not just about geography; it’s like a divine painting where nature and culture meet in perfect harmony.

My travels helped me experience both culture and nature closely. Yet, I often feel sad that the government hasn’t done enough to promote this treasure. While exploring Upper Taplejung, I felt a strong desire to make it known to others and turn it into a hub of tourism. With that goal, we started the campaign called “Upper Taplejung Visit Decade.”

We launched the campaign beside Singyema Lake, which lies at an altitude of 4,700 meters — just a day’s walk from the historic Olangchung Gola village in Faktanglung Rural Municipality–7 Koshi Province Assembly member Tilak Kumar Menyangbo joined us in that moment, supporting our aim to promote eco-tourism across Upper Taplejung.

Uper Taplejung

Only a few years ago, people barely knew about the Loden area in Mikwa Khola–5. Today, it attracts travelers and nature lovers from across the country.

The region features more than 60 ponds, green pastures filled with yaks, chauris sheep and a wide range of rare herbs like Kenjo and Maikopila. About five years ago, our team began promoting Loden as a travel destination, and now it stands proudly among Taplejung’s most beautiful spots.

Taplejung also offers many other breathtaking places — Timbung Pokhari, Tokpegola, the two base camps of Kanchenjunga. Selele Pass, Singyema Lake, Somdo Pokhari the high-altitude Yangma village the vast Cherchen Lake above it, the ancient Olangchung Gola, Tipthala Bhanjyang, a mountain pass that connects Nepal with both India and China through the country’s shortest north–south trade route.

To highlight these places, we plan to celebrate the “Upper Taplejung Visit Decade.”

If we focus seriously on promoting tourism. Taplejung can bring great progress not only for itself but for the whole country. The upper part of Taplejung can grow into a separate tourism circuit that represents both culture and adventure.

So, let’s come together and spread the word about these wonderful destinations.
Tourism can lead Nepal toward a brighter and stronger future