Culture

Dolpo is one of Nepal's North Westerly districts and the home of many Tibetan speaking groups of people, who are either adherents of Buddhism or the Bon religion. The Tapriza projects concentrate around the Tibetan speaking population and in particular around the adherents of the Bon religion in Dolpo. Until now, education in the region was solely available in Nepalese, and Tibetan speaking groups face the loss of their language and culture. Pupils searching further education in accordance with Bon religion had to travel to Kathmandu or even further to India. Only rich families were able to afford this. Until now, no school teaching the tradition and history of the Bon religion in Tibetan existed in Dolpo. Many pupils who underwent their schooling outside Dolpo were not interested in returning to the remote and inaccessible region after completion and sought jobs in the cities instead. The Tapriza Culture School is a school close to the population that wants to increase the possibility of a well-balanced education.

The Dolpo region in north-western Nepal

Until the end of the 18th century Dolpo was a part of Tibet and was under the influence of the neighbouring kingdoms and principalities of Lo and Jumla. It then became a protectorate of Lo, today's district Mustang. After the unification of Nepal at the beginning of the 19th century the connection with Lo was interrupted through the establishment of the border between Nepal and Tibet. Since the introduction of the Nepalese Panchayat system Dolpo belongs to Tichurong in the south, to which it still pays taxes.

The opening of Nepal for tourism in 1951 was the cause of changes for many regions of Nepal. Dolpo was closed again in 1974, since Khampas from Tibet (Tibetans fighting for a free Tibet) hiding in the area repeatedly caused conflicts with the Nepalese army. On the other side there was a danger that China would claim these former Tibetan kingdoms. In 1989 the southern areas  Poksumdo, Tichurong and Tarap were reopened for tourism.

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