About Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve
Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve is a unique protected area in Nepal — the country's only hunting reserve, established in 1987, where a limited number of hunting permits are issued for blue sheep (bharal) each year. Outside of hunting seasons, the reserve operates as a conventional wilderness trekking destination with excellent wildlife viewing. The high-altitude valley (3,600m) is a broad, open landscape surrounded by peaks of the Dhaulagiri massif.
The Kham Magar people of the Dhorpatan area have maintained their mountain pastoralism for centuries. Summer brings hundreds of yaks to the high pastures; winter sees the plateau blanketed in snow and the villages move to lower elevations. Visiting in October or November allows trekkers to see this pastoral way of life before the seasonal migration.
The Jaljala Pass
The Jaljala Pass (3,414m) is the most commonly used entry point to Dhorpatan from the east, connecting the reserve to the Baglung-Burtibang road. The pass is forested with rhododendron at lower elevations and opens to sweeping grasslands above — exceptionally beautiful in spring when the rhododendrons bloom in red, pink, and white. The crossing is straightforward for any fit trekker.
Getting There
From Pokhara, take a road to Beni or Baglung (4–5 hours), then continue to Burtibang (jeep, 4 hours on rough mountain road). From Burtibang, the trek begins up toward Jaljala Pass and into the reserve. An alternative approach is from Rukum side for a point-to-point crossing. Most trekkers take 2 days to reach the reserve boundary from Pokhara.