Nepal's only legal hunting reserve is paradoxically one of its best wildlife viewing areas. Spanning 1,325 sq km across Rukum, Myagdi, and Baglung districts at 2,850-5,500m, Dhorpatan is home to blue sheep (bharal), Himalayan tahr, snow leopards, wolves, and over 130 bird species including the danphe (Nepal's national bird). Hunting permits are expensive and rarely issued — most visitors come for trekking and wildlife photography. The reserve is blanketed in alpine meadows, conifer forests, and high-altitude grasslands with almost no visitors. The Phagune Dhuri viewpoint offers a 360-degree panorama of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and dozens of unnamed peaks. Access is via a 3-day trek from Beni or a flight to Dhorpatan airstrip (weather permitting). Bring all supplies — there are no shops.
Posted by Yalamber Subba · 4/28/2025