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Where is Salme Khola?The village of Salme
Khola is in the district of Ramechhap, Ward 7, East
Nepal (Janakpur). You will never find it unless you
have a VERY detailed map of East Nepal
Getting there
It takes a full day to get to Salme Khola.
Travelling eastwards from Kathmandu by local bus for
approximately five to six hours, passing by places
such as Bhaktapur and Khadichawer. You leave the bus
at a small roadside village called Muday. There’s
not much there except for a few shops and
restaurants and a very basic hotel. This road
continues on to Jiri, the gateway to the Everest
region. If you’re lucky the bus continues for a few
more kilometres to the market village of Dewrali. If
not, the walk starts here. Either way, it’s still a
long walk to Salme Khola - around five to six hours!
The walk
As soon as you set off walking you are very much
off the ‘beaten track’. This area is definitely not
in the Lonely Planet Guide Book! The Kalingchok
range of mountains dominates the horizon, and in the
far distance the Everest range can be seen. You walk
along the ridge of Jugendhara and you can see the
sacred mountain of Sailung in front of you.
You negotiate a small steep sided valley, then down
to the bottom and back up to the other side, passing
through small villages and terraced fields, where
you encounter inquisitive and curious children along
the way. The final hour or so is spent traversing
the side of a small mountain, through forest, and
then open land. At this point, Pasibon lies to your
left, Kharpani and Kharshobothan lay over the other
side of the ridge and Salme Khola follows the
mountain down to the right. Another 20 minutes takes
you into the middle of the village.
Salme Khola itself
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The village is scattered across a small
terraced and cultivated valley, at the
bottom there’s a small stream. |
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Salme Khola consists of 55 households.
The villagers are mainly subsistent farmers
and the women work alongside the men in the
fields and look after the animals. Women are
also responsible for looking after the
younger children and the home. |
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The majority of children over the age of
nine receive no formal education and work
alongside their families tending to the
crops. |
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The main crops are potatoes, wheat, corn
and seasonal vegetables. |
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There is no road and no electricity
(although the pylons have been erected!).
Heating is provided by wood fires and light
by oil lamps. |
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Salme Khola is the representative for
the other villages in the catchments area of
the project. These villages include Pasibon,
Kharpani and Kharshobothan. |
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