NABJI / KORPHU TRAIL - A Community based and Sustainable Rural Tourism

 

                    

 

 

Rich in cultural heritage and ecological resources, the Himalayan Kingdom of
Bhutan attracts tourists from all over the world. As the last Mahayana Buddhist Kingdom, Bhutan celebrates religious festivals throughout the year, and traditional customs are still very much alive. Nature enthusiasts visit the country to see its ecosystems that are home to a variety of species that have almost become extinct in other parts of the Himalaya. Both the cultural and ecological resources are prised by Bhutan's government, which helps protect them through a cautious approach towards tourism that favours low volume with high yields. Even with just over 9,000 international tourist visits in 2004, Bhutan has become a model for sustainable tourism development.

NABJI / KORPHU TRAIL offers the tourist and Nature lovers an opportunity to explore and interact with the communities of one of the poorest distrct of Bhutan.The trail falls under under the Jigme Dorji Wangchuk Wildlife National park and represents natural ecosystems with richest warm broad-leaved forest inside the park. It has primary and secondary forest with the full range of habitats and species represented. Trail is also rich in beautiful orchid species and flowering plants. The trail is crucially important to sustain big cats population, especially the tiger and leopard which are evident due to presence of varied prey species like sambar deer, goral,
serow, muntjac, etc. Important populations of Golden langur, Sloth bear and globally threatened Rufousnecked hornbill are also sustained by the mature broadleaf habitat represented along the trail.

COMMUNITIES:

The lifestyle of people is another very interesting facet of the village that enroutes by the trail. Nimshong, Nabji and Korphu communities speak dialect similar to Khengkha that is spoken by people in Zhemgang Dzongkhag while people of Kuda, Phrumzur and Jangbi speak their primitive language called Mon kha and they are thus called Monpas who are recognized as first inhabitants of Bhutan. The monpas are expert cane weavers and bamboo crafters who appear to leave a life of contentment in close interaction with the spirit and natural world.The major features of subsistence of the communities include livestock and agriculture production. People practice shifting cultivation and free grazing of the cattle. Source of income generation is mainly from the daily labour wages during the construction work funded by government, porter and pack pony charges while sale of livestock and agriculture product is very occasional . the monpas, they earn through sale of cane and bamboo articles produced in very small scale.

COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM TOURISM

Village Development Fund (VDF) was established in every village - Nimshong, Nabji, Korphu, Kuda/Phrumzur and Jangbi with seed money of Nu. 15000.00 contributed by the Association of Bhutanese tour Operators (ABTO) to help open the bank account in Bank of Bhutan, Trongsa. It is aimed to help execute communal activities in benefit of respective village towards achieving the principle goal of Community based
Ecotourism.Village Tourism Management Committee is formed in every campsite inorder to manage and function tourism very smoothly. VTMC comprises 4-5 members (male & female) including a Chairman and a Treasurer; For individual benefit, a household member from the village can apply to the Village Tourism Management Committee (VTMC) for a loan and remit with certain % of interest.

Source of remittance for the VDF
1. 100% of the campsite fee;
2. 10% of all kinds of other income generated from the tourism will be remitted;
3. Generous donation/ contribution by visitors/local residents, etc.