The two Nepali border villages that empty for six months every year
Summary
Residents of Chhangru and Tinkar in Darchula leave their border villages every winter for six months to escape heavy snowfall and extreme cold, taking livestock and supplies with them. The annual migration leaves the high Himalayan settlements deserted until spring, while poor trail conditions continue to make the journey difficult.
Key Points
- Families in Chhangru and Tinkar prepare to migrate to lower-lying areas for six months because winter makes life in the villages impossible.
- The seasonal migration, known as kuncha sarne, has been practiced for generations by the Sauka community in the border villages of Darchula.
- Residents must store food, prepare fields and arrange care for livestock before leaving, then return around April to resume farming.
- Poor trail conditions and repeated landslides have made the annual journey increasingly difficult despite government spending on repairs.
