Dolpo is a most remote and least developed district in Nepal. Although a few anthropologists and geographers had explored the region, the entire district was closed to trekkers until 1989 when the southern part of Dolpo was opened to organized trekking groups; Shey is still closed to foreigners. One story cites the reason for closure as the largescale theft of statues from monasteries several years ago. It is possible to visit Tibetan style villages Tarap and at Phoksundo Lake, but most of the southern part of Dolpo is a region of Hindu influence.
