Bajhang traders resume Taklakot trade after seven years

After a seven-year pause, traditional trade between Bajhang, Nepal, and Tibet has resumed, with 43 residents embarking on a six-day journey to the border market of Taklakot. Carrying traditional baskets, handicrafts, spices, and other local products, these traders crossed the formidable 5,200-meter Urai Pass. Horses, mules, and yaks transported their goods to the Tibetan market.

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Altogether, we have brought around 3,500 dokos and dalas. Some have brought wooden products, while others have brought timur and lentils. They have designated a separate place for us to sell our goods. Buyers come there and purchase them.

This revival marks the return of a centuries-old cross-border tradition, suspended since China restricted entry into Tibet during the COVID-19 pandemic. The reopening allows residents of northern Bajhang to once again participate in the seasonal trade that has historically connected communities across the Himalayas. The traders received group permits and have established stalls in a designated area in Taklakot, selling items like traditional bamboo baskets, grain containers, and wooden tool handles.

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We negotiate the price before selling. If someone really likes an item, they may even pay more. The price also varies depending on the quality.

Some goods, particularly the lyakchya (bamboo grain containers), are fetching significantly higher prices in Taklakot, with some selling for up to 215 yuan (about Rs4,900). Ordinary baskets sell for around 70 yuan (Rs1,600), and axe handles for up to 30 yuan (Rs700). Some products are reportedly selling for seven to eight times their local market value in Bajhang. However, traders note that the market is not as bustling as it was before the border closure, with fewer customers compared to previous years.

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There is not the same crowd of customers as before because the border has been closed for such a long time.