Lamjung. The movement of foreign tourists has started to increase in the Annapurna Circuit (Annapurna Cycle Path), which was covered by rain, floods and snow in the second week of October.
On October 13, 552 tourists ‘checked in’ at the tourist checkpoint and information center at Dharapani in Manang under the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) on October 13. This is the highest number of tourists entering in one day this year. According to the center, 473 tourists entered on October 14 and 443 on October 15.
During the Dasain period alone, 5,384 foreign tourists have traveled this path from Ghatasthapana to Kojagrat Purnima (October 11 to 25). This number is 769 more than last year during Dasain time. Last year, during the Dasain period, 4,615 tourists visited the circular Annapurna trail. This year, there are 3,288 males, 2,094 females and 2 undisclosed gender among those entering during the Dasain period.
According to Bhupendra Gurung, Head of Tourist Checkpost and Information Center at ACAP Dharapani, the arrival of tourists has increased enthusiastically recently. After the flood, the arrival of tourists stopped. Tourists who came also came back, he said, “After the weather became favorable and the footpath was operational, the arrival of tourists became easier.”
According to the head of ACAP Manang, Dhak Bahadur Bhujel, 379 foreign tourists returned from Manang within a week of the floods and landslides. Only on October 1, 149 tourists returned from Manang.
After the construction of a temporary structure on Chame’s truss bridge made traffic easier, vehicles and tourists could reach Upper Manang. From Upper Manang to Thorangla area and Tilicho area, security personnel, ACAP and hoteliers also removed snow and repaired footpaths. He said that after the weather cleared up and traffic became easier on the footpaths, the traffic of tourists increased.
According to ACAP, the number of foreign tourists visiting the cyclic Annapurna trail from January to October 27 has reached 30,135. Among them, 18 thousand 820 men, 11 thousand 306 women and 9 undisclosed tourists have checked in at Dharapani.
The Annapurna circuit, which starts from Lamjung headquarter Bensisahar, passes through Manang, crosses Thorangla Bhanjyang at a height of 5,416 meters and ends at Pokhara via Muktinath and Myagdi in Mustang. Some tourists return after reaching Tilicho Lake. Some of the returnees go to Mustang via Thorangla pass. Himalayan geography, natural scenery, local culture and high Himalayan scenery are the main attractions of this trail.