Ghandruk Circular Trail Emerging as New Tourist Attraction

Gandaki, May 13: A newly developed circular hiking trail in Ghandruk village of Kaski district has started attracting tourists with its scenic mountain views, forests, traditional settlements and peaceful natural surroundings.

Located in wards 10 and 11 of Annapurna Rural Municipality, the trail has become a popular short hiking route for visitors staying in Ghandruk. The route passes through Kotgaon, Balache Garden, Deurali, Navri Theb, Meshram Baraha Temple, Kochama Pwa, Nego, tea estates and Dandagaon before ending at the Ghandruk Bus Park.

Chairperson of the Ghandruk Tourism Management Committee Bikram Gurung said around 60 percent of the construction work on the circular trail has been completed. The project began three years ago under the initiative of the committee.

According to him, the Nepal Tourism Board has provided Rs 2 million this year for additional construction work. Support has also been received from federal, provincial and local governments, as well as local donors.

Infrastructure development including parks, resting places and gazebos is currently underway along the trail. Organisers believe the project will help increase tourists’ length of stay in Ghandruk and further strengthen tourism in the region.

Tourism entrepreneur Amrit Lama Gurung said the short hiking route has become popular among tourists seeking a peaceful experience away from busy city life. He added that visitors can enjoy sunrise views, forests, valleys and traditional Gurung culture during the walk.

The Meshram Baraha Temple located along the trail is also attracting religious visitors, especially from the Gurung community.

So far, around Rs 5.3 million has been spent on the construction of the trail. Organisers said the trail is being built in a traditional style using locally available materials. Two parks are also being developed along the route.

Chief of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Area Conservation Office Bhim Prasad Upadhyay said the trail would become a new tourism attraction in Ghandruk. He added that Indian and domestic tourists have been increasing significantly in recent years.

According to tourism officials, nearly 2,000 to 3,000 tourists visit Ghandruk daily during the tourism season. The village currently has around 80 hotels and resorts and 35 homestays, making tourism one of the major sources of local income and employment.

(RSS)