MUSTANG: The number of Indian nationals visiting Mustang district has gradually increased, according to a record.

The record maintained by Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) states that Indian tourists made the highest number among the foreign tourists visiting the district.

The arrival of Indian tourists is on the rise as Hindu shrines including Muktinath, Kagbeni and Damodarkunda are in Mustang, the ACAP said.

But, the number of Indians has gone down after the ‘Gorkha Earthquake’ and India’s unofficial blockade on Nepal.

In 2015, a total of 8,459 Indian tourists visited Mustang while the number was 18,000 plus in the previous year. However, the locals said that the Indian tourists’ stay in the district is shorter compared to other countries’ visitors.

According to ACAP, 14,000 tourists have visited the district from the third countries, mostly from Australia, France, Germany, Sweden and others