Key Takeways:
- About 300 visitors are reaching ABC each day, mainly foreign and South Asian tourists
- Roads from Pokhara through Ghandruk to the trekking area have reopened
- Disruptions in the Manang and Manaslu regions have redirected trekkers towards ABC
- A first-aid centre has been brought into operation at Machhapuchhre Base Camp
The number of tourists trekking to the Annapurna Base Camp has risen sharply in recent days after roads and trails disrupted by floods and landslides were reopened, with around 300 visitors now reaching the destination daily.
The increase has been driven mainly by foreign and South Asian tourists, as improved weather and comparatively easier access to the Annapurna region have encouraged trekkers to choose ABC after routes towards the Manang and Manaslu regions were affected by landslides, tourism entrepreneurs said.
According to Dilip Gurung, secretary of the Chhomrong Tourism Management Committee, six hotels and lodges at Annapurna Base Camp can accommodate up to 350 tourists.
"Domestic tourists are not coming, but the arrival of foreign and SAARC tourists has increased. All the roads leading here are now open, making the trek easier," Gurung said.
The Annapurna tourism area had been badly affected after continuous rain and floods and landslides disrupted roads and trekking trails at several locations. The road at Birethanti and Syauli Bazaar remained blocked for an extended period after erosion by the Modi River, before the rural municipality reopened it in the first week of Ashoj following nearly one and a half months of work.
The reopening of access routes has also made it easier for tourists to travel from Pokhara to the starting points of the trek. Him Bahadur Gurung, ward chairman of Annapurna Rural Municipality-11, said the road from Pokhara through Ghandruk to ABC is now open.
"Birethanti and Syauli Bazaar are open. There is no problem above Ghandruk now. All the permanent and temporary roads leading to the ABC trek are open. Visitors can come from Nayapul, Ghandruk and Chhomrong," he said.
Gurung said tourists who had been preparing to travel to Manang and Manaslu were increasingly choosing ABC as an alternative after landslides disrupted some roads and trekking routes in those areas.
"Among Manang, Manaslu and the Annapurna region, the route towards Annapurna Base Camp is comparatively easier. That is also why ABC has become a preferred destination for tourists from South Asian countries. We expect Nepali tourists to start arriving after Dashain," he said.
A temporary crossing has also been established over the Kimrung Khola after a concrete suspension bridge was swept away by the river about two months ago, allowing the affected trekking trail to resume operation.
At an elevation of about 4,130 metres above sea level, Annapurna Base Camp is a major trekking destination known for close-up views of the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre.
The route also offers views of sunrise over the mountains, local Gurung culture and traditional mountain settlements, as well as forests, waterfalls, streams and Himalayan landscapes.
The trail through Machhapuchhre Base Camp to Annapurna Base Camp is one of the area's major attractions. Trekkers can view Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South and Annapurna I from close range during the journey.
With tourist arrivals increasing, the rural municipality has also recently started a first-aid centre at Machhapuchhre Base Camp to provide immediate basic medical care to tourists and local residents experiencing common health problems or emergencies in the ABC and Machhapuchhre Base Camp areas.
The centre is particularly relevant to the high-altitude trekking route, where trekkers have previously fallen ill and, in some cases, died after developing altitude-related sickness.
(With inputs from RSS)