Manang, May 24

Locals from Manang have resumed their journey to the highlands for yarsa picking after the completion of the first phase of elections.

The hunt for the precious herb had been halted for sometime owing to the first phase of civic polls.

After casting their ballot, Manang folks embarked on their journey to Nar, Fu, Pisang and Khangshar, among other places for yarsa collection.

Pisang-based hotel entrepreneur Pashupati Adhikari said local folks had started to head out for yarsa collection almost a fortnight ago. People from Gorkha, Dhading, Lamjung and Nuwakot have also started their journey.

Yarsa collectors usually begin their hunt with the onset of summer as the melting snow allows the precious herbs to surface in the highlands. Yarsa hunt lasts for two months in Manang district. Most of children of school going age accompany their parents in the journey.

A raw piece of yarsa picked in the district fetches from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 in the market. Locals from districts other than Manang have also started taking interest in yarsa collection due to easy transport facility along the Besisahar-Chame road section.

Annapurna Conservation Area Office, Manang, opens yarsa collection from April 28 to June 22 every year, and the collectors are required to receive a permit for picking beforehand.

All the VDCs in Manang, except Thoche and Dharapani are high reserve areas for yarsa.