Pokhara, January 10

At a time when the April 25 earthquake and persistent blockade at Nepal-India border points have dealt a blow to the tourism industry, tourism entrepreneurs in Kaski, Parbat and Myagdi districts have identified two new trekking routes in the Annapurna region of late.

The trekking routes were discovered in the Annapurna region with the initiatives of Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal Western Regional Association Pokhara.

“As the existing routes have been affected due to poor road connectivity, new routes were explored,” said TAAN Western Regional Chairman Ram Chandra Sharma.

One of the two routes begins from Kaski’s Ghandruk-Thadapani-Dobato, reaches to Myagdi’s Bayali and connects to Kaski’s Pone, Hidden Lake, Gurung Hill and Chhomrong.

It is a week-long trail. “The chief attraction of the trekking route is the sight of hidden lake,” said Narayan Sapkota, TAAN regional Coordinator of search, research and identification committee.

However, as many of the places along the route are without human settlement, the trekkers have to spend their nights under tents, he said.

“We devised the exploration of a new trekking route aiming to expose hidden valuable sights, employ the local youths and promote economic status of the area,” said Bir Bahadur Gurung, Vice-Chairman of Annapurna Base Camp l and Local Community Self-Employment Tourism Committee.

The visitors can enjoy a view of Hiunchuli Mountain, Glacier, Ghoral, Jharal like wild animals and Danfe along the route.

Meanwhile, a five-day long trekking trail extending from Parbat’s Kushma, Banau, Salija, Phalamedanda and connecting Myagdi’s Nagi and Moharedanda was also explored. “If this route is extended to Ghorepani of Myagdi, it can be a ten-day trek,” said TAAN Pokhara Secretary Binay Acharya.

Tourists can witness Annapurna Mountain range, Manaslu Mountain along with various cultures, traditions and festivity in the area.

The facility of home stay is also available along the route.

Chakra Bahadur Pun, head teacher of local Banau Secondary School, said though the trend of home stay facility had begun in the villages, people lacked proper training.

Pokhara TAAN had explored a dozen trekking routes, ranging from three to 13 days.