Since the trekking is crisis due to the road construction in the Annapurna Region, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) has come up with a potential alternative Round Annapurna Trekking Destination.

ACAP recently has organized an exploration and familiarization tour in the area of Myagdi and Mustang districts where the Beni-Jomsom road is under construction and the stakeholders are assumed that the road is going to be a major threat to the world famous Annapurna Trekking.

According to tourism officer Anu Kumari Lama of ACAP, the immediate objective of that tour was to introduce the members of the tourism/trekking institutions and media to the potential alternative Round Annapurna Trekking destination.

The purposed trekking route goes through Tiplang-Lete-Taglung-Titi-Sauru-Marpha-Dhumba-Jomsom-Kagbeni and Muktinath. Tourism officer Lama claimed that the new route is more scenic than the existing one. 'The constructing road is overlapping existing route but tourists equally can enjoy in the purposed route as well." said Lama.

According to Nar Bahadur Hirachan of Marpha, they are ready to develop and help the new route in their area. Most of the tourism entrepreneurs and hoteliers are disappointed by the road construction however most of the population of Myagdi and Mustang is happy regards the job. Many suggest that the road should be utilized as an opportunity rather than threat and the alternative route also need to be explored.

Kaligandaki river, its huge valleys, flora and fauna around it, old and unique type of Thakali and other villages, people and their culture, Titi and Dhumba Lakes, apple farming, high hills and panoramic mountains, mountain goats, wildlife, old monasteries, caves and Muktinath temple are the major attractions of Mustang and Myagdi districts. The participants in a meeting that was organized during that tour in Jomsom vowed that they were ready to develop and help the purposed trekking route.

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By : Rup Narayan Dhakal
Image : Ram Gurung