नेपाली
KATHMANDU, October 5: Tourist arrivals at Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) have increased significantly in recent days after roads and trekking trails disrupted by floods and landslides were reopened.
Around 300 visitors are now reaching ABC each day, with the majority being foreign and South Asian tourists, according to local tourism entrepreneurs.
The increase follows improved weather and the reopening of access routes from Pokhara through Ghandruk to the trekking area. The disruptions in the Manang and Manaslu regions have also encouraged some trekkers to choose ABC as an alternative destination.
Dilip Gurung, secretary of the Chhomrong Tourism Management Committee, said six hotels and lodges at Annapurna Base Camp can accommodate up to 350 tourists.
Road access through Birethanti and Syauli Bazaar, which had been disrupted by erosion from the Modi River, has also been restored. Tourists can now reach the trekking route through Nayapul, Ghandruk and Chhomrong.
A temporary crossing has also been established over the Kimrung Khola after a suspension bridge was swept away by the river around two months ago, allowing the affected trekking trail to resume operations.
Located at an altitude of approximately 4,130 metres, Annapurna Base Camp is one of Nepal’s major trekking destinations, offering close views of the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre, along with mountain landscapes, waterfalls, forests and traditional Gurung settlements.
Meanwhile, the Annapurna Rural Municipality has recently brought a first-aid centre into operation at Machhapuchhre Base Camp to provide basic medical assistance to trekkers and local residents.
The facility is particularly important along the high-altitude route, where trekkers can face altitude-related health problems.
Local tourism operators expect the number of domestic visitors to increase after the Dashain festival.
Source: The Himalayan Times
