Work to construct Dhaulagiri Icefall Trail begins

By Our Correspondent, Myagdi (Beni), Aug. 22: Work to build a trekking trail to reach Dhaulagiri Base Camp through various wards of Raghuganga Rural Municipality in Myagdi has begun.

A contract was signed last year for the construction of the Dhaulagiri Icefall Trail connecting Myagdi and Mustang districts. The Department of Tourism has signed a contract with Kalpavriksha Builders to construct the 18-km trail in two packages at a cost of Rs. 5.4 million. 

Proprietor of the company, Rameshwar Pudasaini, said that construction professionals have reached the work site and started the trail construction work along with on-site measurements. According to him, construction of the route should be completed by the end of this fiscal year 2022/23. Meanwhile, stone piling work has started at Sasaldhara area of Raghuganga rural municipality-7 Chimkhola to build steps. 

For three weeks, 24 residents of Chimkhola have been living in a cave to build the proposed trail. 

Gam Pun, a local resident of the village, said that the a 300-metre stone staircase is being built there. 

It is challenging to work in the area because of the difficult topography, he said. "You have to live and work in the forest. But since it will help in the development of our own village, we have been working despite facing hardships," said Pun. 

He said that it was very difficult to reach Mustang through Dhaulagiri Base Camp because of lack of a trekking trail. 

"When the trail is widened by two meters, walking will be easier." 

He said that since the biggest budget has been received so far for the project, the locals have been continuously monitoring and regulating the work in order to make the proper use of the funds. 

Along the Dhaulagiri Icefall Trail, trip to Kokhebhir and Papidharmi hills is highly risky. Thak Bahadur Paiza, ward chairman of Raghuganga-7, said that if the trail could be constructed in both these locations this year, the number of tourists will increase on the route leading to the base camp.

Bhav Bahadur Bhandari, chairman of Raghuganga, informed that a detailed project report (DPR) has been prepared and the construction of the 122-km long icefall trail covering the base camp of Mt. Dhaulagiri and 51-km long Dhaulagiri Century Trail, that will reach the base camp via Rikhar through Todke, Jhin Pakhapani and Kuinemangale, has been prepared. 

According to him, the DPR of 173 km long trail in this area has been completed, and continuous initiatives have been taken with the federal and provincial governments to build tourism infrastructure including the trails. 

Dozens of mountains of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges can be closely observed from this trail. This region is the habitat of wild animals and birds such as pheasants, Himalayan monal, jungle found, musk deer, wild goat, Himalayan tahr, bharal, goral, barking deer, snow leopard etc. 

Similarly, various lakes including Kalibarah, Latibarah, Nilibarah, Setibarah and Pahenlibarah are  themajor attractions along with the snowcapped mountains while passing through this trail. 

This trail is connected to Lete of Mustang through the axis of the high mountains of Piple, Bhagwati, Dagnam, Begkhola, Chimkhola, Kuinemangale, Doba Bhurung Tatopani, Dana and other places in Myagdi.