Despite beauty, Aaldanda lacks tourists

By Thakur Prasad Acharya,Myagdi (Beni), Apr. 19: Despite being a scenic location along Myagdi's Karbakeli Eco Trek in Annapurna Rural Municipality–8, Aaldanda lacks tourists.

Surrounded by forests made red by the blooming of rhododendrons and melodious by the songs of exotic birds, the hillock offers people unobstructed views of the Gurja, Dhaulagiri, Manapathi, Nilgiri, Annapurna, Machhapuchchhre and Manaslu peaks. Situated at a height of 2,620 metres above sea level, one can also see the sun rise and set over the horizon. Famous destinations Poon Hill, Ghorepani, Mohare Danda and the Khopra Khayer Lake are also not far. Yet, not many visitors come here to take in the scenery and enjoy the atmosphere.

So, to change this, the local and provincial governments are building tourism infrastructure.

Kham Bahadur Garbuja, chairman of Annapurna Ward No. 8, informed that the Gandaki provincial government had allocated Rs. 3 million for the rural municipality to construct a foot trail from Karbakeli to Mohare Danda through Aaldanda. "We have already begun work under a consumer committee," he told The Rising Nepal.

Tourism entrepreneur Bhakta Bahadur Pun felt that the lack of tourists here was because of a lack of publicity. "If we are able to promote Aaldanda and the Karbakeli Eco Trek at home and abroad, we will be able to attract people," he said.