Annapurna glacier emerging as a popular tourist destination

By Thakur acharya,Myagdi, May 22: A beautiful glacier located in the northern base camp of 8,091-metre tall Mt. Annapurna at Narchang in Annapurna Rural Municipality-4, has, of late, emerged as a popular tourist destination.

The glacier is situated in the lap of the Annapurna and Nilgiri Himalayas at an altitude of 4,050 meters above sea level. This is approximately one kilometre long and two hundred meters wide. 

The breathtaking view of the snow-capped Himalayas standing around it brings immense joy to the visitors of the glacier. 

One can reach the glacier after trekking for about seven hours along the Maurice Hargoz trail from Humkhola in Narchang. 

The locals have named this glacier ‘Panchkund’ as it is formed after five small lakes converged into one. This lake holds a significant religious and tourism importance. 

The lake can be reached through the Maurice Hergoz footpath following a two-hour car ride from Narchang.  To reach the glacier, the Ministry of Tourism of the Federal Government and the Annapurna Conservation Area Project have built trails, suspension bridges, and tourist shelters. 

This glacier, located in the lap of the Himalayas, appears stunning, and upon arriving here, one feels a glimpse of heaven, Beni’s Bal Krishna Paudel, who visited the base camp for the first time, said. “What a beautiful lake! I wish to stay here for a few more days.”

 This beautiful glacier is the source of the Mishtri River. According to Bharat Kumar Pun, chairman of Annapurna Rural Municipality, the rural municipality has a goal to attract tourists by enhancing publicity, infrastructure, and attracting tourists.

 Amrit Subedi, the chief administrative officer of the Annapurna Rural Municipality, said that the municipality had planned to develop and promote the natural, religious, and touristic significance of the glacier 

Maurice Hergoz, a Frenchman, became the first person to summit Annapurna on June 3, 1950. The Maurice Herzog Trail was named after him and leads to the base camp where climbers set up camps.  Under the leadership of Narchang’s tourism businessman Tej Gurung, work was done to manage the Maurice Hergoz trail identified in 2011.

 According to Gurung, who is also the head of the Maurice Herzog Trail Management Committee, there has been an increase in the number of climbers and tourists visiting the base camp recently.  He said there is a need for essential facilities such as drinking water, telephone services, and tourist infrastructure at the base camp.