Beautiful Jomsom-Tilicho foot trail awaiting promotion

By Thakur Prasad Acharya,Myagdi (Beni), Sept. 30: The foot trail from Jomsom to Tilicho Lake offers beautiful sights and rejuvenation like no other. Yet, it lacks trekkers because of a lack of promotion and infrastructure.

It takes two days to trek from Jomson in Mustang to the lake in Manang via the trail, which opened around a decade ago.

 The trail starts from Thini in Gharapjhong Rural Municipality–5 and passes through the Meshokanto Pass at 5,120 metres to reach Tilicho. It is a long walk up steep hills, but the majesty of the Tilicho Lake at 4,919 metres above sea level relieves trekkers of all their exhaustion.

"This trail is truly heavenly," Diwas Sapkota, information technology officer at the Varagung Muktichhetra Rural Municipality, shared his experience walking the path. "Snow-capped mountains and green pastures all around. The beauty takes one's breath away."

Those wishing to begin the trek must first travel to Bharpaso by vehicle. Then, they have to set out on foot and reach Yak Kharka at an altitude of 4,200 metres. Here, they can spend the night in one of two houses. The trekkers will find enough water and firewood. However, they will have to manage everything else themselves.

Trekkers must begin their journey early next morning as it takes five hours to reach the next stop at Meshokanto Pass. From there, Tilicho is an hour away.

"Those who embark on the journey will be able to see pastures, animal sheds, slopes covered in medicinal herbs, the Nilgiri Mountain, 

Dhaulagiri Icefall and the Tukuche Peak," Varagung Muktichhetra Chairman Rinzin Namgel Gurung, who recently returned from the trek, told The Rising Nepal. 

Niraj Thakari, secretary of the local Janamukti Yuva Club of Thini, said that the trail could boost tourism in Mustang if publicised properly.

Pramod Raj Regmi, chief of the Jomson Area Conservation Office of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, said that they planned to repair the trail and put up signs and posts to allow tourists to navigate the trail more easily. April/May and September/October are considered the best times to go to Tilicho.