Domestic tourists throng Annapurna Base Camp

By Thakur Prasad Acharya, Myagdi, Oct 18: Domestic tourists have thronged the northern base camp of the Annapurna I mountain.

The crowd of visitors to the Annapurna base camp (ABC) located at Narchyang, Annapurna Rural Municipality-4 with an altitude of 8,091 meters has increased as it has been favourite spot for domestic tourists during Dashain and Tihar festivals.

One can reach the ABC within two days on foot through Mauris Harjog trail (Annapurna Mountaineering Trek) from Humkhola of Narchyang.

As the trail goes along the bank of the Mishri stream, one can enjoy spellbinding natural beauty such as waterfall and glacier during the trek.

ABC is an attractive tourist destination that can be reached within two days from Beni, district headquarters of Myagdi.

Tej Bahadur Gurung, campaigner of the Mauris Harjog Trail, said that the number of domestic tourists increased almost by four folds this time compared to last years as the ABC can be reached in two days from Narchyang village.

He said over 800 domestic tourists visited the ABC in the last six days since the tika day of Dashain. Additionally, the number of foreign tourists from countries such as China, India and Italy visiting the ABC has also increased, he said.

Domestic tourists who visited the ABC complained that there was a lack of tourist infrastructure along the trail and that waste has increased up in the base camp

Chhabi Acharya of Beni who reached the ABC with friends starting the trek a day after the Dashain tika shared that the base camp was amazingly beautiful.

But there is a need to make well-facilitated hotel and lodge, ensure communication services and make infrastructure such as tea houses along the trail, he suggested.

There is a transport service from Pokharebagar of Annapurna RM for the 22 km long road to Homkhola and then one has to trek for 21 km to reach the base camp.