Ghandruk to host festival for tourism promotion

By Phadindra Adhikari,Lekhnath, Feb. 4: Ghandruk, a tourist village along the Annapurna Circuit, is set to host a festival aimed at attracting and promoting national and international tourists. 

The village can be reached from Pokhara by a two-and-a-half-hour bus ride.

Ghandruk, which falls under wards 10 and 11 of Annapurna Rural Municipality in Kaski, will host the Ghandruk Tourism Festival from February 18 to 21 .  The festival is being jointly organised by the Ghandruk Tourism Management Committee and Rodhi Club Kond (Ghandruk).

At a press conference held in Pokhara on Tuesday, Lama Amrit Gurung, Senior Vice President of Rodhi Club Kond (Ghandruk), said that the Ghandruk Tourism Festival has been continuously organised under the slogan ‘Tourism in All Seasons.’

Bikram Gurung, President of the Ghandruk Tourism Management Committee, said that tourists would receive a 15 per cent discount on accommodation and food during the festival.

“There are hotels and homestays in Ghandruk that can accommodate up to 2,500 tourists in a single day,” he said.

Laksin Gurung, President of Rodhi Club Kond (Ghandruk), added that the festival would play an important role in promoting tourism in Ghandruk.

According to Committee President Gurung, the festival will feature various competitions, including an open ward-level men’s volleyball tournament. Other competitions will include a nationwide basketball tournament, horse racing, ram wrestling, tug-of-war, and Chhelo competitions.

Winners of the open ward-level men’s volleyball tournament and the nationwide inter-municipality open men’s basketball tournament will receive Rs. 166,666 each. Runners-up will receive Rs. 111,111, and third-place winners Rs. 55,555, along with trophies, medals and certificates.

In the horse racing competition, the first-place winner will receive Rs. 101,111, second place Rs. 40,444, third Rs. 20,222, fourth Rs. 11,000, fifth Rs. 9,000, sixth Rs. 7,000, and seventh Rs. 5,000, along with certificates.

Winners of the Ghandruk Circular Trail Run will receive Rs. 16,666, runners-up Rs. 7,444, and third-place winners Rs. 3,444, along with medals and certificates. 

Winners of the Chhelo competition will receive Rs. 16,666, while runners-up will receive Rs. 6,666.

Winners of the men’s and women’s tug-of-war competitions will receive Rs. 11,111 each, with runners-up receiving Rs. 5,555, along with medals and certificates.

In the ram wrestling competition, winners will receive Rs. 11,000 for first place, Rs. 9,000 for second, Rs. 7,000 for third, Rs. 5,000 for fourth, and Rs. 3,000 for fifth place.