Banking News – The number of tourists going on the world-famous Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trek has increased significantly in the past few days. Foreign tourists going on the trek have increased after roads obstructed by floods and landslides at various points along the trekking route were brought into operation. Tourism entrepreneurs say that the rush of tourists in the Annapurna area has increased after continuous rainfall stopped and the weather improved, and tourists’ destination shifted toward ABC after trekking routes in the Manang and Manaslu areas were affected.

According to Dilip Gurung, Secretary of the Chhomrong Tourism Management Committee, around 300 tourists are currently reaching Annapurna Base Camp daily. There are six hotels and lodges that can accommodate tourists at ABC. The hotels here have the capacity to accommodate up to 350 tourists. “There are no domestic tourists, but the arrival of foreign and SAARC country tourists has increased. Since all the roads leading here are now open, trekking has become easier,” Gurung said.

Earlier, the tourism sector had been badly affected when roads and trekking routes at various places in the Annapurna area were affected by rainfall and floods and landslides. The road had been obstructed for a long time due to the Modi Khola eroding at Birethanti and Syauli Bazaar in Annapurna. The rural municipality took about a month and a half to open the road in the first week of Ashoj.

Secretary Gurung stated that after some roads and trekking routes toward the Manang and Manaslu areas were obstructed by landslides, tourists preparing to go to that area have started choosing ABC as an alternative destination. “Among the Manang, Manaslu, and Annapurna areas, the route toward Annapurna Base Camp is comparatively easier. That is also why the preference of tourists from South Asian countries has increased toward ABC. We expect Nepali tourists to come after Dashain begins,” said Gurung, Secretary of the Chhomrong Tourism Management Committee.

After roads obstructed by floods and landslides at various places in the Annapurna area came into operation, it has also become easier to reach the starting point of the trek from Pokhara. Increased road transportation ease and the situation on trekking routes gradually returning to normal have increased tourist movement. Him Bahadur Gurung, Ward Chair of Annapurna-11, stated that all roads from Pokhara to Ghandruk to ABC are currently open. He stated that the trekking route has been opened by making temporary arrangements at some places.

“Birethanti and Syauli Bazaar have opened. There is no problem above Ghandruk either. Now all permanent and temporary roads for those coming for the ABC trek are open. One can come from Newpul, Ghandruk, and Chhomrong, all places,” said Ward Chair Gurung. Similarly, the trekking route, which had been obstructed two months ago after the Kimrung Khola swept away a suspension bridge, has been brought into operation by constructing a wooden bridge over the Kimrung Khola.

Annapurna Base Camp is located at an altitude of approximately 4,130 meters above sea level. Since one can reach the lap of the mountain and view the magnificent scenery of the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre Himal, the ABC trek is considered one of the world’s popular trekking destinations.

The ABC trek is preferred by domestic and foreign tourists especially because one can view sunrise and the Himalayan range from close to the mountains and experience local culture and lifestyle. During the ABC trek, tourists can observe the culture of the Gurung community, local lifestyle, Himalayan villages, green forests, waterfalls, streams, and Himalayan landscapes.

The trekking route passing through Machhapuchhre Base Camp to reach Annapurna Base Camp is the main attraction of this area. During the trek, one can closely view mountains including Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South, and Annapurna First. Along with the increased arrival of domestic and foreign tourists on the Annapurna trekking route, the rural municipality has recently brought a primary treatment center into operation, keeping in mind the health of tourists.

A primary treatment center has been established and brought into operation at Machhapuchhre Base Camp. The center will make it easier to provide immediate primary treatment services by health workers for tourists and locals reaching the ABC and Machhapuchhre Base Camp areas in case of common health problems and emergencies. Tourists coming on the ABC trek have been falling ill, and some have even died due to altitude sickness (high altitude).