Foreigners busy hunting in Dhorpatan, locals enjoying trekking

लगानी न्यूज

२४ कार्तिक २०८३, मंगलवार १४:०६November 10, 2026

Baglung. Dhorpatan, known for its natural beauty, high hills and mountain ranges and wide Patan, has seen an increase in the number of domestic and foreign tourists at present.

Foreign hunters are busy hunting in the high hilly areas of Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve while domestic tourists are seen enjoying trekking and sightseeing in the valley and surrounding Patan.TAG_OPEN_div_42

The first hunting season of the current fiscal year is going on in Dhorpatan, the only area where hunting is allowed legally in Nepal. In the first season from September to November, foreign hunters have reached various blocks of the reserve for hunting of Naur and Jharal.

According to Sagar Subedi, ranger of Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, 10 baurs and seven jharals are being hunted so far in the first hunting season. This season, 11 foreign poachers have already arrived in Dhorpatan and six more are in the pipeline.TAG_OPEN_div_38

The world’s richest hunters come to Dhorpatan for hunting. Subedi said that hunters come from Russia, America, Spain, Denmark, African countries and France, among other countries.

While the movement of foreign hunters is concentrated in the high hill hunting area, the attraction of domestic tourists has increased in Dhorpatan Valley, Niseldhor, Bukipatan and Jaljala. Tourists come to Dhorpatan especially during the festival season and to enjoy nature and trekking.

Dhorpatan, once known only among foreign tourists and hunters, has become the choice of Nepali tourists for trekking in recent times. Tourists from Kathmandu, Chitwan and other parts of the country come here.TAG_OPEN_div_32

According to Poonam Budhamagar, the operator of the local Pakhathar Community Homestay, foreign hunters reach the hunting block directly by helicopter while the domestic tourists come to Dhorpatan via land route and trekking from there to reach Bukipatan. He said that foreign hunters enjoy hunting and domestic tourists are attracted to trekking and natural scenery.TAG_OPEN_div_30

There are seven hunting blocks in the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve: Surtibang, Fagune, Barse, Seng, Dogadi, Ghustung and Sundaha. According to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Nepali assistants and reserve staff are also deployed along with foreign hunters during the hunting. The department has been fixing quotas for hunting of Naur and Jharal every year.TAG_OPEN_div_28

Hunting is held in two ‘seasons’ every year in the Dhorpatan area. The first hunting season is conducted from September to November and the second season is from February to April. The group of foreign hunters has to complete the hunting in the designated hunting block within 15 days.

In the last fiscal year, 21 naurs and 11 jharals were hunted in two hunting seasons. A revenue of Rs 4.17 crore was collected from this. During the same period, 37,000 domestic and foreign tourists visited Dhorpatan. In the current fiscal year too, the number of domestic tourists has increased as compared to the previous year.

With the increase in the number of tourists in recent times, the operation of hotels and homestays in Dhorpatan is also expanding. Along with hunting tourism, trekking, natural scenery and local culture are the additional attractions of Dhorpatan’s tourism. The Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, established in 2044 BS, is spread in eastern Rukum, Baglung and Myagdi districts.