Myagdi. The number of tourists has increased at the Maurice Hargos trekking route and Annapurna Base Camp. With the beginning of the autumn festival, the number of tourists has increased at the 8,091-metre high Annapurna Mountain Camp located in Annapurna Rural Municipality-4. Currently, 15 to 40 trekkers are trekking to the base camp every day, said Shyam Purja, a ward member of Annapurna-4.

He said that the number of trekkers is expected to increase after the Dashain and Tihar holidays begin. The Annapurna Base Camp can be reached by observing the banks of Mistri River, high waterfalls, mesmerizing mountain ranges, unique geography, mountains, rare vegetation and wildlife. After a two-hour drive from Narchyang, one can reach the Base Camp in two days from Humkhola and return on the third day.

The Annapurna Base Camp is the preferred destination for tourists as it is a short journey. The peaceful and secluded environment, wildlife, birds, forests, gorges of high hills, bursting waterfalls, blue Panchkunda Lake at the foothills of Annapurna Mountain are the attractions of the base camp.

Sandip Bhatta, who came from Gorkha, said that they enjoy the Maurice Hargos trekking route and Annapurna Base Camp for a short time to enjoy nature free from the noise of the city. Annapurna rural municipality had opened the route in 2067 BS following the route used by Maurice Hergos of France to climb Mt Annapurna.

Annapurna rural municipality has constructed shelters, public toilets, construction of drinking water, repair of trekking route and an open museum at the base camp located at an altitude of four thousand one hundred meters above sea level. Wooden bridges have been constructed over Red Waterfall and Sunkhola with financial assistance of Rs 500,000 from the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP).

After completing the process as per the private arrangement of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), the youths of Narchyang have started camping at tea shop, Sadhikharka, cave, Bhusket and Panchakunda lake premises of Annapurna Base Camp.

It has made it easier for the tourists to eat and stay, remove the compulsion to travel with heavy goods and has created employment and income generation opportunities at the local level. These camping areas have the capacity to accommodate up to 50 tourists on a daily basis.