Myagdi. Hotels and restaurants located along the Maurice Hergos trekking route and Annapurna Base Camp have faced problems in managing the trekking route after a large number of tourists arrived beyond their capacity.

The base camp for climbing to the base of the 8,091-meter high Annapurna mountain is located in Annapurna Rural Municipality-4 of Myagdi. The buildings of the trekking route and base camp tents and shelters have the capacity to accommodate up to 50 persons in a day. Shyam Purja, ward member of Annapurna-4, said that more than 150 tourists have been visiting the village every day.

“Since the Annapurna Conservation Area is under the project, permission is not granted for the construction of concrete structures, so arrangements have been made for food and accommodation for tourists by setting up tents since last spring season in coordination with the rural municipality,” he said. ’

Locals have constructed permanent structures at tea shops, Sadhikharka, Gufphant, Bhusket and Panchakunda lake premises of Annapurna Base Camp since last April. According to Purja, the number of tents is being increased as the number of tourists visiting the tent is more than expected.

Earlier, there was a problem of arranging food, snacks, utensils, gas, clothes and other items on one’s own due to the lack of hotel and lodge facilities. Sandip Khatri of Beni, who visited the base camp, said that seven people had to sleep in the tent with the capacity of three people.

He said that there are problems in communication, electricity and housing management in the area which is far away from human settlements. Another trekker, Bishal Khatri, shared his experience that he felt the need of signs along the three-hour trek from Bhusket to Base Camp.

The Annapurna Base Camp can be reached by observing the banks of Mistri River, high waterfalls, mesmerizing mountain ranges, unique geography, mountains, rare flora and fauna. After a two-hour drive from Narchyang, one can reach the Humkhola Base Camp in two days and return on the third day.

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

75 years ago, Maurice Hergos of France followed the route used to climb Mount Annapurna. s. The trekking route was identified in 2067 BS under the leadership of Tej Gurung of Narchyang. s. In 2077, it was named Maurice Hergos.

Annapurna rural municipality has constructed shelters, public toilets, construction of drinking water, repair of trekking route and an open museum at the base camp situated at an altitude of four thousand one hundred meters from the sea level. Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) provided Rs 500,000 to construct wooden bridges over Red Waterfall and Sunkhola, said ward chair Lok Bahadur Phagami.