Myagdi. The Maurice Herzog trekking route leading to the base camp of Annapurna First Mountain located at Annapurna rural municipality-4, Narchyang is lacking in communication facilities.

Though the number of tourists visiting Annapurna First Base Camp and the management of trekking route has increased the number of tourists, the tourists have been facing problems due to lack of communication access. Around 150 to 300 tourists visit the base camp every day since the beginning of September.

Tourism entrepreneur Tej Gurung, who is also an activist of the Maurice Herzog trekking route, said that tourists are compelled to reach the trekking route and base camp without having to reach the hotels in the area due to lack of communication access. According to him, access to electricity and mobile phone has reached up to Humkhola along the trekking route.

“There is general access to mobile phone and electricity in the area from Humkhola to the base camp, and there is general access to Nepal Telecom’s mobile phone at Guransedanda of Sandhikharka,” said tourism entrepreneur Gurung.

Construction of trekking route from Narchyanggaun to Annapurna First Base Camp had begun in 2068 BS at the initiation of locals. The rural municipality’s centre Pokhrebagar to Humkhola has access to 20 kilometres road and the establishment of hotels at various places by constructing trekking route 16 km from Humkhola has led to the influx of domestic tourists to the area.

The panoramic Panchakunda lake, waterfalls, rivulets and beautiful topography of the base camp have increased the number of tourists. It has been difficult for the hotel entrepreneurs to make arrangements for food and accommodation of the tourists when the number of tourists arrives in excess of capacity.

Mohan Atal, who was on a visit from Biratnagar, complained that although the route leading to the Annapurna Base Camp was full of natural beauty, there was need to immediately improve access to electricity and communications, expansion of drinking water facility and upgradation of roadways. He said that the government and stakeholders should pay attention to provide access to mobile phone and internet for booking in hotels located along the trekking route.

Under this footpath, hotels with tent accommodation are in operation at Humkhola, Phutphute waterfall, Sandhikharka, Gufaphant, Bhusketmela and Panchakunda lake premises. Hoteliers say that they have been facing difficulties in arranging generators for cooking gas and lights due to lack of electricity along with communication.

During the trek of at least two days, tourists fall ill due to disconnection from communication and are stranded due to snowfall. Although the teams coming to the mountains use satellite phones, other tourists do not have the means and access to communication.

Tourism entrepreneur Indra Singh Sherchan, who has been active in rescuing tourists in mountainous areas, said that tourists go unaware due to lack of communication during trekking and it becomes difficult to rescue tourists in case of emergency and sick.

“There might be unseasonal snowfall and avalanche in the time of tourists’ visit, there is no access to communication regarding rescue of tourists in case of emergency,” he said, adding that it was necessary to keep at least satellite or walk-key phone in the hotels along the trekking route.

On June 3, 1950, Louis Lachenel led by French mountaineer Maurice Herzog and two Nepali Sherpas had successfully climbed Mt Annapurna. The number of tourists visiting this trekking route has increased after the publicity of the trekking route, shelter, teashop, hotel and other infrastructures was started by identifying the history of this trekking route.

Although the compulsion to carry one’s own belongings for food and lodging has been removed with the operation of hotels in the past years, there is a need to expand access to communication and electricity.