Myagdi, Jan 27: Infrastructure development has begun at the Annapurna Base Camp and Maurice Herzog Trail in Narchyang, Ward-4 of Annapurna Rural Municipality, Myagdi, with a budget of Rs 12.5 million.
The Annapurna Rural Municipality has allocated Rs 10 million, the Nepal Tourism Board Rs 2 million, and the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Rs 500,000 to build temporary shelters, toilets, drinking water facilities, trails, tea shops, and an open museum. According to Annapurna Rural Municipality Chairman Bharat Kumar Pun, temporary structures are being constructed due to policy restrictions on building permanent structures in the conservation area.
“The temporary structures are being built for the convenience of tourists,” Pun explained. “The municipality has also called for bids to operate tea and snack shops along the base camp and trail.”
The surveys, cost estimates, and the formation of consumer committees for the project have already completed. Rs 4 million is being used to build three shelters in Sandhikharak, Bhusket, and the Panchkund Lake area. Additionally, Rs 3 million has been allocated for drinking water and toilet facilities in Humkhola, Futfute Waterfall, Gufafat, Bhusket, and Panchkund. Rs 1 million each has been set aside for tea shops near Futfute Waterfall and an open museum at the base camp. The museum will collect and preserve historical records related to the base camp, as stated by Sub-Engineer Bal Krishna Paudel.
For trail construction and improvement, the Nepal Tourism Board is providing Rs 2 million, the municipality Rs 1 million, and ACAP Rs 500,000.
The initiative was launched to address issues faced by tourists visiting the Annapurna Base Camp, such as the lack of food, accommodation, and waste management, as the area is far from human settlements and lacks hotels and restaurants.
According to Ward Chairman Lok Bahadur Fagami, around 5,000 domestic tourists visited the base camp during the Dashain-Tihar festival season. Efforts are also underway to establish suspension bridges, communication facilities, electricity, and a tourist check post along the Maurice Herzog Trail.
The trail follows the Mistri River, which originates at the foot of Annapurna and Nilgiri mountains, passing by tall waterfalls, breathtaking mountain ranges, unique geographical features, and rare flora and fauna, leading to the base camp. The blue Panchkund Lake, located at the base of Annapurna, is a major attraction of the trail.
The short three-day trek has made the Annapurna Base Camp a popular choice for adventure enthusiasts. The route, first identified in 2011 by a team led by Tej Gurung of Narchyang, follows the same path used by Maurice Herzog’s team during their ascent of Annapurna.
The Annapurna Rural Municipality has officially named the trail after Maurice Herzog. Currently, a 20-km road connects Narchyang to Humkhola, while a 22-km basic trail links Humkhola to the base camp. #ABC #nepal #tourist
