Gandaki, 7 Jun: Ancient Gurung settlements in Lamjung, Kaski, and Manang are being connected through the revival of historic salt-carrying and shepherd routes, leading to the development of a new tourist trekking trail called the “Gurung Heritage Trail.”
The Gurung Tourism Entrepreneurs Association (GTIN) in Gandaki has begun the third phase of exploration and research for the trail, aiming to make it fully operational by 2026.
According to Bobarjang Gurung, founding president of GTIN Gandaki and coordinator of the trekking trail program, this route will cover areas from Kori, Kholasonthar, Thulo Lake, Thurju, and Dudhpokhari in the hilly and mountainous regions to Timang in Manang.
“Our goal is to include the ancient villages of Lamjung and promote their originality and culture to the world through trekking tourism,” he said.
As part of the third phase of the trail development, the association, in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board, Kholasonthar, and Marsyangdi Rural Municipality, began exploration and research on Friday.
According to the association’s president, Kism Kumari Gurung, the team will conduct an investigative trek starting from Pokhara, passing through Singdi, Pasgaun, Bhujung, Ghanpokhara, Dudhpokhari, Gurung Deurali, Siurung, and other locations before returning to Pokhara.
With the announcement of this trail, the Singdi Community Homestay in Kholasonthar-5, Lamjung, has become excited. Homestay president Hukum Bahadur Gurung expressed confidence that the trail will open new doors for tourism in the village.
“Although we have been running the homestay since 2019, we only recently completed the formal registration,” he said. “Now, connected with trekking tourism, we expect to attract more tourists to the village.” Out of 235 households in Singdi, 20 operate homestays, with the capacity to accommodate up to 300 tourists daily.
Ward No. 5 chairperson Geet Bahadur Gurung shared that local delicacies like Kaguno rice and millet-corn dishes, along with traditional cultures such as Sorathi and Ghatru, are major attractions for tourists in Singdi.
A 1,300-meter staircase connecting the village to Karpudanda has already been constructed, and although direct transportation from Pokhara is available, road upgrading is still necessary, he said.
