Khotang, 3 Magh(16 January): ‘Mundum Trail Visit Year-2025’ has been formally launched on the occasion of Kirat Yale Dong (Kirat Sambat) 5085. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey and former Minister Sudan Kirati formally launched the Visit Nepal Year at Chakhewa Bhanjyang, located on the border of Khotang and Bhojpur.
On the occasion of Mundum Trail Visit Year 2025, various local levels around the ‘Mundum Trail’ trekking route have organized their own festivals. To make the Mundum Trail Visit Year 2025 a grand success, preparations are being made to organize various tourism-related festivals and cultural programs in the surrounding local levels according to the season, said Ramesh Rai, chairman of the organizer, Maiyung-Temak-Salpa-Silichung Tourism Promotion Center.
On the first day of the Visit Nepal Year (Tuesday), Temkemaiyung Rural Municipality of Bhojpur has organized a five-day festival in Chakhewa Bhanjyang. The festival, which will run until Magh 5, will feature local dishes, cultural tableaus of different ethnic groups, and an agricultural fair aimed at tourists.
Local levels have stated that Diktel Rupakot Majhuwa Gadhi Municipality of Khotang will organize Red Panda and Thar Festival, Kepilasgadhi Rural Municipality will organize Honey Hunting and Gothstay Festival, Sakela Rural Municipality will organize Undhauli-Umbhauli Sakela and other cultural festivals. Similarly, Bhojpur Municipality of Bhojpur is preparing to organize Ultra Marathon and Mountain Cycling, Salpa Silichho Rural Municipality will organize Nachhong Dhami Literary Festival, Shadananda Municipality will organize Rudraksha Festival, Mahakulung Rural Municipality will organize Chakchakur Festival and other programs.
Chairman Rai informed that Visit Year 2025 has been organized to publicize and promote the ‘Mundum Trail’, which is among the list of 100 tourist destinations announced by the government. “We have moved forward with a plan to make the Mundum Trail Visit Year 2025 a grand success. The target has been set to attract about one lakh tourists during this period,” he said. “The Mundum Trail is a virgin destination. This Mundum Trail, which is located on the border of the eastern hilly districts of Khotang, Bhojpur, Solukhumbu and Sankhuwasabha, is related to the history of the Kirat community.”
The ‘Mundum Trail’, which starts from the tourist spot Tawabhanjyang in Khidima, Sakela Rural Municipality-3, Khotang, has become a favorite for nature lovers, that is, tourists who want to enjoy beauty and come to study and research Kirati customs, culture. The construction of basic physical infrastructure, including widening the right and left sides of the ‘Mundum Trail’ trail, installing dry stone stairs and paving the stones, which was officially announced on 21 Poush 2075 BS, has been completed.
This ‘Mundum Trail’, which is located on the border of Khotang and Bhojpur, ends at Temkedanda (3,165 meters) and ends at Maiyung, Salpa Pokhari (3,750 meters) and Silichung (4,165 meters). It is said that it will take about 13 days for foreign tourists and ten days for Nepalis to complete the ‘Mundum Trail’, which is built on the peak of a mountain.
Chairman of the Tourism Promotion Center, Rai, has informed that domestic and foreign tourists who want to get close to the mountains and enjoy their beauty will not feel tired while trekking in the mountains. The trekking route has been named ‘Mundum Trail’ as most of the settlements of the Kirat community are located on the trail and the Kirat lifestyle, customs and culture mentioned in their oral text ‘Munmum’ are described.
The vast grasslands, vast pastures and sheepfolds, as well as the opportunity to ride horses, have been attracting domestic and foreign tourists. Another attraction of this area is the observation of dozens of species of gurans, chap, katus, lokta, various herbs and dense forests.
You can also play hide and seek with various species of birds, red pandas, bees and various wild animals found in the Hasanpokhari area of Mayung. With the increase in the number of tourists on the ‘Mundum Trail’, which is sparsely populated, local herders have been making arrangements for food and accommodation for them.
