Galeshwar (Magdi), 17 November: Tikot village of Myagdi, which was known as very remote village till a decade ago, has now become the center of attraction for everyone. This village located in Annapurna rural municipality-7 of the district is becoming a center of tourist attraction after being connected by both the road network and the Annapurna-Dhaulagiri community trekking.
Tikot village is a potential area connected to the Annapurna Dhaulagiri community ecological trail which includes the tourist spots of mountains and Myagdi. The picturesque snow range visible from Tikot village, which is made up of traditional stone houses, attracts the tourists who come here. The main attraction here is that you can observe all the glaciers of the Dhaulagiri range from one place. It is surrounded by forest, and now the red roses that bloom at night have become an additional attraction.
For the convenience of the tourists who come here, the residents of Tikot have made arrangements to stay in organized dining rooms and homestays (Gharbas). There are about one hundred houses here. Tourists who have reached Bashkhark-Dandakateri, Nagi, Mohredanda under the Annapurna Dhaulagiri community footpath which starts from Ghumaunetal of the district, reach Tikot via Phulbari. Tikot can be easily reached from Baisari and Tiplang under the Beni-Jomsom section.
Residents of Tikot, where there is a majority of Magar community, operate homestays by managing rooms for tourists in traditional houses and perform traditional dances for the entertainment of tourists. The Annapurna-Dhaulagiri community footpath, which has been put into operation covering various rural settlements of Myagdi and Parbat, has turned into a remote Tikot tourist village due to the foreign and domestic tourists coming to travel.
“The residents of this place, who have not seen what foreign tourists are like until they touch the trekking, are now excited to welcome tourists every day”, said Kesh Maya Magar, the former vice president of Annapurna rural municipality. She said that the operation of homestay in the village not only increases the income, but also increases the sale of local products. Chitra Tilija Pun, manager of the trail, said that the number of tourists visiting this trail, which has been operating as an eco trail for eight years, is increasing.
With the financial support of social worker Mahavir Pun’s initiative and small business development program, Manager Pun informed that more tourists are coming from Germany, America, Australia, Britain, Israel, France and other countries on the trek which has been put into operation covering the rural parts of seven villages of Myagdi and two villages of Parbat. Pun said that the scenic beauty of mountains such as Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, Langtang and other mountains that can be seen through the footpath, the natural beauty, the lifestyle of the Magar community, the sense of community, the businesses found on the trek, sheep farming and other businesses attract more tourists.
According to him, the income from tourists will be spent on community development of the village, running schools, health institutions, building tourism infrastructure, etc. The trail, which can be completed in a week to 10 days, starts from the rolling lake of Piple and passes through Parbat’s Banskhark, Dandakateri, Myagdiko Nagi, Hampal Danda, Mohredanda, Tikot via Khiwang and Mohredanda, Ghorepani, Khopralek, Narchang and ends at Bhurung Tatopani.
“After the construction of the road in the village, the villagers have been provided with facilities, while the tourists who come for sightseeing use the trek”, said Ganga Pun, a 64-year-old local. With the increase in the number of tourists, the income of the locals has also increased.
