Kathmandu, 8 Jul: With the onset of the monsoon, tourist destinations in Myagdi have started to become deserted. Areas such as Ghorepani, Poon Hill, Mohare Danda, Khopra, Todke, Annapurna Base Camp, Singa and Bhurung, Tatopani Kunda, Rupse, and Narchyang Waterfall have seen a decline in tourist arrivals due to continuous rainfall.
Mina Pun, Chairperson of the Hotel Management Subcommittee in Ghorepani, Annapurna Rural Municipality-6, stated that adverse weather conditions have led to a noticeable drop in the number of visitors recently.
She noted that Ghorepani, a major destination along the world-famous Annapurna Circuit Trek, has 25 well-equipped hotels with a daily capacity of around 1,000 guests, but those hotels are currently empty.
“From mid-May to mid-September, the rainy season makes roads and trekking routes impassable, so this period is considered off-season for tourism,” Pun said. “In the hills, clouds often cover the mountains, which discourages tourists from visiting.”
Likewise, Bhurung Tatopani in Annapurna Rural Municipality-2, known as a rest stop for travelers to and from Mustang via the Beni–Jomsom road, and Singa Tatopani Kunda in Beni-4, a natural healing destination, have also become deserted.
Tatopani pond, Myagdi
Former chairperson of the Singa Tatopani Kunda Management Committee, Birendraman Shakya, stated that during peak tourist season, around 1,000 religious visitors used to bathe daily in the hot spring. However, the number has now dropped to fewer than 50 people per day.
Tourists typically visit Myagdi for trekking, mountaineering, views of mountain ranges, sunrises, waterfalls, gorges, rural lifestyles, and to experience the diverse cultures of various ethnic communities. The months of October, November, March, April, and mid-April (Baisakh) are considered the peak tourist season.
In contrast, the months of mid-May to mid-September (Jestha, Ashar, Shrawan, and Bhadra) see almost no tourist arrivals. With the sharp decline in visitors, hotel and tourism entrepreneurs have a lot of free time, and the trekking trails have become quiet. According to data from the District Police Office, approximately 30,000 foreign tourists visit Myagdi annually.
