Myagdi, July 11: Preparation has been made to open new trekking route connecting Mudi-Gurja-Rughachour-Jaljala of Dhaulagiri rural municipality in Myagdi district with the aim of giving new dimension to natural, cultural and adventure tourism.
A plan has been set to bring this ‘virgin route’ into operation from coming winter season. Minister for Science, technology and Innovation, Maha Bir Pun, shared that preparations are underway to operate trekking route from Mudi of Dhaulagiri rural municipality-4 to Jaljala of ward no 2 based on recently conducted feasibility study with the support of the Department of Tourism.
The route is a virgin one, added Minister Pun, requesting the tourism entrepreneurs and locals to make necessary preparations to take tourists in this trekking route.
He opined that the Tourism Ministry would support construct necessary infrastructures like resting place and suspension bridge along the trekking route.
A team under leadership of Chitra Tilija, Chief of Beni-based Contact Office of Minister Pun, had conducted feasibility study of Mudi-Gurja-Jaljala trekking route, Dhaulagiri circuit trek and trekking route connecting Dowa of Annapurna rural municipality-1 to Chimkhola via Raghuganga rural municipality-7 in the first, second and third weeks of this Asar.
The team prepared the report about the feasibility study and submitted to Minister Pun and Tourism Ministry last week. The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has allocated Rs 30 million for Dhaulagiri circuit trek project in the budget of coming fiscal year 2083/84 as well as Rs 2.1 million for the feasibility study of trekking routes including Mudi-Gurja-Jaljala route.
Expressing the belief that the new trekking route would revive the tourism sector, Bijay Gharti of Mudi mentioned that the operation of new trekking route would create new opportunities of employment and income generations in local levels.
This proposed trekking route connecting Dhaulagiri Mountain and Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve is considered to have great potential in terms of natural, cultural and adventure tourism. Mudi is home to Magar and Dalit communities while Gurja known as ‘hidden village’ is home to minority ethnic group, Chhantyal, and Dalit community.
Chairperson of Dhaulagiri rural municipality-4, Yam Prasad Gharti expected that this new trekking route would help promote local economy along with tourism development of Dhaulagiri area.
