MUSTANG, Oct 23: As many as 772 foreign tourists have entered Mustang via Thorong La Pass through the Besisahar-Manang route over the past two weeks.
According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) check post in Jomsom, 43 tourists from SAARC countries and 729 from other countries entered Mustang during the period following heavy snowfall.
Thorong La Pass, which lies at an altitude of 5,416 meters above sea level, is part of the Annapurna Circuit trekking route. Foreign tourists cross the pass from Manang towards Muktinath in Mustang. The route is considered adventurous and challenging for trekkers.
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Locals take initiative to resume trekking along the Thorong La
Tourists have started arriving in Mustang after the trail, which was blocked by heavy rain and snowfall on September 26, was cleared.
On the Manang side, security personnel and local tourism entrepreneurs worked together to remove snow from the access route, making the Annapurna Circuit trail easier to navigate.
The trail attracts foreign tourists during two main trekking seasons each year, with many visiting in May, June and July.
Sanjog Thakali, an assistant for natural resource conservation at ACAP's Jomsom office, said a notable number of foreign tourists also travel to Mustang via Thorong La Pass in October and November, before heavy snowfall begins.
Following the clearance of snow from the trail, 772 foreign tourists had reached Mustang by Thursday, he said.
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