MYAGDI: Tourist activity has begun to pick up at various destinations in Myagdi following the Dashain festival, as favorable weather and the reopening of the Beni–Jomsom road have made travel easier.
The increase in tourist arrivals, including holidaymakers taking advantage of the festive break, has brought renewed optimism to local tourism businesses. According to business owners, tourists began arriving on Thursday at popular destinations such as Ghodepani, Poon Hill, Khopara, Singa Tatopani, Bhurung Tatopani, Annapurna Base Camp, Rupse Waterfall and Galeshwor.
Baburam Acharya, a hotel owner in Galeshwor, Beni Municipality–9, said tourist arrivals had increased immediately after the tika ceremony of Dashain.
“Tourist arrivals had dropped to almost zero after the Beni–Jomsom road was blocked by flooding in the Kali Gandaki River during the second week of Ashoj. However, visitors have started returning since Thursday,” he said. “With the road to Mustang now operational following repairs, we expect tourist numbers to increase between Dashain and Tihar, helping revive our struggling businesses.”
The Myagdi section of the Beni–Jomsom road was obstructed by landslides and flooding in the Kali Gandaki River following recent continuous heavy rainfall. The road was reopened in the final week of Ashoj after repair work. Historically, the autumn months of Asoj and Kartik, roughly from mid-September to mid-November, attract the highest number of foreign tourists to Myagdi.
Dam Bahadur Pun, former chairperson of Annapurna Rural Municipality and a hotelier in Ghodepani, a major tourist destination along the Annapurna Circuit, said foreign tourist arrivals might not reach the levels recorded in previous years because of floods in the Bhote Koshi, Kali Gandaki and Budhi Gandaki rivers. However, he expressed optimism about domestic tourism, particularly trekking trips during the Dashain and Tihar holidays.
“The Ghodepani–Poon Hill–Ghandruk trekking route is safe,” he said. “Roads and trails damaged by floods and landslides have been repaired and reopened, and we expect tourist arrivals to increase.”
Situated at an altitude of 3,210 metres above sea level, Poon Hill is about a 45-minute uphill walk from Ghodepani. It is one of the region’s most popular viewpoints, renowned for its sunrise views, panoramic mountain scenery and trekking opportunities.
Besides trekking, the Singa Tatopani hot spring in Beni Municipality–4 and the Bhurung Tatopani hot spring in Annapurna Rural Municipality–2 are among Myagdi’s major tourist attractions. Singa Tatopani, known for its natural hot-spring waters, sustained damage from flooding in the Myagdi River. It has since been repaired and resumed operations in the final week of Asoj.
The Bhurung Tatopani and Paudwar Tatopani hot springs in Annapurna Rural Municipality also remain safe. They are popular stops for trekkers on the Annapurna Circuit and travellers heading to or returning from Mustang, offering opportunities to rest and recover from long journeys.
Pritam Purja, an operator in Bhurung Tatopani, said tourist arrivals had resumed after a lull of about a month.
Bhurung Tatopani also serves as a gateway to the Maurice Herzog Trail, which leads to Annapurna Base Camp. The newly developed trekking destination in Myagdi was unaffected by the recent disaster. Kaji Thapa, a hotelier in Bhurung Tatopani, said approximately 150 domestic tourists headed towards Annapurna Base Camp on Thursday.
Chhuma Paija, who operates a tea shop near Rupse Waterfall, also reported a revival in tourist activity after a month-long slowdown.
Ramesh Pandey, a visitor from Chitwan, said he had travelled to Mustang during the Dashain holidays. He noted that reaching Mustang through Myagdi had become easier, with buses, jeeps and motorcycles now able to use the road.
Tourism entrepreneurs and local stakeholders believe the sector in Myagdi and Mustang can recover if the reconstruction of damaged roads and trails is expedited alongside ongoing repair work.
Tejaswi Sharma, chief of the Beni–Jomsom–Korala Road Project, said efforts were underway to repair damaged road sections and maintain smooth traffic flow, particularly as the region enters its peak tourist season.