Tourists from 42 countries entered Manang

LAMJUNG, Feb 15: Although there is no snow in the Himalayan district of Manang this year, tourists are still coming. Even though there is no snow this year, the movement of tourists who enjoy snowfall in winter did not stop.

At the beginning of 2023, tourists from 42 countries entered Manang. Lekhnath Gautam, head of the Annapurna Conservation Area project area office, informed that 318 citizens of 42 countries visited Manang in January.

According to him, in January, the highest number of 69 Korean citizens came to visit Manang. "Especially in winter, it is cold and snowy here, but this year it did not snow, tourists will come to play in the snow in winter, even if there is no snow, the number of foreign tourists has increased," said Chief Gautam.

Tourists from Korea came to visit Manang after making plans for the New Year. He said that because they live in colder weather than here, more tourists come there in winter. In the first month of the year, the number of tourists who reached various places including Thorangla Bhanjyang Katne, Tilicho Lake, etc., did not fall due to snowfall.

Likewise, Chief Gautam said that 36 tourists from France, 34 from Australia, 21 from Britain, 21 from Germany, 15 from America, 13 from Belgium, 12 from India and 10 from the Netherlands and few tourists from other countries have entered.

Due to the cold weather, we have allowed only foreign tourists who came in groups to pass through Tilicho Lake and Thorangla. Dryness has increased due to lack of snow. It is seen that this will also cause problems in agricultural crops', he said, 'There is no snowfall in Manang this year.'

Chief District Officer Suprabha Dhungel Khanal said that if it snows, the trip will be completely stopped as there is a possibility of avalanches, but since there is no snow this time, the tourists have been allowed to take necessary precautions.

He said that considering the risk of travel, tourists were allowed to go on a walk with suggestions to travel in cooperation and coordination with the relevant agencies. Due to the lack of snowfall this year, domestic tourists who play in the snow in Manang have not been able to enter. In the case of snowfall, domestic tourists used to come to Manang to play in the snow and touch the snow.

Tourists use the Annapurna trail to go to Mustang or Pokhara from Manang via Thorangla to see the mountain and mountain scenery, customs and natural beauty of the people of Manang.

The entrance of the trekking route  is in Lamjung Besisahar Municipality-7 Manange Chautara. Along with Lamjung, five districts namely Kaski, Manang, Mustang and Myagdi are connected along the trekking route.