Mustang opens new cycling trail as tourist numbers jump by 55%
Kathmandu, July 18 – A new 8-kilometre cycling trail has been built in Mustang, stretching from Jomsom (Gharapjhong-4) to Dharkajung (Baragung Muktikshetra-5). Constructed at a cost of Rs 2 million, the trail includes two iron bridges and is designed to support the growing tourism sector in the region.
According to Prem Paudel, Chief of the Tourism and Industry Office in Mustang, the trail offers cyclists an alternative route to Dolpa, avoiding the busy Jomsom-Kagbeni road. It passes through Dhalkedanda, located at an altitude of over 4,000 meters, and provides breathtaking views of Upper and Lower Mustang, the Nepal-China border, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, the Kali Gandaki corridor, and nearby villages.
The opening of the trail comes at a time when Mustang is seeing a sharp rise in tourism. In the fiscal year 2081/82, the district welcomed 705,000 visitors, a 55% increase compared to the previous year, according to Bishal Adhikari, Information Officer at the District Police Office.
The surge in tourist arrivals is credited to improved road access through the Beni-Jomsom-Korala route, as well as growing interest in Mustang’s natural landscapes, cultural heritage, and religious sites.
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