Construction Begins on Trail Linking Dowa to Dhaulagiri Icefall in Myagdi

Myagdi. Construction has begun on a trekking route connecting Dowa in Annapurna Rural Municipality, Myagdi, to the Dhaulagiri Icefall.

The construction of the trail was initiated through a consumer committee using a budget of NPR 1 million allocated by the Annapurna Rural Municipality in the current fiscal year. Bikash Pun, the chairman of the consumer committee, informed that the trail construction up to Bhirkarkha, passing through Guntali Bhir, Deurali Danda, Thulokhani, Bhitre Ban, and Thulo Ghaira Bharyang, was completed by the first week of Falgun.

He stated that three kilometers of the trail, according to the technical map, have been completed, and an additional one kilometer is under construction. About 20 local residents from Dowa are staying in the jungle to work on the trail construction. Since traveling from home to the distant construction site is arduous, they have set up temporary shelters using tarpaulins at the construction site.

The consumer committee stated that the trail will connect to Khola Kharka using the budget from the current fiscal year. Dilip Gurung, Ward Chairman of Dowa in Annapurna Rural Municipality-1, said that the effort is to develop the ancient footpath, which was historically used by Dowa residents for seasonal cattle migration (Lek Besi), into a formal trekking route.

The Dhaulagiri Icefall trekking route, which connects Myagdi and Mustang, was identified 15 years ago following the construction of the Beni-Jomsom road. This main trail starts from Rakhu in Raghuganga Rural Municipality and connects to Lete in Mustang. Efforts are currently underway to develop auxiliary trails connecting nearby settlements to the main trekking route.

Ward Chairman Gurung stated that the trail is being connected to the Icefall to boost tourism in Dowa, which has a significant Magar community population.