Rhododendrons Bloom, Turning Ghorepani Hillsides into a Tourist Hotspot

Myagdi. Echoing the lyrics of the legendary singer Narayan Gopal's song, 'I have become a rhododendron, I will bloom across the forest, I will bloom across the heart,' the hillsides of Ghorepani, located in Annapurna Rural Municipality-6, Myagdi, are now vibrant with blooming rhododendrons.

With the arrival of spring, the dense bloom of rhododendrons has made the hillsides of Ghorepani captivating and attractive, making it a preferred destination for nature-loving tourists. Hemant Buddhuja Pun, a hotel entrepreneur in Ghorepani, stated that hotels have been fully occupied for the past two days by visitors coming to enjoy the beauty of the rhododendrons.

“Hotels are full of guests who have come to celebrate the continuous three-day holiday encompassing Chaitra Dashain, Ram Nawami, and Saturday, arriving from places like Pokhara, Myagdi, and Kathmandu,” he said. “Ghorepani's forest slopes, the sunrise, and the mountain ranges, all colored by the blooming rhododendrons, have made Ghorepani a top choice for visitors.”

The 27 hotels in Ghorepani can accommodate over a thousand people in a single day. The jungle area of Ghorepani, situated at an altitude of 2,800 meters above sea level, has become enchanting with the dense blooming of rhododendrons.

According to Sudeep Purja, the entrepreneur responsible for the tea stalls and entry fee collection at Poon Hill, located above Ghorepani, 400 Nepali and 50 foreign visitors arrived for excursions on Friday alone. He mentioned that a week ago, the number of guests was around 200 daily.

Chaitra-Baishakh is the season for rhododendron blooms. The rhododendron is the main attraction for tourists visiting Ghorepani, which is part of the world-famous Annapurna Circuit trekking route, during the spring season. The path leading to Poon Hill for viewing the sunrise and mountain ranges passes through a rhododendron forest. Red, white, Chimalee, and Simalee varieties of rhododendrons are found here.

Against the backdrop of the blooming rhododendron forest on the slopes, views of Dhaulagiri, Gurja, Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, and more than 16 other peaks, along with the sunrise, can be observed. There are 42 species of rhododendrons found worldwide, of which 32 species are found in Nepal. The red rhododendron is also the national flower of Nepal.

Dambhadur Pun, a former chairman of Annapurna Rural Municipality and now a hotel entrepreneur in Ghorepani, stated that according to a study conducted by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), 16 species of rhododendrons are found in the Ghorepani area.

He claimed that the forest in this area, where many species of rhododendrons are found in one location, is the largest in the Gandaki Province. A half-hour walk northwest from the head of the Ghorepani settlement into the rhododendron forest leads to the Rhododendron Park at Kalisar. Amrit Karki from Beni shared his experience, saying it was enjoyable and stress-relieving to wander through the rhododendron-covered forest listening to the sounds of birds.

Diya Thapa, who visited from Pokhara, mentioned that the clean air and peaceful environment rejuvenated her body and mind. She shared her experience of being mesmerized by the rhododendrons, the chirping of birds, and the mountain views. Visitors enjoy taking videos and photos with the rhododendron forest as a backdrop.

Poon Hill, located 45 minutes uphill from Ghorepani at an altitude of 3,210 meters above sea level, is a famous destination for viewing the sunrise and mountain vistas. An additional 15-minute walk beyond the Rhododendron Park leads to the beautiful Pyaribarah Lake situated within the rhododendron forest.

Returning from there, one can reach the lower part of the Ghorepani settlement in 40 minutes via Pyaribarah, Bhalkhura Chaur. It is possible to cycle from Ghorepani by going via Kalisar Rhododendron Park to Pyaribarah Lake and then taking the lower route from Bhalkhura. A pony trail is available from Pyaribarah to Ghorepani.

Packages for one night's stay in Ghorepani, including dinner and breakfast, range from NPR 950 to NPR 1,600. Bus services from Pokhara have started operating to Ghorepani, which is 21 kilometers away, accessible via Pokharebagar (the center of Annapurna Rural Municipality), Ghar, Shikh, and Chitre.

A rough road connecting Nayapul in Kaski to Birethanti-Ulleri-Ghorepani has also been operational since last Kartik. There are trekking routes to reach Ghorepani from Ghandruk, Ulleri, Shikh, and Mohare Danda. Ram Bahadur Khadka, Ward Chairman of Annapurna Rural Municipality-6, stated that emphasis is being placed on infrastructure development through the conservation and reconstruction of trekking routes, road upgrades, and identification of secondary destinations.

“The arrival of domestic tourists has increased due to the operation of an alternative road connecting Pokharebagar to Nayapul in Kaski, aimed at bringing tourists traveling to and from Mustang via the road route into Ghorepani,” he said. “To extend the stay of tourists in Ghorepani, we are focusing on infrastructure development by identifying the 'Rhododendron Park', horse trails, cycling routes, and secondary destinations.”