MYAGDI: With the onset of the monsoon, popular tourist destinations in Myagdi have started to empty out.
The number of visitors to areas such as Ghodepani, Poon Hill, Mohare Danda, Khopra, Todke, Annapurna Base Camp, Singa and Bhurung Tatopani, Rupse, and Narchyang Falls has significantly declined due to persistent rain and poor weather conditions.
Meena Pun, chairperson of the Hotel Management Sub-committee in Ghodepani (Annapurna Rural Municipality-6), said tourist arrivals have dropped sharply in recent weeks.
She noted that although Ghodepani, a major stop along the renowned Annapurna Circuit, has 25 well-equipped hotels with a combined capacity of 1,000 guests, most of them are now empty.
“From June to August, this period is considered off-season for tourism due to heavy rainfall and frequent road and trail blockages,” Pun explained. “Another reason for the decline in tourist numbers is the cloud cover that obstructs views of the mountains in hilly areas.”
Tourist activity has also dwindled at Bhurung Tatopani in Annapurna Rural Municipality-2—a popular rest stop for travelers heading to Mustang via the Beni-Jomsom road—and at Singa Tatopani Kunda in Beni-4, known for its natural hot spring with healing properties.
Birendra Man Shakya, former chairperson of the Singa Tatopani Kunda Management Committee, said that during peak season, around 1,000 religious tourists bathe in the hot spring daily. However, that number has now dropped to fewer than 50 per day.
Myagdi typically attracts tourists for trekking, mountain climbing, sunrise views, waterfalls, rural landscapes, and cultural experiences. The peak tourist seasons are during October, November, December, January, and February. Conversely, tourist numbers drop to nearly zero during June, July and August.
With the decline in visitors, hotel and tourism entrepreneurs report minimal business, and trekking trails remain largely inactive. According to the District Police Office, approximately 30,000 foreign tourists visit Myagdi each year.
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