MYAGDI: A new hiking trail has been constructed to connect Jaljala, a religious and tourist destination located at the tri-junction of Myagdi, Parbat, and Kaski districts.
The trail links Kaski’s Nayapul to the scenic destination of Ghorepani in Annapurna Rural Municipality, Myagdi, via Modi Rural Municipality in Parbat.
With a budget of Rs 2 million allocated by the Gandaki Province government, the route was developed by tracing and restoring ancient stone steps from Mate in Modi Rural Municipality–1 to Jaljala, near the border of Modi and Jaljala Rural Municipalities.
According to Tika Pun, secretary of the consumer committee formed for the project and overseen by the Tourism and Industry Office, Parbat, the trail includes a two-kilometer stretch of stone steps from Mate to Jaljala via Wifidanda. Resting areas have been constructed at three points along the trail.
“This route was originally used by shepherds in ancient times. We transformed it into a formal hiking trail,” Pun said. “We had 25 workers from Lespar stay on-site for four months to complete the trail, which is built away from settlements.” Additional features such as a pavilion and scenic viewpoints have been constructed at Dulekhani and Wifidanda.
The trail ascends from Mate at an altitude of 3,300 meters, running through Dulekhani and Wifidanda, and descends to Jaljala at 3,000 meters. It offers panoramic views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges, along with glimpses of rural settlements in Parbat, Kaski, Baglung, and Myagdi. Wild animals, including deer, are often sighted along the route.
Previously, due to the absence of a well-defined path, tourists had to navigate risky terrain and dense undergrowth. Deepak Acharya, Vice Chairperson of Jaljala Rural Municipality, said the new trail has significantly improved safety and accessibility. He added that an additional Rs 2 million has been allocated in the current fiscal year (2082/83) for constructing a trekking route from Jaljala to Mohare Danda in Myagdi.
Earlier, a shelter was built at Wifidanda with a Rs 1.5 million grant from the province, and last year, electricity was extended to Jaljala through a partnership between Jaljala and Modi Rural Municipalities.
Jaljala is also of religious significance. In the Hindu epic Ramayana, it is referred to as Kalanjar Parbat. Known for its biodiversity and abundance of medicinal herbs, Jaljala has seen increasing investment in religious infrastructure and tourism promotion.
Plans are underway to build an artificial lake by damming a section of the area. A dirt road from Beni in Myagdi via Mallaj and Shalija in Parbat now reaches Jaljala, enhancing road access to the region.
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