BENI: A trekking route leading to the base camp of Mt. Dhaulagiri—the world’s seventh highest mountain at 8,167 meters—has been constructed in Mudi, Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-4.
In the last fiscal year 2024/25, the rural municipality developed the trail from the Italian Base Camp in Mudi to the Swiss Camp via the Japanese Camp, utilizing a federal budget of Rs 5.4 million.
Kul Bahadur Gharti, Secretary of the Dhaulagiri Mountain Climbing Trekking Route Construction Users’ Committee, said around 6.5 kilometers of trail were constructed using Rs 4.9 million from the budget and an additional Rs 500,000 in labor contributions from the local community. The trail was built in particularly risky terrain, and includes two wooden bridges and two pavilions.
To aid trekkers, information boards have been installed at four locations, and directional signboards at five spots along the route. Sub-engineer Janak Dhanuk from the rural municipality added that about one kilometer of stone steps has also been built.
“The previously narrow and dangerous trails have been widened, and areas affected by glaciers between the Swiss and Japanese camps have been improved. Dilapidated sections have been repaired, making travel significantly easier for trekkers,” he said. The trail section at Dobhan, which had been destroyed by floods, has also been rebuilt, and new paths constructed near Chaurban.
However, there is still a shortage of suspension bridges at several points along the route, including over Myagdi Khola, Taletrekhola, and Kainchibhire Khola, which connect the Italian Base Camp to Chheuvan.
Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality Chairman Prem Prasad Pun stated that the municipality is prioritizing the widening and upgrading of dangerous cliffside and forest paths to ensure safety and meet quality standards.
He said the local government is focusing on tourism infrastructure development and plans to launch a “One Ward, One Tourist Destination” campaign this year.
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