MYAGDI: The traditional honey hunting season has begun in Myagdi, with collectors extracting honey from cliff hives in the higher altitudes of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Raghuganga rural municipalities.
Moti Prasad Paija, a honey hunter from Khoriya in Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-2, said the season officially started on Friday. His team harvested honey from two hives at Mahabhir near Khoriya and plans to continue in other harvests in the coming days. A 15-member team extracted around 70 liters of honey on the first day.
Lok Bahadur Paija of Annapurna Rural Municipality-5 said honey hunting typically begins in the lower valleys and gradually moves to higher hills by the month of July. The process involves scaling steep cliffs where wild bees build their hives.
Despite the honey’s rich taste and high market value, the extraction process is extremely risky. Hunters descend vertical cliffs using ropes (locally known as ‘parang’) to cut honeycombs attached to rock faces.
Spring and autumn are considered the best seasons for honey hunting. In spring, harvesting begins in lower regions, while in autumn, it shifts to higher altitudes. Cliff honey is sold at Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500 per liter.
The hunters work in coordinated teams positioned both above and below the cliffs. One group manages ropes from the top, while the other collects honey at the base. Smoke is used to drive away the bees before harvesting begins, as swarms can pose serious danger.
Once the bees disperse, the lead hunter cuts the honeycomb and lowers it to the ground using ropes. This wild honey is prized not only for its taste and energy value but also for its medicinal and religious uses.
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