Chhusang–Patangya trekking route being upgraded in Upper Mustang

MUSTANG: The Chhusang–Patangya trekking route in Upper Mustang is being upgraded to ensure safer and more convenient travel for tourists.

The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) under the National Trust for Nature Conservation has begun repair and improvement work along the trail used by foreign visitors.

Local Conservation Area Management Committees under ACAP Lomanthang and ACAP Jomsom are jointly working on the maintenance of the trekking route stretching from Baragung Muktikshetra Rural Municipality-3, Chhusang to Loghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality-5, Tangya.

The route, which takes around nine hours to traverse, is being upgraded through coordinated efforts of different committees, said ACAP Lomanthang Chief Umesh Poudel.

According to Poudel, one committee is handling the section from Chhusang to Pa, while another is working on the stretch from Tangya to Pa. The upgrade work began on April 28, and is expected to be completed within two weeks.

Local committees have been mobilizing human resources and using locally made tools for the construction work. Gabion protection has been installed in some areas, while wooden bridges are being built at vulnerable points.

Loghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality Chair Lopsang Chomphel Bista said that additional repair works have also been carried out from Dhye Khola to Tangya under the National Employment Program, with local workers deployed on a daily wage basis.

Officials said the trekking route is frequently damaged by monsoon-induced floods and landslides, requiring regular maintenance each year. They also noted that expanding road networks, including the Korala Road and Kaligandaki Corridor, have contributed to the deterioration of traditional trekking trails.

Despite this, the Chhusang–Pa–Tangya route remains an important trekking corridor in Upper Mustang. However, flash floods and landslides during the rainy season often make travel risky for foreign tourists. Trekking operators have long been urging authorities to prioritize maintenance of the trail.

ACAP officials said the ongoing upgrade work will help make trekking in Upper Mustang safer and more accessible for visitors.