LAMJUNG: Stone-roofed houses, Gurung culture, traditional local cuisine, and an intimate rural lifestyle surrounded by green hills and a peaceful environment welcome visitors to Singdi village in Kholasothar Rural Municipality-5 of Lamjung. The village offers a glimpse of the region’s distinctive traditional identity.
Singdi, where nature, culture, and traditional lifestyles come together, has recently emerged as a rural tourism destination.
Tourist arrivals have gradually increased since homestay services began operating in 2076 BS in the village, which had previously received little attention due to a lack of publicity. The homestay was officially registered in 2081 BS. Of the 235 households in the village, 18 are currently operating homestays.
According to Hukum Bahadur Gurung, chairperson of Singdi Community Homestay, visitors generally stay overnight and the village has become a popular choice for groups traveling in reserved vehicles. Although tourist arrivals are not consistent throughout the year, around 100 visitors come to the village each month, he said.
“Tourists did not come here in large numbers in the past. After the Gurung Heritage Trail was connected, their numbers have gradually increased,” he said. “College students and people traveling in different groups are particularly common among the visitors.”
Singdi has a predominantly Gurung population and offers visitors traditional cultural performances such as Ghanthu, Sorathi, and Krishnacharitra. Religious and cultural sites, including the Gumba and Devisthan Temple, are additional attractions.
Homestays prioritize locally produced food, including rice, millet, vegetables, local chicken, and other traditional dishes. Gurung said an overnight homestay package costs Rs 1,100 per person.
The tourism potential of Singdi extends beyond homestays. The village is connected to the Gurung Heritage Trail and lies along a trekking route that leads to Timang in Manang via Tangting in Kaski, Krapu Danda, and various Gurung settlements in Lamjung.
The trekking route connects historic footpaths and trade routes, as well as Bhedigoth and Kharka, with tourism. It also offers panoramic views of the Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, Lamjung, Himlung, Ganesh, Himalchuli, and Manaslu mountain ranges.
Work is underway to connect Singdi with Krapu Danda in Madi Rural Municipality-2 of Kaski. Around 1,300 meters of stairs have already been constructed along the route, while work continues to improve the remaining sections.
According to Surya Prasad Gurung, the rural municipality has prioritized road and trekking-route development to promote tourism in Singdi. Efforts are also focused on producing pickles and other products from local agricultural produce, providing tourism-related skills training, organizing sports and cultural programs, and promoting the destination.
He said construction work is also underway to promote religious tourism, including the development of a monastery and entrance infrastructure.
Locals say the growth of tourism has also brought changes to the village’s social life. According to 66-year-old Yog Prasad Gurung, residents have become more attentive to keeping their courtyards clean and maintaining their homes since the introduction of homestays. The village has also gained greater recognition while providing residents with an additional source of income.
“We should have relied more on agriculture in the past. The village was not well known. Now, homestays have created an additional source of income, while the arrival of tourists has also helped put the village on the map,” he said.
With improved road and hiking access, expanding homestay services, development of local skills, and greater emphasis on cultural activities, Singdi is emerging as a new tourism destination.
As modern facilities continue to expand, preserving the customs, culture, cuisine, and rural lifestyle passed down through generations will be crucial. If these traditional features are maintained, Singdi has the potential to strengthen its local economy through tourism while retaining the cultural character that makes the village distinctive.
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