A newly developed circular hiking trail around Ghandruk has begun attracting increasing numbers of domestic and international tourists, offering visitors a unique blend of Himalayan scenery, Gurung culture, and short-distance adventure trekking in Nepal’s Annapurna region.
Surrounded by dense traditional settlements, snow-capped Himalayan peaks, and lush forests, the scenic route has become one of the latest tourism attractions in Annapurna Rural Municipality. The circular trail, which has been under development for the past few years, passes through forests, ridges, and hill landscapes while offering panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and mountains.
The trekking route begins from Ghandruk Bus Park and stretches through various locations, including Kotgaon, Balache Garden, Deurali, Navri Theb, Meshra Baraha Temple, Kochama Pwa, Nego, tea estates, and Dandagaon before returning to the same point.
Infrastructure Development Underway
According to Bikram Gurung, nearly 60 percent of the construction work on the circular trail has already been completed. “The construction of the trail began three years ago under the initiative of the Tourism Management Committee,” Gurung said. “This year, additional infrastructure works are being carried out with a budget support of Rs 2 million from the Nepal Tourism Board.”
He added that all three levels of government, along with local donors and community members, have contributed to the development of the trail. As part of the tourism infrastructure expansion, parks, resting areas, and gazebos are currently being constructed along the route to improve the overall visitor experience.
Boost to Local Tourism and Economy
Tourism entrepreneurs believe the new hiking route will help strengthen Ghandruk’s image as one of Gandaki Province’s must-visit destinations while encouraging visitors to stay longer in the village. Local tourism entrepreneur Amrit Lama Gurung said the circular hiking trail provides a refreshing experience for travelers looking to escape crowded urban areas.
“Tourists staying overnight in Ghandruk can enjoy the hiking route early in the morning while witnessing sunrise views,” he said. “The scenic landscape, forests, and mountain views energize trekkers throughout the journey.” The route also carries cultural and religious significance. The Meshram Baraha Temple, located along the trail, remains an important spiritual site for the Gurung community and attracts religious visitors in addition to trekkers.
The Tourism Management Committee stated that around Rs 5.3 million has been spent on the construction of the trail so far. Organizers said locally available construction materials are being used to preserve the originality and traditional character of the area.
Growing Tourist Arrivals in Ghandruk
Officials from the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) say the trail is expected to become another major attraction within the Annapurna region. Chief of the Area Conservation Office Bhim Prasad Upadhyay said ACAP has been supporting tourism infrastructure development and community empowerment initiatives in Ghandruk.
According to him, Indian tourists currently form a large portion of visitors traveling through Ghandruk toward the Annapurna region. He revealed that as many as 856 foreign tourists visited Ghandruk in a single day during the current tourism season.
“The number of Indian tourists has increased significantly in recent years, while domestic tourism is also growing rapidly,” Upadhyay said, attributing the rise to improved road connectivity and easier access to the village.
Currently, Ghandruk hosts around 80 hotels and resorts along with 35 homestays, making tourism one of the main economic pillars for residents. Hundreds of people are directly employed in tourism-related businesses, while an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 tourists visit the village daily during peak season.
Balancing Tourism and Cultural Preservation
Despite the rapid tourism growth, residents have expressed concern about preserving the originality, culture, and natural beauty of Ghandruk amid increasing commercialization and tourist inflow. Community members emphasize the importance of protecting Gurung traditions, architecture, and local identity while continuing tourism expansion in the region.
Located around two hours by road from Pokhara, Ghandruk has long been one of Nepal’s iconic trekking destinations, and the new circular hiking trail is expected to further strengthen its position in Nepal’s adventure tourism map.
