A mountain race is set to be held in Pumdi-Bhumdi of Pokhara Metropolitan City–22 on October 10 (Ashwin 24) with the objective of promoting the area’s natural, cultural and tourism potential at both national and international levels. Located across Phewa Lake from Pokhara’s Lakeside, Pumdi-Bhumdi has significant religious and tourism attractions but has remained relatively underdeveloped as a tourist destination. The race is being organised to increase the area’s visibility and connect it with the wider tourism circuit of Pokhara.
Race to link sports with rural tourism
The Pokhara Promotion Centre has been organising the mountain race for the past three years, highlighting the tourism potential of the area, which is home to the giant Shiva statue at Pumdikot, the World Peace Pagoda and the Buddha Park. According to event coordinator and Centre Chairperson Dinanath Baral, more than 80 runners from 18 districts have already registered for this year’s competition.
The event aims to use sports tourism as a means of promoting rural tourism and connecting it with the local agricultural economy. Baral said the organisers expect the mountain race to help identify potential rural tourism destinations around Pokhara and encourage tourists visiting the city’s main tourism areas to explore surrounding rural communities.
Eight-kilometre course through major attractions
The race will begin from the World Peace Pagoda and proceed around the giant Shiva statue at Pumdikot before passing through the ward office and finishing at the Kalabang Gharedi Buddha Park in Nyal Danda.
The eight-kilometre race will feature six categories: open, ward-level open, women, under-16, foreign runners and veterans. The winner of the open category will receive a cash prize of Rs 50,000, while the second, third, fourth and fifth-place finishers will receive Rs 30,000, Rs 15,000, Rs 7,000 and Rs 3,000, respectively.
Cash prizes across multiple categories
The top three finishers in the ward-level open, women and under-16 categories will receive Rs 15,000, Rs 7,000 and Rs 3,000, respectively, along with medals and certificates. In the foreign runners’ category, the winner will receive Rs 15,000 and the runner-up Rs 7,000. The winner in the veterans’ category will receive Rs 15,000 along with a certificate.
Race expected to boost sports tourism
Ward Chairperson of Pokhara–22 Himlal Baral said Pumdi-Bhumdi has remained relatively overlooked despite being directly connected to Phewa Lake. He said the mountain race could make an important contribution to promoting sports tourism in the area, which lies across the lake from the popular Lakeside tourism hub.
Hari Bhujel, President of the Pokhara Tourism Council, said the event should be viewed not only as a programme of the organiser but as a shared initiative of tourism entrepreneurs across Pokhara. He also said hospitality services would be arranged for athletes who have represented Nepal and won medals at international competitions if they participate in the race.
Event to promote rural tourism in Pokhara
Asafal Gautam, Vice-Chairperson of the Pokhara Promotion Centre, said the competition would help highlight the potential for sports tourism in Pokhara–22 and other rural areas of the city. The event is being promoted by the Nepal Tourism Board and Pokhara Metropolitan City, with coordination from the Gandaki Province Sports Council and support from Pokhara Metropolitan City–22.
Rs 1.89 million estimated event cost
Centre Secretary Sagar Sunar said the estimated cost of organising the competition is Rs 1.897 million. The first prize in the open category has been sponsored by international marathon runner and former UK President of Sahara UK, retired Lieutenant Kusang Kumar Gurung. The organisers expect the event to strengthen the connection between Pokhara’s established tourism hub and emerging rural destinations while using sports as a platform to promote Pumdi-Bhumdi’s tourism potential.
