Tanahun is preparing to develop an integrated tourism circuit linking some of the district’s major tourist and religious destinations, with the initiative aimed at benefiting from the growing trend of domestic tourism. The proposed circuit will build on the existing jeep safari services operating in Bandipur and Aanbukhaireni and extend them to a wider range of natural, religious, cultural and rural destinations across the district. The plan is expected to provide visitors with an opportunity to explore multiple attractions through a single road-based tourism package while also spreading tourism activity beyond established destinations such as Bandipur.
According to Basanta Poudel, operator of Bandipur Village Safari in Tanahun, jeep safari services are already being operated in the Bandipur and Aanbukhaireni areas. The safari has been designed to take visitors through villages, mountain landscapes, religious sites and natural attractions by road, providing an alternative way to explore the region. Poudel said preparations are now underway to expand the safari model by connecting it with additional destinations, including Damauli–Manungkot, Chhabdi, Chhimkeshwori and Andhimul, and develop them as part of a broader religious and tourism circuit.
Manungkot, Chhabdi, Chhimkeshwori and Andhimul to Be Included
The proposed circuit would bring together destinations with different tourism characteristics, allowing visitors to experience sunrise and Himalayan views, religious heritage, rural landscapes and mountain environments within the same journey. Poudel said that although jeep safaris are already operating in Bandipur, Tanahun and Aanbukhaireni, linking these services with other destinations would create a more comprehensive tourism product for visitors.
Manungkot has emerged as a popular destination for sunrise views and panoramic views of the Himalayan range in Tanahun. Located near Damauli, the hilltop destination has attracted increasing numbers of domestic visitors seeking scenic mountain views and short excursions. Chhabdi, meanwhile, combines religious significance with natural surroundings and is considered an important destination for visitors interested in both pilgrimage and nature-based tourism.
Chhimkeshwori, located in the higher hill areas of Tanahun, is another important religious and tourism destination, while Andhimul is recognized for its religious significance. Connecting these destinations by road through organized jeep safaris could enable visitors to experience several different attractions in a single itinerary.
Integrated Packages Could Extend Tourist Stays
Poudel said Tanahun has considerable potential for religious, natural and rural tourism, but greater attention is needed to connect individual destinations and develop tourism packages that encourage visitors to explore more than one location. At present, tourists may visit a particular destination and return without exploring nearby attractions. Developing a circuit could encourage visitors to continue their journey to additional destinations, potentially increasing both their length of stay and tourism expenditure in the district.
The proposed jeep safari would allow visitors to travel from established market areas through villages and mountain settlements before reaching different tourist destinations. Such an approach could also help bring tourism benefits to rural communities that have traditionally received fewer visitors than major tourism centers.
Rural Communities Could Benefit from Growing Tourism
The expansion of the tourism circuit is expected to generate opportunities for local communities by increasing demand for hotels, homestays, restaurants, local food, agricultural products, handicrafts and other locally produced goods and services. As visitors travel through rural settlements and spend more time in different parts of the district, local residents could benefit directly from tourism-related income.
Poudel emphasized that local communities should be actively connected with the tourism economy. He said residents in tourism areas could generate income by operating homestays, serving traditional local food, selling handicrafts and agricultural products, and showcasing local cultural activities. Ensuring that tourism generates direct benefits for communities would be important for making the proposed tourism circuit sustainable over the long term.
Bandipur Could Serve as a Gateway to Wider Tanahun Tourism
Bandipur has already established itself as one of Nepal’s prominent hill tourism destinations and attracts visitors because of its historic character, mountain views, cultural environment and surrounding landscapes. Tourism businesses believe that connecting Bandipur with nearby rural and religious destinations could help distribute visitors across a larger area rather than concentrating tourism activity in Bandipur alone.
By creating connections between Bandipur and other attractions, visitors could use the established tourism infrastructure and visitor flow in Bandipur as a gateway to explore lesser-known destinations elsewhere in Tanahun. Such an approach could help introduce new destinations to domestic and international travelers while creating additional tourism products around an already established destination.
Aanbukhaireni Adds Natural and Religious Tourism Potential
Aanbukhaireni also has significant potential for tourism because of its natural landscapes, religious sites and rural surroundings. The development of road-based jeep safaris connecting Aanbukhaireni with other attractions could provide visitors with additional options for short trips and multi-destination travel.
According to Poudel, the objective is not simply to take tourists to a single attraction but to develop a group of destinations into an integrated package. A visitor arriving at one destination should have convenient opportunities to continue toward another attraction, creating a longer and more diverse travel experience.
Cooperation Needed to Develop the Tourism Circuit
Tourism businesses have stressed the need for cooperation among local governments, tourism entrepreneurs and local communities to turn the proposed circuit into a practical tourism product. Improving road connectivity, visitor infrastructure, accommodation facilities, signage and destination promotion would be important to make the circuit accessible and attractive to travelers.
Poudel said creating an environment in which visitors can move from one destination to another would increase both their length of stay and spending. He also emphasized that community participation should remain a central component of the initiative, as tourism can provide opportunities for local residents to benefit from the increasing flow of visitors.
Integrated Promotion Could Strengthen Tanahun as a Longer-Stay Destination
Tanahun has tourist attractions spread across different parts of the district, but their tourism potential has not yet been fully integrated into a single destination network. Tourism entrepreneurs believe that coordinated transportation, infrastructure development and promotion could help transform the district into a destination where visitors stay longer rather than simply passing through.
The proposed religious and tourism circuit is therefore expected to provide a broader tourism experience by connecting Bandipur and Aanbukhaireni with Manungkot, Chhabdi, Chhimkeshwori and Andhimul. If developed with improved access, coordinated promotion and meaningful participation from local communities, the initiative could diversify Tanahun’s tourism products, extend tourist stays and distribute tourism income to a wider range of rural areas across the district.
