Tourism Info Nepal

Diktel Municipality to Host Red Panda and Thar Festival for Mundhum Trail Visit Year 2025

Diktel Municipality to Host Red Panda and Thar Festival for Mundhum Trail Visit Year 2025

Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality has announced plans to organize the Red Panda and Thar Festival as part of the ‘Mundhum Trail Visit Year 2025.’ This festival aims to promote the conservation and awareness of endangered species like the red panda and thar, found in the region’s dense forests, while also boosting tourism.

Municipality Mayor Tirtharaj Bhattarai shared that a task force, including ward chairpersons from areas connected to the Mundhum Trail and representatives from the Community Forest Federation, will undertake a detailed study to finalize the festival’s timing and activities. He emphasized the importance of local government participation, stating, “The Mundhum Trail Visit Year 2025 will be successful with significant contributions from local levels. Our decision to organize the Red Panda and Thar Festival is focused on enhancing the experience of visiting tourists.”

A preparatory committee, led by Ward No. 10 Pathheka Ward Chairperson Mugadhan Rai, has already been formed. This committee, comprising ward chairpersons from all 15 wards, will plan the festival’s activities in detail.

The Visit Year initiative will also feature diverse events across other municipalities. Kapilakot Municipality plans to hold a Honey Hunting and Gothstay Festival, while Sakela Municipality will host Ubhauli Sakela and other cultural festivals. Similarly, Bhojpur’s Temkemaiyung Municipality will organize Rhododendron, Horse Riding, and Film Shooting Festivals, and Bhojpur Municipality will hold Ultra Marathon and Mountain Cycling events. Salpa Silichho Municipality will conduct the Nachong Festival, while Shadanand Municipality will host a Rudraksha Festival. Other notable activities include the Chakchakur Festival in Mahakulung Municipality.

Local residents along the Mundhum Trail are preparing homestays and guesthouses to accommodate the anticipated influx of domestic and international tourists. Organizers aim to attract approximately 100,000 visitors during the Visit Year. According to Ramesh Rai, chairman of the Mayung-Temke-Salpa-Silichung Tourism Promotion Center, the trail’s virgin beauty and rich cultural significance make it a unique destination.

The Mundhum Trail, officially announced in 2075 BS, spans 107 kilometers and has undergone significant upgrades funded by local, provincial, and international contributions totaling NPR 9.14 million. Basic infrastructure improvements, including stone staircases and trailside expansions, are complete. The trail starts at Tawabhanjyang in Sakela-3 and stretches through significant landmarks such as Temke Hill (3,165 meters), Salpa Pokhari (3,750 meters), and Silichung Peak (4,165 meters).

The Mundhum Trail offers breathtaking vistas of mountain ranges, vast grassy meadows, and lush rhododendron forests. Tourists can also experience the unique Kirati lifestyle, culture, and traditions deeply rooted in the oral literature “Mundhum,” from which the trail derives its name. The trail is particularly popular among researchers and nature lovers for its rich biodiversity, including various bird species, red pandas, wild honeybees, and medicinal plants.

Despite being a remote destination, efforts by locals to provide food and lodging for visitors ensure a comfortable experience. The trail’s unique combination of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and adventure promises to position it as one of Nepal’s premier tourist attractions for the years to come.

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