A significant development in Mustang has seen the completion and upgradation of a trail connecting Tilicho Lake, the highest lake in the world, located at an altitude of 4,919 meters above sea level. This project, undertaken with the support of the Gharpajhong Village Municipality and the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), has involved the construction and improvement of approximately 23 kilometers of trail from Thini.
The initiative, funded by different budgets from the village municipality and ACAP, reflects a commitment to enhancing accessibility to this remote and culturally significant site. For the fiscal year 2080/81, Gharpajhong Village Municipality allocated Rs. 5 million under two separate headings for the trail’s maintenance and upgradation, while ACAP contributed Rs. 1 million.
Sharmila Shrestha, Employment Coordinator at Gharpajhong Village Municipality, reported that a total budget of Rs. 21,49,000 from the Prime Minister’s Employment Program and an additional Rs. 28,58,000 from the village municipality was utilized to develop 22 kilometers of trail in Wards No. 4 and 5. The project engaged 14 unemployed youths from each of these wards, focusing on creating a 4-foot-wide trail through narrow and hazardous areas to facilitate easier passage.
The trail work extended to various significant points including Jorkhola, Namkhulek Kharka, Nilgiri Icefall, and Chhama Lake, with improvements also made up to the Sochilek area. Ranger Sanjok Thakali highlighted that, through ACAP, 950 meters of the old trail at the Mero Kondo Pass, situated at an elevation of 5,120 meters, was renovated, and 600 meters of new trail was constructed.
With this new trail, which allows travelers to reach Tilicho Lake from Jomsom via Thini in a maximum of three days, the lake’s accessibility has been notably improved. This trail offers a shorter and more direct route to Tilicho Lake, enhancing the experience for trekkers.
The trail development has not only improved access to Tilicho Lake but also highlighted several other attractions along the route. These include the natural beauty of Tilicho Lake, Nilgiri Himal, Namkhu Lake, the habitat of the Himalayan tahr, Dumba Lake, the Hyarzhu View Point, Thini Village, the historical Gharpajhong Fort, the Kasyang Camp, Thakali arts and culture, and traditional sheep and cattle sheds.
In addition to the Tilicho Lake trail, ACAP has allocated Rs. 27,32,509 this year for trail construction and upgradation in six other locations across Mustang. Local communities contributed labor worth Rs. 1,32,000 to support these efforts.
Other trail improvements include 450 meters of trail renovation in Thasang Village Municipality’s Gaiku-Misi-Lete-Kalopani area, construction of 65 meters of new trail and 55 gabion walls in Chokhopani, and trail maintenance with two slabs and 12 gabion boxes in the Sauru Sirking-Tagmi-Furutmi area with a budget of Rs. 1 lakh.
Following the completion of the Jomsom-Kagbeni-Muktinath road, trail work has been identified for the Mukti-Kholala route in Baragung Muktikshetra Village Municipality, including 2,179 meters of trail and 719 meters of new trail across Thorong La Pass, connecting to Mustang via Manang. These developments mark a significant enhancement in trekking infrastructure and accessibility, promising improved travel experiences and support for local tourism in Mustang.
