The famous trekking route between Paudwar and Khopra in Myagdi has been reopened after Paudwar villagers volunteered to clear the landslide blocked route. The route between Paudwar and Khopra which has been shut due to heavy rainfall during October has seen locals help build a second route to allow people to trekking through to the popular area within the Annapurna region of the Himalayas. People from the Paudwar village within Annapurna Rural Municipality 5 have worked together to clear the debris and help increase access to the route during Peak season.
The restoration of the route took place between Paudwar and Hildanda in Lareni for the overall Paudwar to Khopra to Khayer route. This has clearly shown just how important an impact involving locals can make in restoring tourism infrastructure and increasing access to remote mountain locations. Not only has this helped trekkers it has also helped with rebuilding some of the electricity and water infrastructures. This means tourism in the area can now begin again as well as essential access to people within the area.
Trekking Route Reopened Following Landslide Damage Volunteer Work
Residents from Paudwar have volunteered to help the route open up after it was blocked with debris caused by rain in October. Locals have cleared the landslide debris and created a new section allowing trekking to be possible between Paudwar, Hildanda and Lareni. There has been some repairs done so the route is now accessible said Hari Tilija Pun, Secretary from Paudwar Tourism Cooperative. This will allow better access between the village and Khopra.
Approximately fifty people volunteered for five days straight to get the route reopened said Prabha Tilija Pun from Paudwar. The village consists of around 200 households but have all volunteered to work on the damaged infrastructure for a month. They have also helped with electricity and water projects so they can get things back up and running for tourists.
Discover a Popular Spot for Trekking
Khopra, located at 3,560m above sea level, has now become a developing location for trekking spot. Being located outside of any main settlements it is a great spot to escape the hustle and bustle and enjoy some of Nelas natural landscapes. You can enjoy the sunrise over the mountains and enjoy some of the magnificent Himalayan ranges and surrounding hills. Its remote location means it’s an attractive location for trekkers.
The Paudwar to Khopra to Khayer route leads trekkers to a small lake at around 4,600m known as Khayer Lake. Opening the damaged route allows an important link between the Paudwar and Khopra area. This will help local tourist businesses as more access to the area will become available.
Community Lodge opens in Khopra
Paudwar Tourism Cooperative have a community lodge within Khopra. Although there was a slight delay for a couple of days as the tourist numbers were impacted by Cyclone Arnab it has now returned to normal levels said Aadesh Tilija Pun from Khopra Community Lodge. This has meant local tourist businesses can still operate and the community run lodge can help.
The reopening has made things easier for locals to complete everyday tasks. This includes travelling to animal sheds and gathering grass and wood. Although there has been some road issues due to landslides nearby Khopra and surrounding tourist areas remain safe said Jase Pun a Hotel Entrepreneur from Hildanda. Local tourist businesses are continuing to operate and this will help to specifically hotels as they rely on trekking during certain seasons.
Paudwar to Khopra to Khayer Route OffersAccess to Major Mountain Destinations
This route allows trekkers to travel to destinations such as Ghorepani, Ghandruk, Kaski, Bayali, Dhadharkha and Narchyang Lekgaun. It will lead trekkers to Khopra Ridge and you can continue onwards to Khayer Lake. You can then return back via Lareni and Paudwar. This route links to Pokharebagar where the administrative centre is for the Annapurna Rural Municipality. This offers visitors the chance to discover some magnificent mountain landscapes, traditional villages and remote tourist spots.
The main times of year people will trekking along this route would be during September to November and March to May. Opening the route ahead of these times of year is very important. The restoration has increased the involvement of locals in building infrastructure and also helps with sustainable tourism within the area. Overall Khopra and Khayer lake are very popular destinations for trekkers within the Annapurna region.
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