Khadk Basnet from Solukhumbu has been residing in the forest near the base of Dhaulagiri Mountain for the past two months. Alongside a team of around 30 people, Basnet has been working on the construction of a trekking trail in the Kachuwa Odar area of Raghu Ganga Rural Municipality-7, Chimkhola, Myagdi. This trail, which aims to connect Myagdi and Mustang, is part of the Dhaulagiri Icefall Trek, under construction for the past two years.
Kalpavriksha Builders, under contract with the Department of Tourism, began the construction of the Icefall Trek in two phases. The company has faced delays due to adverse weather conditions and natural disasters like floods and landslides, causing the project to extend over two years. Workers and managers have been camping in the forest with tarpaulins due to the remote and high-altitude work sites near the mountain base.
The Icefall Trek construction, funded by the budget allocated by the Ministry of Tourism for the fiscal year 2079/80, has gained momentum with stair paths being constructed. Rameshwar Pudasaini, the managing director of the construction company, reported that the project, with a budget of NPR 15.4 million, has completed over eight kilometers of trail so far.
“This year alone, we have constructed more than three kilometers of trail. We aim to complete the project by the end of Ashadh, focusing on all sections except the cliffs. We are working to ensure easy access except where the use of explosives is necessary,” Pudasaini said.
The current focus is on creating an organized trail along the riverbanks and dense forests from Chis, Kachuwa Odar, to the Dhaulagiri Viewpoint Hill. Workers from Solukhumbu, Udayapur, Palpa, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, and other districts are involved in the construction.
Phurba Tamang explained that the team is divided into two groups, clearing bushes to make the trail. The trail, with stairs carved out of the traditional paths, now allows easier access for tourists heading to the Dhaulagiri Icefall Base Camp.
Lhakpa Lama, a representative of the construction company, stated that despite the extreme cold, snow, and rain in the high Himalayan region, the work has progressed swiftly. The trail construction started last year from the Sasal Dhara area of Chimkhola and continues towards Kalibarah Dobhan.
Ward No. 7 Chairman Thak Prasad Paija mentioned that the trail is becoming more accessible, with plans to construct suspension bridges and shelters along the route. “We aim to make the Icefall Trail convenient, and if we manage to clear the cliffs at Kochebhir and Dhaulagiri Viewpoint Hill, reaching the base camp in a single day will be feasible,” Paija added.
The Dhaulagiri Icefall Trail, identified as a new tourist destination by the Nepal government a decade ago, has yet to be formally operational due to infrastructural and management challenges. The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation selected this trail from Ruisse Hill to the Dhaulagiri Icefall, but the lack of necessary facilities has hindered its launch.
The traditional trail connecting Beni, Myagdi, to Mustang, was replaced by a road network, prompting the study of the Dhaulagiri Icefall Trail as an alternative. Despite initial construction efforts, the trail still lacks informative signboards, drinking water facilities, shelters, and tourist accommodations.
The trail offers close views of numerous peaks in the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges and opportunities to observe wildlife like Danphe, Monal, Kalij, Musk Deer, Ghoral, Himalayan Thar, and Snow Leopard. Attractions along the trail include the icefall, Kali Barah, Lati Barah, Nili Barah, Seti Barah, and Pahenli Barah Lakes. The route, suitable for treks lasting from five days to two weeks, passes through the high ridges of Myagdi and connects to Lete in Mustang.
As the Dhaulagiri Icefall Trail development continues, it is poised to become a major attraction, enhancing the tourism appeal of Myagdi and Mustang with its natural beauty and wildlife.
