A statue of Sudip Gautam, the renowned promoter who played a crucial role in introducing the Mardi Himal Trek to the world, has been unveiled at Badal Danda. The statue, which is accompanied by a park, honors Gautam’s efforts in making the Mardi Himal trekking route globally recognized.
According to Min Bahadur Gurung, chairman of Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality, the construction of the statue was a tribute to Gautam’s continuous efforts to develop trekking tourism in Mardi Himal. Gurung remarked that Mardi Himal, once known only for its scattered buffalo sheds and stone huts, owes its global popularity as a trekking destination to Gautam’s visionary work. Gautam tragically passed away at the age of 35 on Ashoj 14, 2079 B.S. after falling from a cliff at Badal Danda.
The statue and park were built in collaboration between Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality, Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) Gandaki Province, the Mardi Himal Tourism Hotel Management Committee, and the Nepal Tourism Board.
Before Gautam established the Hotel Trekkers Paradise in 2007 at Mardi High Camp, the trekking route had minimal infrastructure. There were no hotels at key locations such as Forest Camp, Low Camp, Badal Danda, and Dund Kharka. At that time, trekkers had to rely on camping near buffalo sheds to spend the night. Gautam’s vision and dedication eventually led to the development of hotels and other tourism infrastructure along the route, significantly improving the experience for trekkers.
Prakash Baral, a member of the Gandaki Provincial Assembly, praised Gautam’s efforts, stating, “The current fame and popularity of the Mardi Himal Trek is largely due to Sudip’s hard work. Though his life was short, he made significant contributions to tourism.”
Similarly, Chairman Gurung emphasized Gautam’s pivotal role in bringing the Mardi trekking route to its current state. Krishna Acharya, chairman of TAAN Gandaki, highlighted that Gautam’s dream was to make Mardi Himal globally renowned and attract more tourists. Even though Gautam is no longer alive, his vision continues to come to life.
The Mardi Himal Trek begins from Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality via Ghalel, Kalimati, and Siding, located 22 km from Pokhara. From here, trekkers can take a jeep before starting the trek through jungle trails to Low Camp, which sits at an altitude of 2,970 meters. Trekkers can also begin from Dhampus in Machhapuchhre or Kade in Annapurna Rural Municipality, passing through Pothana, Australian Camp, Pritam Deurali, and Forest Camp before reaching Low Camp. The route continues from Low Camp to Badal Danda, High Camp, and the viewpoint, ultimately leading to Mardi Himal Base Camp at an elevation of 4,500 meters.
Sudip Gautam’s legacy lives on through the thriving trekking culture he helped foster, as the Mardi Himal Trek continues to attract tourists from around the world.
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