Gandaki . The Gurung Tourism Association of Gandaki Province has engaged in the promotion and development of the Gurung Heritage Trekking Trail covering the ancient settlements of the Gurung community. When the footpaths are disappearing in the name of digging roads, the association has started a promotion program by covering the ancient settlements along with Kholasonthar, the birthplace of the Gurung tribe, and connecting the rituals and culture there with hiking tourism. Bobarjung Gurung, the founding president of the Gurung Tourism Business Association, said that the association is trying to develop the ancient settlement of Gurungs from Tangting to Karapudanda-Tapro-Kholasonthar-Thulo Lake-Thurju-Dodh Pokhri-Gurung Deurali-Danfe Khark-Timang to Bensi Sahar as a Gurung heritage trail.
He informed that the association has recently completed a 10-day hiking exploration and promotion program in the area from May 21st to 30th with the support of Nepal Tourism Board, Ministry of Tourism, Gandaki Province and Madi, Kholasonthar, Masryangdi and Chame Rural Municipality of Padmarg area.
The Gurung community, rich in original language, religion and culture, has its own mother tongue, original dress and script. This community, which has been protecting its traditions and culture for generations, also has traditional cultures such as Ghantu and Sorthi. Traditionally, this community has adopted sewing and weaving as its main occupation along with sheep rearing, but at present, it is found that it is associated with various service professions. In recent years, the people of this community, who are attracted to the tourism sector, have been operating homestays in their ancient villages.
Ghar Bash has been put into operation in villages like Ghandruk, Sikles Tangting, Yanjakot, Vachok, Hemjakota in Kaski of Gandaki province, as well as Ghale village, Bhujung, Pas and other villages in Lamjung. Gurung, the founding president of the association, said that the Gurung Tourism Business Association is going to develop the Gurung Heritage Tourism Destination with the aim of connecting its original customs and culture with tourism.
“The association has taken the promotion and development of the Gurung heritage trail as a priority program”, he said, “The trail we are targeting can be extended from four days to 12 days.” According to him, this heritage trail can be started from the ancient Gurung villages of Tangting, Singdi, Yamjakot, Pasgaon, Bhujung, Ghalegaon, Siurung, Jagat, Timang etc. from any place. “The Gurung Tourism Business Association has brought the concept of Gurung Heritage Trekking Trail as a model to protect and promote the religion, culture and tradition of the Gurung people with tourism”, he said.
Gurung Heritage Trail will be developed as a confluence of nature and culture, said Kisam Kumari Gurung, President of Gurung Tourism Business Association, Gandaki Province. He says that their goal is to connect the ancient settlements of the Gurung community as well as the ancient paths there with hiking tourism. He said that they have started efforts to connect the unique waterfalls and natural beauty of the footpath area with hiking tourism.
According to Tul Gurung, Secretary General of Gurung Tourism Business Association, Gandaki Province, there is a plan to connect the community houses of the villages in the lower part with the development of the camping site in the upper part of the footpath. He said that this footpath will also connect the community houses of Pass Village, Bhachok, Yangjakot, Tanting, Sikles and other places. He said that in this footpath area which connects to Manang through Lamjung in Kaski, the route used to collect salt in Bhot in ancient times is also being tried to be linked with hiking tourism.
As part of this campaign, the association will collect information on the culture and lifestyle of human life and publish a brochure along with the identification of footpaths. It is said that during the promotion and exploration tour, GPS data collection and photos and footages were collected for the tourist map as well as trail video and trail marking.
Naveen Pokharel, Head of Nepal Tourism Board, Gandaki Province, said that Gurung Heritage Trail will be established not only for Gandaki Province but also as an important trail in Nepal. He said that it is expected that this trail will become important for short-distance hiking and long-distance trekking while searching for alternative trails.
He said that if the promotion and development of this footpath can be done, the local residents of Madi, Marsyangdi, Kholasanthar, Chame and other villages in the footpath area will benefit.
