Millennium Trek Awaiting Tourists

Ek Raj Sigdel

The Rising Nepal
September 2, 2008

Introduction
On the first day of New Millennium 2000, the government of Nepal commissioned a team of expert to carry out a feasibility study of a trekking route extending from Dhorphirdi of Tanahun to Majkot of Syangja for tourism development. According to the study, the route was feasible for trekking tourism. Following the study recommendation, some ground works for tourism promotion and human resources development have already been initiated. However, as in the other parts of the country, the route also got into a trap of insurgency and shadowed from the mainstream tourism development activities in the ensuing years.

Trekking Trail Features
The 80 Km trek starts from Dulegaunda, which is located some 30 Km east of Pokhara and passes through a multitude of different environmental features, including boulder-stream, river gorges, dense vegetation, beautifully carved terraced fields, myriad of pinnacles and ancient temples. The five days and six nights long trekking Route starts from Bajasthala of Tanahun and ends at Majkot of Syangja. The route passes through nine village development committees, including a population of about 1, 00,000. The trekking route links Dhorphirdi, Firfire and Raipur in Tanahun and Kolma Barahchaur, Rangbhang, Pelkachaur, Banethok Deurali, Majhkot Shivalaya and Manakamana VDCs in Syangja. Every village in the route offers tourists with distinct cultural experiences, which attributes to the uniqueness of the trekking route.

Attraction
The trekking route is a superb combination of natural and cultural attraction. Visitors can have the opportunity of viewing Ganesh Himal towards the north and terai region towards the south. Budakot is the highest point on the route that is located at 7,000 feet from the sea level and locals say that Bhimsen tower of Kathmandu could be seen from the peak on a day with clear weather. Millennium cave, natural greenery, Bajasthala River, water falls are other natural attraction of the route. The trek gives an opportunity to become acquainted with the unique Nepalese tradition, culture and way of life. In addition, tourists can join traditional dances like Chutka, Koara, Soradhi, Krishan Charitra, Ghantu and Bhajans along the route. Dhorbahari temple, Tibetan refugee camp, ancient palaces like Majh Fort, Kolma Fort and Budha Fort are other major cultural and historical attraction of the route.

Culture Based Tourism
Tourists can have a chance of experiencing local culture and traditional way of life. They will have chance of enjoying local dishes, which are totally organic and locally produced. The cultural program, including traditional dance and songs can be organized in every stopover. According to the locals no tourist-standard restaurants or hotels would be allowed to operate along the route. The visitors can be accommodated in different households as home-stay tourists in a rotational basis. The lodging of tourists would be decided by a committee constituted in each of the villages on a rotation basis so that each household will have chance to receive tourism income. In this way, the route has a tremendous potential in contributing to rural income through tourism promotion, which is also the main objective of the 10th five year development plan of the government of Nepal. The present government has also emphasized on the pro-poor tourism to be promoted in rural areas of the country.

Promotional Activities
With the objective of promoting community based pro-poor tourism, a tourism management committee has already been formed called Dhorphirdi - Majhkot Rural Tourism Development Committee (DMRTDC). Some local youths from six VDCs of Syangja district have already got training on conversational English, sanitation, and cooking. A few years back, a three-day tourism festival was also organised near the Phewa Lake at Pokhara. Some houses along the trekking routes have already constructed bathrooms, toilets and additional kitchens for the tourists.

According to DMRTDC chairperson, “tourists shall be treated as family and shall be free to join any household activities like cooking, cow milking, weaving, farming, cattle herding etc”. He adds that the visitors shall be welcomed at a community hall with welcome drink, garland and local musical band. In addition, tourists can have chance to learn about the local schools, farming practices, and cuisine. For adventurous tourists there are very good sites for paragliding as well, which needs to be further explored. The Millennium cave and waterfall are other attraction of the route.

Issues
The route is in the need of promotional as well as infrastructure development support. The route could not be functional as par the expected level due to inadequate promotion and publicity. Similarly, implementation of tourism environment awareness program at local and national level is felt necessary. Likewise, it is important to produce promotional brochure, erecting hoarding board in strategic locations and carrying out workshops and seminars. The promotional activities are to be carried out in consultation with Pokhara based tourism entrepreneurs and Nepal Tourism Board. Moreover, it is wise to carry out again a small study focusing private sectors, community groups, Nepal Tourism Board on the feasibility of promoting tourism in the route in the changing political context.

The route still needs to construct basic infrastructure facilities, like suspension bridges, cultural buildings, sightseeing centres, cultural houses, improvement of trails, and conservation of cultural heritage, basic health services, and related trainings for the sustainable development of tourism along the route. Likewise, in partnership with local NGOs, VDC and DDC the basic infrastructure facilities should be developed.

Conclusion
A sound policy for promoting the area as rural tourism site is of paramount importance. With innovative management, promotion and marketing strategies, the Millennium Trek will offer not only income and employment to the villagers, but also gives a real image of Nepal to those tourists who are prepared visit Nepal for trekking. Mainstreaming of the Millennium Trekking development and promotional activities in the District Tourism Development Plan, which is under preparation could be a first step in this regard.