It was 5 am. Tourists staying at a nearby homestay called saying they needed a horse to tour Bukipatan. 26-year-old Asha Bik of Dhorpatan Municipality-7 got up in a hurry. She fed the horse with gram and boiled corn, gave it water. She put some roti, potato vegetables and a bottle of water in her bag. Before 6 am, she prepared the horse and headed to the homestay to pick up the tourists.

Since she had to tour Bukipatan with tourists on horses all day, she informed her father Pan Bahadur. Along with her neighbors Bhumiraj Bik, Maitram Bik and Tekkumar Bik, she reached the Pakhathar Community Homestay. From there, the team put the tourists on horses and headed towards Bukipatan.

Asha is the only woman among more than 50 entrepreneurs in Dhorpatan who tour tourists on horses. Having passed SEE from Gyanodaya Secondary School and Class 12 from Uttarganga Secondary School in Dhorpatan Municipality-7, she did not choose the path of employment. Instead, she decided to continue her father's profession. For the last 6 years, she has been taking tourists on horseback to Bukipatan, Niseldhor, Jaljala and Dhorpatan Valleys.

Her white horse, which she bought for Rs 60,000 four years ago, now costs around Rs 80,000. She had taken a loan from a neighboring hotelier to buy the horse. She remembers having to ride horses every day to repay the loan. Now, after paying off the loan, she has made the horse her own.

Depending on the demand of tourists, from taking tourists to nearby destinations to Bukipatan, Garpa and Tikadhara, she sometimes sets out on trips alone or in a team with other horse riders. Some tourists contact the day before and request them to be prepared, while others plan in the morning. Depending on the wishes of the tourists, the destination is decided among Dhorpatan Valley, Niseldhor, Jaljala or Bukipatan.

Bukipatan, which can be reached after climbing uphill from Dhorpatan Valley, is a popular destination in the Dhorpatan region. Only Dhorpatan Valley is reached by road. After that, there are only footpaths within the hunting reserve. Locals use this route to take their sheep, goats and cattle to graze.

Since it is difficult to reach Bukipatan, which is at an altitude of about 4,000 meters, on foot and many are at risk of getting sick, most tourists resort to horseback riding. After starting the journey at 6 am, they can only return late at night. That is why Asha also keeps salt, ginger and pickled thyme or powdered chutney in her bag. 'This is what I give tourists to eat if they get sick,' she said. This method was taught to her by her neighbor Bhumiraj Bik.

Although the fee for horse riding up to Bukipatan is fixed at 4,500 rupees, the service is usually provided for 4,000 rupees. It costs 200 rupees to go around the game reserve office and the airport, 1,000 rupees to go around the Dhorpatan valley, and 1,500 rupees to go to Niseldhor.

'Most tourists who ride horses want to make TikToks and videos,' Asha said. 'We also take them to the places they want, take photos and videos.' According to him, most tourists who go to Bukipatan prefer adventure travel.

The number of tourists here has started increasing after the opening of the Burtibang-Dhorpatan road. The data of the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve shows that the number of tourists has increased with the expansion of the road. Earlier, when the road did not reach, all the passengers who reached Dhorpatan used to travel on horseback. For the last eight years, the horse riding business has started operating systematically. Horse riders who are registered with the municipality and operate their business have even started paying taxes.

Now, when the road is blocked during the rainy season, horses are also used to transport potatoes during the Dhorbarah fair on Janai Purnima. At one time, daily necessities were brought to Dhorpatan on horseback from Palpa, Ridi, Tamghas and Butwal. 'Earlier, horses were relied upon to carry goods, now vehicles bring them to the village,' said local Chak Bahadur Adai, 'Now horses are mainly used for transporting tourists and entertainment.'

After the establishment of the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, the warden, employees, Chief District Officer and other government officials used to travel on horseback. Even though the road is now accessible, there is no alternative to horses on the bookie and other footpaths.

Asha's neighbors Maitram BK and Tekkumar BK have also been in the horse riding business for a long time. According to them, they have been taking leaders, employees and ordinary people who cannot walk to Dhorpatan on horseback. 'After completing my studies, I could not find a job,' Asha said, 'Instead, I am earning my own living by continuing my father's profession. I am the only woman in this profession.'

According to her, she earns more than 40,000 rupees a month from horse riding. Although the cost of horse feed, medicine and care is high, she says she has been able to run the family and save some money.