Tourists who went to Tilicho and Thorangla due to snowfall were forced to return without reaching their destinations, but the traffic has started increasing recently.
The Annapurna Circuit Trek, which was blocked by heavy snowfall a week ago (Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday), has reopened.
The trekking route has been opened with the initiative of the District Administration Office, security personnel, Manang Ngisyang Rural Municipality, people's representatives, Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), and hoteliers. In the lower areas of Khangsar and Manang, security personnel and dozers have cleared the road. In the upper areas, people's representatives and hoteliers have removed the snow from the road.
Domestic and foreign tourists who went to Tilicho and Thorangla areas due to snowfall were forced to return without reaching their destinations, so the number of tourists has started to increase. According to Karma Ongel Ghale, President of the Hoteliers Association, Upper Manang, tourists have started to appear as the weather has improved. 'The weather has been getting better for the past few days. Tourists have started to appear. There are fewer Nepalis and more foreigners,' he said.
According to Dhak Bahadur Bhujel, head of the ACAP Manang office, the weather is clearing and the snow has stopped. The weather is clearing and the businessmen themselves are active in opening the trekking routes in the upper areas. ‘All the roads towards Thorangla are open. Tourists have started going. It is also opening towards Tilicho,’ he said. According to him, tourists have also started coming from Manaslu. ‘The trekking route has opened for tourists. There is no obstacle for those who go with a guide. We have urged them to be careful,’ he said.
According to Chief District Officer Nawaraj Poudyal, the trekking route from Upper Chame to Upper Manang-Thorangla Pass has opened. ‘It can be said that the Upper Manang-Khangsar-Tilicho trekking route has also opened, the ward chairman and hoteliers are busy,’ he said. According to him, those with tourist guides have been allowed to go to their destinations. He said that there may be problems for those who do not know the route due to snow in some places on the trekking route.
‘It is possible that there may be problems for those who do not know the route. Otherwise, the route has been opened. "The weather is also starting to clear up," he said. "It's possible that snow could fall and the roads could be a bit slippery, so we have to be careful." He said that as the weather cleared and the trails opened, the number of tourists started to increase.
