Following the implementation of the two-day public holiday, domestic tourist traffic has increased at tourist sites in the Far West, including Saipal Base Camp.
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Harish Awasthi of Surnaya Rural Municipality, Baitadi, works at the Saipal branch of Everest Bank. He is fond of traveling and had a great desire to reach Saipal Base Camp. Although he has been working at the bank in Dhalaun, Saipal, for about two years, his dream had not been fulfilled.
‘I had thought of reaching Saipal Base Camp the first thing on the day I was posted here,’ Awasthi said, ‘I had been busy with daily work, and I had not had a chance to take a day off in a week.’ This time, I reached the base camp as soon as I got two days off.’ He said that he reached Saipal Base Camp after taking advantage of the three-day holiday, Saturday and Sunday, which coincided with Labor Day in the third week of Baisakh, and was overwhelmed by the beauty of Saipal.
With the government's decision to grant two-day public holidays (Sunday and Saturday) effective from Chaitra 23, employees who want to enjoy traveling like Awasthi have been making good use of the vacation time and going out to visit various places.
With the increase in travelers, Saipal and other tourist destinations in the far west have started to see a lot of activity. The Saipal Himalayan base camp in Bajhang, which is usually deserted, has also seen an increase in domestic tourist traffic since the new year.
The number of employees coming not only from Bajhang but also from Kailali, Kanchanpur, Doti and Dadeldhura districts in the far west to enjoy the beauty of Saipal has increased. ‘Even though we had already reached Annapurna and Api base camps, our desire to reach Saipal was not fulfilled,’ said Ramesh Kunwar, head of the Kailali Health Office, who returned from reaching Saipal base camp last week. ‘The dream of reaching Saipal was also fulfilled with a two-day vacation.’
He said that the Saipal area, with the white mountains visible all around, was much more beautiful and attractive than the other mountain base camps he had visited. Since there were three public holidays, he took two more days off and completed the journey to Saipal in five days and reached Dhangadhi, saying that Saipal could be a suitable destination to enjoy the cool weather when the heat is increasing in the Terai districts.
His team of seven, including Janakraj Dhungana, Director of the Provincial Health Supply Management Center, Kailali, Lalit Dhami, Chief of the Health Office Bajhang, Keshar Saud, Chief of the Health Office Dadeldhura, Arun Joshi of the World Health Organization, Surya Bista of the Health Office Kailali, and Paras Khadka of the Health Office Bajhang, also reached Saipal.
Paras Khadka, a member of the team and Public Health Officer of the Health Office Bajhang, said that he was tired of doing the same kind of work every day and felt more energetic after returning from Saipal. ‘We were tired from the continuous walking.’ After reaching the arms of Saipal, we forgot all the fatigue,’ he said, ‘After returning from there, I feel that I have gained new energy.’ He said that the peace and scenery he found in Saipal cannot be described in words.
He said that Saipal could be a suitable destination for employees to make the most of their vacation time as it can be reached and returned in a short time. He said that the trekking route should be upgraded for easy and safe travel, the homestay should be made more convenient, and local guides and porters should be trained to teach tourist-friendly behavior, so that the Saipal base area can become a center of attraction for many.
More than 500 people have reached Saipal base camp from April 1 to 29 alone. Of these, 130 are employees of various offices, said Milan Dhami, an employee of Saipal rural municipality who is assigned to keep records of those entering Saipal at Dhalaun, the entry point of Saipal base camp. ‘This is the first time that so many employees have come to visit Saipal,’ he said, who has been assigned to keep records of those entering Saipal for four years. ‘Earlier, only during Dashain-Tihar, a few employees used to come.’ This year, four or five people come every day. He said that although employees working in various offices in all districts of the Far West have come to visit Saipal, most of them work in Bajhang.
With the increase in the number of domestic tourists visiting Saipal, the homestays in the rural municipality have also increased in activity. ‘Not a single day has been empty since the beginning of Baisakh.’ Rudma Bohara, who runs a homestay in Dhalaun, Saipal rural municipality, said, ‘Someday, there is no room for them to stay at home and they have to be sent elsewhere.’ The operators say that all 10 homestays on the way to Saipal base camp are full of guests.
The government’s decision to declare two public holidays has helped promote destinations like Saipal and domestic tourism, said Manvir Bohara, the rural municipality chairman. ‘Those who reach Saipal post their photos/videos on social media. Some even write about their travel experiences,’ he said, ‘Seeing all this, others have also come to Saipal.’ Since the new year, there have been more employees among those who come like this.’
He said that since those who come to Saipal trek buy local products as souvenirs, the sale of ghee, honey, wool, and straw goods and agricultural products is also increasing. This has helped the locals earn money while staying at home.
Hoteliers in Chainpur say that like in Saipal, there has been an increase in the number of tourists from Bajhang to Khaptad and Surma Sarovar. Ramesh Kunwar, the operator of a hotel in Chainpur, the headquarters of Bajhang, says, ‘Every day, 15/20 people who go for a walk and return from a walk come.’ Even after the introduction of two days off a week, the number of tourists has increased. According to the National Statistics Office's 'Bajhang District Objective Description', Bajhang, which extends from 915 meters to 7031 meters above sea level to Saipal Himal, has tourist attractions such as Khaptad, Surma, Arya Himal (7000 meters), Nampa Himal (6054 meters), Urai Bhanjyang, Jethibahurani Himal, Rakse Himal, Raidhungi Bhanjyang, Tapovan, Baddi Jyawan, Kailash Cave, and Kedar Lake.
