Tourists fill hotels in Myagdi and Mustang during public holiday influx

Tourist destinations and hotels in Myagdi and Mustang are packed. Hotels along the Beni-Jomsom road, including Beni, Galeshwar, Tiplyang, Pokharebagar, Bhurung-Tatopani, and all tourist spots in Mustang, are fully occupied.

Tourists have flocked to Galeshwar, Bhurung-Tatopani, Rupse, Mahabhir waterfall, and Andhagalchi in Myagdi. The influx of Indian tourists escaping the heat and domestic tourists taking advantage of the four-day public holiday has filled the hotels, according to Raju Hamal, a hotel entrepreneur from Bhurung-Tatopani in Annapurna Rural Municipality-2.

“Hotels are filled with guests escaping the heat from India and those from various parts of the country on holiday,” he said. “Guests unable to find accommodation in Mustang hotels are being managed in Myagdi, Baglung, Kushma, and Pokhara.”

Hemnarayan Pun, operator of the Bhurung-Tatopani hot springs, reported being overwhelmed by the number of tourists traveling to and from Mustang. According to the District Police Office in Mustang, more than 30,000 tourists have entered via the Beni-Jomsom road in the past four days. Records from the Ghasa Police Post show 5,586 tourists entered on Wednesday, 7,827 on Thursday, and 9,086 on Friday.

Inspector Santosh Basyal of the District Police Office in Mustang noted that Saturday saw a similar number of tourists as Friday. The Ghasa Police Post records vehicle and tourist entries. Mustang hotels can accommodate 10,000 guests per day, while Myagdi hotels have a capacity for 2,000 guests daily.

Most domestic tourists entering Mustang travel from Ghasa to the Korala border area with China. A public awareness campaign is underway to address altitude sickness issues for tourists heading to higher regions. Domestic tourists typically stay for two to four days.

Shambhu Sah from Bihar, India, mentioned coming to Mustang with family and neighbors, reserving a bus to escape the heat and for pilgrimage. Hari Neupane from Kathmandu shared that he utilized the four-day public holiday to visit Mustang and Dhorpatan with family and friends.

Tourists have complained about difficulties during their journey due to road closures for landslide repairs and upgrades on the Myagdi section of the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road. Mustang has become a popular destination for pilgrimage to Muktinath and Kagbeni, as well as for viewing mountains, barren hills, lakes, and experiencing Himalayan life and culture, with the convenience of reaching Korala by vehicle.