Guerrilla trekking trail in Nepal
Kathmandu : Nepal has launched Guerilla Trekking Trail one year after launching Great Himalayan Trail in the hilly region of the country.
The Guerrilla Trek, a two-week to four-week hike depending on the itinerary which stretches across central and western Nepal, is designed to draw in more foreigners as the Himalayan nation seeks to rebuild an economy devastated by the 1996-2006 “People’s War”.
Former Prime Minister and Chairman of UCPN (Maoist) Pusupa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ launched the new tourist trekking trail, giving visitors the chance to retrace the guerrillas’ footsteps on October 2.He said Guerrilla Trek has the potential of becoming a “war tourism product” like in Vietnam, Russia, and China.
The Guerrilla Trek offers a remarkable journey through the heartland of post-conflict territory. The route passes through Myagdi, Rukum, and Rolpa, spectacular districts with low population density at the epicenter of Nepal’s ten year conflict (1996 to 2006), and homeland to many revolutionaries.
The trek passes through Nepal’s lush valleys that stand in the shadow of mountains including Dhaulagiri and through dramatic waterfalls, lakes and the country’s only hunting reserve, the organisers said.
A part of the attraction is the Kham community, from which most of the guerrillas were recruited at the initial stage of war. The trek also consists of the Yarsagumba Trail and the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve.
The trail has been divided into three sections. First section of trek is 19-day walk which starts from Pokhara meandering through Beni, Dhorpatan, Maikot, Taka, Thawang and ends at Sulichaur.
The second section of 14-day trek also follows same route but gets diverted from Dhorpatan and again meets trail at Taka and follows the same route to Sulichaur.
Most arduous trek is 27-day trek which starts from Pokhara and goes to Beni, Dhorpatan and comes back to Pokhara again in 15 days. And it takes another route from Pokhara meandering through Syarpu Lake, Khalanga and meets regular trail at Taka and follows the same trail to Sulichaur. This trek goes over rugged mountains, rivers lined with lush wheat fields, caves and centuries-old villages. – Agencies
