Annapurna trek restores confidence for Nepali travelers
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Pushkar Kafle and his uncle Jagannath embarked on a five-day trek to Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal, joining a growing number of both foreign and Nepali tourists visiting the region.
Kafle waited for his uncle, who arrived from Saudi Arabia, before they travelled from Kathmandu to Pokhara to begin the trek. They joined other trekkers heading to the Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130 metres, a popular route that had seen crowding after damage to the Annapurna Circuit trail diverted visitors.
The two men, along with a nephew arriving from Canada and the author, faced challenges including limited lodging, rain, and difficult terrain damaged by recent floods. They encountered other travelers along the way, including Indian tourists who make up a significant portion of trekkers on the ABC trail, and discussed current events with people from various countries.
Officials with the Annapurna Conservation Area Project noted that permit numbers for the ABC trek are similar to last year, despite recent disasters impacting tourism in Nepal. As of Friday, the ACAP office recorded 18,236 trekkers on the trail, including nearly 6,070 from SAARC countries, with over 5,600 of those being Indian nationals. The author found personal rejuvenation in the trek, reflecting on a lifetime spent largely disconnected from the natural world.
