Cycle Tourism Flourishing in Mustang

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Cycling has become increasingly popular among tourists in Mustang District. Partly, the reason can be fuel shortage. However, the lower part of the district, to be specific, offers finest terrain and magnificent scenery for adventure seekers.

The chief of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Mr. Bidur Bikram Paudel, said that the district was becoming an increasingly popular destination for the tourists especially for cycling and sightseeing. “As cyclists can stop at any place to take panoramic photos of the Himalayan region, the activity has been drawing an increasing number of tourists in recent days” he said.

Michel, a tourist from Poland said that he was absolutely intrigued by the snow capped mountains and hair-pin bends on the trek route of this region. The whole experience of bicycling in such a pleasant environment is fascinating, says Michel. Michel was also one of the participants of an eight-member European team which plans to bicycle all around lower Mustang.

The bicycle ride around Lower Mustang takes around 3 to 5 days. Most tourists prefer to bring their own bicycles while some hire them in Pokhara. “I have been hiring bicycles to tourists for the last 8 years”, says Mr. Dhruba Bahadur Thapa , an entrepreneur from Pokhara. As per Mr Thapa, he has hired dozens of bicycles this year as well. He further mentioned that he lately accompanied a group of cyclists travelling on the Jomsom-Kagbeni-Muktinath-Magi route.

Thapa said that the most popular destination for those who want to cycle is undoubtedly the himalayan region due to beautiful sceneries and adventurous trial. At the same time, the best part is that the expanding bicycle hiring business has led to the establishment of tons of mountain biking services in Pokhara, the gateway to Mustang.

According to entrepreneurs, the Jomsom-Muktinath-Marpha cycling trial is the most popular cycling route among the cyclists.

The rapidly increasing popularity of cycling among tourists has led the authorities in Pokhara to plan and organize to develop it as a bicycle friendly city. Apart from Mustang, Pokhara’s rural areas are also highly popular destinations among bicycle riders.

Source: The Kathmandu Post