Youths from Surkhet, Banke, Kailali, Dang, Butwal, Kathmandu, Chitwan and Nawalparasi districts travel to Rara over the Surkhet-Jumla road. According to Laxman Gurung, head of police at Kalikot district, foreigners mostly hire jeeps to reach Mugu.

Arrivals of domestic and international tourists overland have increased after Karnali Highway came into the operation, said Dinesh Shahi, proprietor of Global Hotel, Manma.

“Around 30-40 people have been going to Rara daily since mid-September,” added Shahi. “Hotels that used to be converted into a desert during the Dashain holidays are jam-packed this year.”

According to him, the number of visitors coming on motorcycles is also high. His hotel has been fully booked till October 22 by visitors from Biratnagar, Butwal, Salyan and Chitwan. Entrepreneurs, teachers, employees and college students are among the most prominent visitors.

Narendra Bahadur Shahi of Jubitha said some of the tourists travel on bicycles. The increase in the flow of tourists has prompted locals to operate hotels and build concrete houses.

Narayan KC, a visitor from Nawalparasi, said that though overland travel was filled with hardship, the place was wonderful. KC and his five friends arrived in Manma three days ago on motorcycles. “The highway is in terrible condition,” said Kumar Rokka, one of the young visitors, adding that the ride till Rara was difficult.

Similarly, Chitrahi Gaule, a member of the Karnali Tourism Committee, said that Dashain was the best period to visiting Rara since the weather is pleasant.

Student leader Bhupendra Sahi said that black topping Karnali Highway would benefit people residing in Karnali district as well as domestic and foreign tourists.

He added that the government should invest in physical infrastructure to develop the area into a popular tourist destination.