Sujan Malla from Sankhu, Kathmandu, travelled via Baglung last month on his way to visit Shey Phoksundo in Dolpa and Rara Lake in Mugu in northwestern Nepal.

After staying for a day in Baglung, he and his team set off towards Rara on motorcycles. His group—including Nikesh Gurung, Bipin Gautam, Ayush Thapa, and Rajdarshan Katuwal—were delighted to embark on their journey along the Mid-Hill Highway through Baglung.

It was their first time travelling along the Mid-Hill Highway for a tourism trip. They said that after considerable research, they discovered that travelling via Baglung offered a shorter route to reach those destinations.

Upon returning from their trip, they shared that the route made it easier to reach Shey Phoksundo.

After completing their journey to Dolpa and Mugu in a short time, they returned via the same route. The group said they later recommended Baglung as a transit point to their friends. According to local entrepreneur Nilesh Rajbhandari, two other groups also arrived in search of hotels following the same route.

With the Mid-Hill Highway now connecting districts of Karnali to Sudurpaschim, travellers heading to Shey Phoksundo and Rara Lake have increasingly begun choosing this route.

“Even I wasn’t aware that one could travel to Rara and Shey Phoksundo via Baglung. I used to be surprised when tourists asked about it,” said Rajbhandari, who is also the president of the Hotel Association Baglung. “Now, many tourists are staying here and planning their journeys.”

He added that those arriving on motorcycles or in reserved jeeps have started making Baglung their first stop and a place to explore.

Tourists from the capital, as well as from Chitwan, Hetauda, and eastern regions, have also started choosing the Mid-Hill Highway for westward travel. Even those using public buses are travelling via Baglung to reach Rukum and Jajarkot.

Pilgrims heading to Muktinath and travellers going to Upper Mustang have also begun including Baglung as a one-night stop.

The Baglung Tourism Development Committee has started arranging jeep and bus services for those wishing to travel from Baglung, promoting it as the Gateway to Mustang.

Travellers arriving in Baglung Bazaar by public transport are increasingly using it as a starting point to visit Dhorpatan, Mustang, and various destinations in Karnali. Local hotels have even prepared route maps to these locations.

As tourist arrivals increase, dozens of new hotels are being added in Baglung Bazaar, Galkot, and Burtibang.

Over the past four years, half a dozen large and dozens of mid-sized hotels have been established in the district. With improving standards, these hotels are attracting more visitors. According to Rajbhandari, Baglung Bazaar alone can accommodate around 3,000 tourists, from group travellers to individual visitors. Several more hotels are currently under construction.

Chandra Prasad Dhakal, president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said that with the operation of well-equipped hotels, even those staying in Pokhara have started choosing Baglung as a destination.

Arjun Chokhal, president of the Hotel Entrepreneurs Federation Gandaki, noted that Baglung is increasingly becoming a transit hub as a culture of travel grows among the general public, particularly youth.

“In recent times, the travel culture among youth has expanded significantly, and attractions like Baglung Kalika, Panchakot, and Dhorpatan have added to its appeal,” he said. “More people are now staying overnight in Baglung to explore its destinations.”

The number of visitors to Dhorpatan and the surrounding highland meadows has also increased, with many making Baglung Bazaar their first stop.

Dhorpatan lies 126 kilometres west of Baglung Bazaar, the district headquarters. According to data from the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, around 18,000 tourists visited last year, while about 30,000 had already visited by June and July last year.

Situated at an altitude of approximately 2,900 metres above sea level, reaching the highland meadows from the Dhorpatan valley requires a trek.

The Mid-Hill Highway has also shortened travel time for residents of Karnali to reach the capital and other regions. With direct road access from Baglung to Rukum, Jajarkot, Dailekh, and Dolpa, the need to travel via the Tarai has been eliminated.

Regular day and night bus services now operate along the Mid-Hill Highway via Baglung, connecting these regions to the capital. Travellers using reserved vehicles are also making use of this route.

Those staying in Baglung can reach Rukum West or Jajarkot the next day, and some even manage to travel as far as Dolpa in a single day from Baglung.