The world famous Annapurna Circuit—an alpine trek route-of late has seen a surge in the number of trekkers. 

The number of tourists heading for the Annapurna Circuit has soared to 80 to 100 a day as the weather is on the cusp of monsoon withdrawal and winter onset. Last year, 22,800 foreign tourists and 8,000 domestic tourists visited Manang, said Babulal Tiwari, chief of Annapurna Conservation Area. 

The trans-Himalayan district of Manang these days is brimming with foreign tourists. Hundreds are seen trekking towards Manang via Besisahar of Lamjung. The tourists arriving through the Tal Dharpani Chame area usually put up at Pisang, Dhyaru, Dangbole and Mananggaun in Upper Manang. A major tourist attraction, the area offers modern hotels and facilities. 

Tourists usually visit the Thorong La Pass, Larke Pass and Kanla Pass. The Tilicho Tal, located at the highest altitude on Earth at 4,900 metres, also draws tourists in droves.  

The area also offers close-up views of Mt Annapurna II, III and IV along with Gangapururna, Julu peak, Pisang peak, Mt Nilgiri and Tilicho peak along the Great Himalayan Range, said local tourist entrepreneur Guru Prasad Gurung. 

The local entrepreneurs also organise art and culture exhibition. 

Binod Gurung, chairman of the District Tourism Development Committee, said the focus now is on publicity campaigns at the national and international levels so as to attract more tourists. 

In 2016, a year after the earthquakes rocked Nepal killing nearly 9,000 people and bringing large-scale destructions, the National Geographic said despite the quakes damaging the man-made structures, “Nepal’s mountain trails including the legendary Annapurna Circuit through the snow-capped shadow of the Himalaya, remain accessible”, including Nepal in the magazine’s “Ten Places That Deserve More Travellers” 

The list highlighted trekking activities in the Himalayan wilderness along with more spiritual activities like learning art of playing the Himalayan singing bowls, which are rung before, during or after periods of Buddhist meditation.