Dhorpatan, Nepal's only hunting reserve, generates between Rs40 million and Rs50 million in annual revenue for the government through tightly regulated trophy hunting. But as tourism infrastructure expands, a debate is growing over whether the area's future lies in hunting tourism or ecotourism centred on its natural beauty, biodiversity and culture.

Local residents, tourism entrepreneurs, conservationists and experts remain divided. However, many agree that while trophy hunting generates revenue for the state, nature-based tourism would bring greater economic benefits to local communities.

Until a few decades ago, accommodation in Dhorpatan was scarce. Today, the area has around two dozen community-run homestays and 40 hotels. According to local tourism entrepreneur Shiva Kandel, the valley can now accommodate up to 700 visitors a day.

Improved road access to the main patan (meadow) has boosted visitor numbers. Situated at an altitude of about 3,000 metres, Dhorpatan now serves as a gateway to trekking destinations such as Garpachheda (4,000 metres) and Tikadhara (4,500 metres). Domestic tourism has grown steadily, with visitors arriving to experience winter snowfall and the alpine meadows, or buki, in bloom during June and July. Researchers also visit the area to study the Dhorbaraha rituals, local culture and high-altitude farming of crops such as potatoes and apples.

Located around a seven-hour drive from Pokhara, Dhorpatan has emerged as a new destination for both domestic and foreign visitors. Tourism entrepreneurs say expanding accommodation in nearby areas such as Niseldhor, Gurja, Jaljala and Garpachheda could encourage tourists to stay longer.

Krishna Prasad Acharya, president of the Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) Gandaki, said a seven-day trekking route linking Rukum, Dhorpatan and Myagdi could offer foreign visitors to Pokhara a new and largely unexplored trail.

He said investment should prioritise walking trails, viewpoints and nature-based infrastructure rather than roads if Dhorpatan is to develop as a sustainable tourism destination.

At the same time, the economic value of trophy hunting is increasingly being questioned.

Each year, the reserve allows the controlled hunting of up to 26 blue sheep (naur) and between 20 and 22 Himalayan tahr (jharal). Foreign hunters pay substantial fees to hunt within designated blocks, but many locals argue that the income does not benefit surrounding communities.

Veteran tourism journalist Amrit Bhadgaunle said Dhorpatan should shift its focus towards ecotourism.

“Ecotourism centred on wildlife observation creates employment and business opportunities for local people,” Bhadgaunle said. “Hunting tourism, by contrast, mainly generates revenue for the state.”

The debate gained further momentum after Dhorpatan Municipality organised the Dhorpatan Summit, bringing the issue into the national spotlight.

Dil Shirish, former president of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Baglung, said initiating a broad public discussion on Dhorpatan's future was an important step.

Avid trekker Srijana Sijju believes Dhorpatan has the potential to replicate the success of Chitwan as one of Nepal's leading nature destinations.

“If we develop sustainable infrastructure for visitors seeking relief from the extreme summer heat in places such as Butwal and Chitwan, Dhorpatan can attract tourists throughout the year,” she said.

She urged authorities to preserve the area's natural landscape, protect water sources and prioritise biodiversity conservation.

Dhan Bahadur Kayat, acting mayor of Dhorpatan Municipality, said the economic benefits of trophy hunting rarely reach local communities.

According to him, high-spending hunters usually arrive by helicopter and remain within designated hunting blocks, leaving little business for local hotels and other enterprises.

He urged the federal government to formulate a tourism policy that ensures local communities benefit directly from tourism revenue.

According to Sagar Subedi, information officer at the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, the 1,300-square-kilometre protected area includes 53 settlements with a population of 5,153.

Established in 1987, the reserve recorded more than 33,000 tourist arrivals through the Deurali checkpoint in Baglung during the current fiscal year. The figure excludes visitors entering through Myagdi and Rukum.

Strict restrictions on cattle grazing, firewood collection and riverbed extraction have, however, created tensions with local communities.

Chandra Singh Kumai, a local resident, said traditional access to natural resources has been curtailed in the name of conservation.

Subedi said the restrictions are intended to prevent commercial exploitation rather than subsistence use.

He also defended the reserve's hunting management system, saying it is based on scientific monitoring.

“While around 26 blue sheep are harvested each year, more than 200 are born annually,” he said.

He added that hunting quotas apply only to mature males, while hunting females and juveniles is strictly prohibited. The reserve also carries out regular wildlife censuses, with a snow leopard population survey currently under way.

As tourism grows, Dhorpatan faces a pivotal choice: continue relying on trophy hunting as a source of government revenue or build a broader tourism economy around its biodiversity, Himalayan landscapes, trekking routes and unique culture. Many believe the latter could transform Dhorpatan into one of Nepal's leading ecotourism destinations while generating greater benefits for local communities.