Tourism in the high hills of Phalelung Rural Municipality is picking up after disruptions caused by the Gen Z movement in September and heavy rainfall during the Dashain festival.

Areas above 3,500 metres, including Teen Simana, Phalaut, Charrate, and the border regions of Ilam and Panchthar, are now seeing a steady flow of domestic and foreign visitors. Tourists from Nepal, India’s Punjab and West Bengal, and as far as Bhutan are arriving to trek, observe local cattle breeds, and enjoy views of snow-capped mountains, said Chandralal Nepal, a tourism entrepreneur in Phalelung.

From these locations, visitors can see multiple mountains, including Kanchenjunga, Kumbhakarna, Everest, and Makalu, as well as peaks in Sikkim and Bhutan. Tourist numbers had dropped sharply after the September unrest, and heavy rains from October 3–6 damaged roads, keeping even domestic visitors away.

Since the second week of November, improved weather, repaired roads, and the reopening of homestays have helped revive tourism, said Dilli Kerung, a homestay operator in Charrate. In Teen Simana, four Nepali-run homestays and an Indian-operated lodge now accommodate tourists, with Nepali homestays hosting at least 100 visitors. Numbers in Teen Simana and Phalaut had previously fallen to nearly zero following the protests and continuous rainfall.

Trekking, mountain vistas, and rare wildlife, including red pandas, continue to attract visitors. In Sandakpur and Charrate, around 200 domestic and foreign tourists now arrive daily, said local hotelier Rinji Sherpa. Sunrises and sunsets at Sandakpur remain particularly popular.

Recent expansions of motorable roads have improved access, allowing more tourists to reach the area by motorcycle and four-wheeled vehicles.

Phalelung Rural Municipality actively promotes these sites as tourist destinations. It hosts two annual festivals—the Chauri Tourism Festival in Charrate and the Phalelung Festival in Thapleitar—which draw thousands of domestic and foreign visitors. The municipality also allocates funds each year for infrastructure development, road construction, and maintenance to support tourism, said chairman Bir Bikram Thamsuhang of the municipality.