New trek route talk in Indo-Nepal tourism meet

MANAS R BANNERJEE,  SNS, TUMLING, 22 MARCH 2023 : As stakeholders of the tourism industry see a ray of hope in the post-COVID pandemic situation, a group of tourism activists working in Eastern Nepal have discovered a new trekking route from Tumling to the Kanchenjungha Base Camp (KBC) which they seek to promote as part of the adventure tourism for trekkers across the world. 

Virtually, Keshari Gurung, a woman tourism activist in Tumling, a village on the India-Nepal border near Darjeeling district, who has been working for community tourism and adventure development, is learnt to have discovered this new route where trekkers can have an "incredible and life-time experience" as they witness not only the Kanchenjungha range but also more in the KBC. 

Aakash Shrestha, a trekking guide, in his presentation during a tourism programme here, showcased the route that covers 125 km from Tumling to KBC at an altitude of 4500 metres, and said that it can be covered in 13 days. Mr Shrestha made the presentation during the three-day Indo-Nepal Tourism Meet - 2023 and Cross Border Tourism Promotion Programme, which was held at Tumling in Ilam district of Nepal on 20 March. 

Describing the prospects of the meeting, Debashis Chakrobarty, an activist of community tourism, associated with the Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators Association (EHTTOA) in north Bengal, said: "Through adventure tourism, the lndo-Nepal relationship would get stronger as the Kanchenjanga Base Camp is promoted along with Chintaphu and Sandakphu." 

A tourism activist, on the other hand, said that Sandakphu, a popular destination among tourists in Darjeeling district, was overcrowded these days. 

"We need to think beyond Sandakphu. Significantly, the new route, and especially from the same elevation, interested trekkers as well as tourists will enjoy not only the Kanchenjungha wage, but also Mount Everest, Mount Makalu, Mount Nuptshe and Mount Khang," he said. According to Mr Shrestha, after the route from Tumling to Sandakphu and then Phalut, the next destination is Cinwa Bhanjyang to Doondh at 3750 metres and then Timbung Pokhari to Nayaa at 4330 metres altitude.

Yet another destination is Pemaden and Pemaden to Tseram and finally Oaktang (KBC South) at 4500 metres. Tourism activists said that Sandakphu is a "brand," considering the Indian context, but that the reality is that Nepal shares a major portion of it. 

According to experts in the tourism industry, the new route may have huge potential for inbound tourists, who can enter Eastern Nepal via India. Tourism activists here plan to draw the attention of the Nepal government for its recognition and promotion. 

"However, at the present scenario, despite the good relationship between the two countries, stakeholders of the tourism industry in Eastern Nepal are apparently upset over the role of the SSB, when it comes to security, in connection with the present lndo-China relations," a tourism source said. 

During a panel discussion, several speakers discussed the alleged highhandedness of the SSB along die lndo-Nepal border during entry and exit of international tourists via formal routes. A Member of Parliament in Nepal, Mahesh Basnet, Chairman of the Maijogmai Municipality Kush Bahadur and others including Dr Sarla Khaling, Raj Basu, Achyut Gurapin, and Debashis Chakrobarty took part in the discussions. 

Raj Basu, the Convener of Association for Conservation and Tourism (ACT), finally proposed the house discuss the matter  at the government levels to sort out the issues. Speakers, many of them from Nepal, were literary vocal in favour of setting up of an immigration check post at Pashupati near Mirik in Darjeeling for easy entry to Illam. 

It may be noted here that tour operators in the Indian part, who are trying to promote Eastern Nepal, predict huge potential, connecting Eastern Nepal via both Kakarvitta and Pashupati borders, following discovery of new route trekking trails, as it would cover villages in the neighbouring country like Maimajua, Goruwale, Chintaphu (Mt Everest), Chandu, Char Rate which is popular for the Yak Festival, Phalit and Chibhan-jyan (Sikkim side). 

Significantly, the Nepal government has been gradually developing basic infra- structure, especially roads connecting many areas in Eastern Nepal, showcasing nature, community, culture and tradition. As MP Mahesh Basnet pointed out that a 10-meter wide road will be constructed till the KBC very soon and that work on the other roads connecting Sandakphu with Maimajua, (ioruwale and Kal Pokhari was ongoing, a young tourism activist Manoj Basnet raised a different issue. 

Mr Basnet, who is practicing "responsible and sustainable tourism" with conservation, raised concerns that from the Chum- Tibet side, a highway has already been built to the Everest Base Camp (BBC). "If the same thing happens to connect the Kanchenjanga Base Camp, the bio-diversity and the habitat here would be effected," he said. 

"From the Nepal side, we are still maintaining compulsory trek to reach the Everest Base Camp," he added. ACT, meanwhile, organised a workshop on zero waste management for sustainable habitat, which it said was urgently required for the natural home or environment of animals, plants or other organisms. 

Visual artist Tseten Sherpa, meanwhile, made a presentation on Art and Rural Tourism in Indo-Nepal areas. It may be noted here that the Indo-Nepal Tourism Meet 2023 was organised by Namo Buddha Samaj at Tumling and Maijog mai Rural Municipality in Ilam, supported by the Nepal Tourism Board, EHTTOA, ACT and other organizations, including the Singhalila Land Rover Welfare Association.