Api Himal tourism festival seeks to establish Darchula as a major destination in Sudurpaschim

Dhangadhi: A tourism festival has begun at the base camp of Mount Api in Ward No. 1 of Api Himal Rural Municipality, Darchula, with the aim of establishing the Api Himal region as a major tourist destination in Sudurpaschim Province.

The festival was inaugurated by Sudurpaschim Chief Minister Khagaraj Bhatta. Chief Minister Bhatta, Minister for Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment Prakash Bahadur Rawal, and Provincial Assembly Speaker Bhim Bahadur Bhandari traveled to the venue by helicopter.

According to Bhaktasingh Thekare Bohara, chairperson of Api Himal Rural Municipality, the festival will run until the 19th. He said a range of creative and engaging activities had been planned over the three days to promote the Api Himal region as a key tourist destination for the entire province.

The first day features cultural programs and literary symposiums attended by prominent provincial- and national-level writers, along with local and national artists. Friendly provincial-level cricket and volleyball tournaments are scheduled for the second day.

“The cricket match, held right at the base camp of Mount Api, will be the main attraction,” Bohara said. He added that the event was expected to bring a new dimension to the promotion of sports in high-altitude Himalayan regions.

A yoga and meditation camp will be organized on the third day to help develop the Api Himal region as a destination for wellness tourism. A special climate dialogue focusing on climate change will also be held on the final day. Ahead of the international climate conference scheduled for November, the dialogue aims to draw international attention to the severe impacts of climate change on Nepal’s high Himalayan region.

Bohara said the festival aims to establish Api Himal as a major tourist destination in Nepal, improve local livelihoods, create employment opportunities, and promote climate adaptation initiatives.

The Api Himal region currently receives approximately 5,000 tourists annually. This year, the rural municipality has set a target of increasing the number to 10,000. It has urged everyone to support tourism promotion by participating in the provincial-level festival.

Lokendra Bahadur Bishta, chief administrative officer of the rural municipality, has invited everyone to attend the event.

Rising to 7,132 meters, Api Himal is the highest point in Sudurpaschim Province and has significant tourism potential. However, only a small number of tourists have so far reached its base camp.