March 27: The number of domestic tourists visiting the Khumaidanda is gradually increasing. With surge of visitors, operators of three local hotels here are busy managing hospitality services. 

Popular tourism destination Khorchang is just a two-hour walk from Khumaidanda – which is located at an altitude of 3,245 meters from the sea level.

Korchang sits at an altitude of 3,682 meters. It takes only two days to trek the Saripakha-Khumaidanda-Korchang route, also locally known as the  Great Machhapuchhre Trail, from Pokhara. 

Tourist can travel 13.3-km from Hemja, Pokhara to Saripakha on vehicle. Then, it takes five to seven hours of walks to reach atop the Khumaidanda, said Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality-1, Ward Chair Indra Bahadur Gurung. 

Gurung further informed that the trekkers can stay the  first night in Khumai and manage to return Pokhara next day after reaching the Korchadanda. 

Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality of Kaski had recently conducted its 16th executive meeting in Khumaidanda. Machhapuchhre Chair Min Bahadur Gurung shared that the meeting was organized in touristic site for tourism promotion. 

The meeting focused on developing physical infrastructures in the area considering surge of internal and external tourists of late. "Khumaidanda has received an increasing number of tourists in recent months," Gurung  informed.

"The municipal executive meeting was organized here to map the services needed for tourists," Gurung added. 
The meeting decided to declare Saripakha-Khumai-Korcha route as a trekking route and manage services accordingly, Chief Administrative Officer Bedahari Adhikari informed. (RSS)