Mundum Trail Visit Year 2025 to be observed to attract at least 100,000 tourists

Kathmandu: Preparations are underway in full swing to observe the Mundum Trail Visit Year 2025 to attract at least 100,000 tourists.

At a press meet organized at Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu today, Ramesh Kumar Rai, President of the Maiyung Temke Salpa Silichung Tourism Promotion Centre, shared that they aim to lure at least 100,000 domestic as well as foreign tourists whilst promoting the newly explored trail.

The trail that lies in the Bhojpur district and its adjacent districts is an off-the-beaten one. Visitors soak up the view of the wide ranges of Himalayan views such as Mt Everest and Mt Kanchenjunga among others.

The organizers of the Mundum Trail Visit Year-2025 are mulling increasing facilities such as accommodation, drinking water, toilets and resting places along the trail for the visitors, it was informed. President Rai shared that they were paying attention to managerial aspects of the Mundum Trail Visit Year such as setting up the Information and Rescue Centre and adding up facilities.

If the trail could attract tourists, the locals could benefit economically, opined Rai, adding that fairs and festivals such as Sakela Ubhauli Udhauli, Rudraksha, Suntala, Gothaste and Rudrakshya among others will be organized during the Visit Year.

Touristic places of Bhojpur, Khotang, Solukhumbu and Sankhuwasabha districts dominating Kirati communities fall under the Mundum Trail. Visitors could soak up the lush green landscape of the mid-hill region as they walk up the steep climbs and strenuous paths the trail offers.

Speaking in the press meet, former Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati emphasized branding of the Trail, stating that it was a unique one.

‘It’s imperative to do branding of the Mundum Trail and attract tourists in all seasons,’ the former Minister said, urging the organizer of the Mundum Trail Visit Year to move ahead with the plan taking into account conserving native cultures and nature.

Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) President Nilhari Bastola asserted that the Trail could not be promoted until the local government assumes its ownership. Expressing his concerns that many trails had disappeared owing to indifference on the part of the local level, he said that they were making an effort to preserve those trails.

On the occasion, five personalities were declared Mundum Trail Tourism Ambassadors. They were singer Rajesh Payal Rai, actor Dayahang Rai, Ultra runner Mira Rai, cyclist Pushkar Shah and mountain guide and mountaineering Pemba Wachung Sherpa.

According to experts, Mundum is a verbal scripture of the Kirati people that depicts their rituals, lifestyles and traditions. Since ancient times, high hills such as Temke, Mehrung, Maiyung, and Salpa Pokhari were pilgrimage pathways used by Mundumi (Kirati Guru) to reach the scared Silichung hill.