An 8-kilometre cycling trail from Jomsom (Gharapjhong-4) to Dharkajung (Baragung Muktikshetra-5) has been constructed in Mustang with a budget of Rs 2 million. The trail includes two iron bridges and aims to support tourism development in the district.
According to Prem Paudel, chief of the Tourism and Industry Office Mustang, the new trail offers an alternative route for cyclists travelling toward Dolpa, bypassing the Jomsom-Kagbeni road. The route passes through Dhalkedanda at over 4,000 metres altitude and provides views of Upper Mustang, Lower Mustang, the Nepal-China border, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, the Kali Gandaki corridor, and local settlements.
The trail’s opening coincides with a notable boost in Mustang’s tourism. The district welcomed 705,000 visitors in fiscal year 2081/82, marking a 55 percent increase from the previous year, according to Bishal Adhikari, Information Officer at the District Police Office.
The rise in arrivals is attributed to improved road connectivity via the Beni-Jomsom-Korala route and growing interest in the district’s natural, cultural, and religious sites.
