KATHMANDU: The Korla border crossing has begun to develop as a tourist destination in the last few years.

The National Pride (Beni–Jomsom–Korala) road becoming easier to travel has led to an annual increase in the number of domestic tourists visiting the Korala Border Crossing.

The 24th Border Pillar at the northern Korala Border Crossing between Nepal and China, situated at an altitude of 4,610 meters above sea level, is the main border crossing entrance.

Every year, thousands of domestic tourists arrive at this entrance gate in the Korala Border Crossing for observation or sightseeing. A lump sum of 50 percent of the domestic tourists who visit Muktinath and tour Mustang go for sightseeing of the Korala Border Crossing.

The domestic tourists arriving here have been found to perform the rituals at Muktinath and then proceed for sightseeing of Upper Mustang and the Korala Border Crossing.

However, foreign tourists who obtain an entry permit for Upper Mustang by paying a revenue of $500 are not allowed to go to the border crossing.

Due to security sensitivities, foreign tourists who have gone to Upper Mustang are not allowed to proceed past the Armed Police Force (APF) Border Out Post (BOP) check post located at Lo Manthang–2 Nechung.

The District Police Office has reported an increase in the number of tourists visiting Mustang with the start of the Dashain festival.

The District Police Office, Mustang, has stated that despite the situation created by the Gen Z movement and the projection of recent adverse weather, the number of tourists visiting Mustang is increasing.

The Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Tsherisngkippa Lama of the District Police Office informed that a total of 6,173 Nepali domestic tourists and 688 foreign tourists entered Mustang in the two days following Dashain, on October 3 and 4. Furthermore, DSP Lama stated that 2,217 vehicles entered Mustang during the two-day period.

The Armed Police Force (BOP) In-charge, APF Police Inspector Bishnu Hari Thapa, stationed at Nechung, informed that the number of domestic tourists visiting the Nepal–China Northern Korala Border Crossing has suddenly increased after Dashain.

He also stated that on October 3 and 4, of the Dashain festival, an average of 1,500 domestic tourists observed the Korala Border Crossing daily and returned.

Similarly, on Sunday, the third day after Dashain alone, 1,702 domestic tourists reached the Korala Border Crossing. 126 buses, jeeps, and cars entered the Armed Police Checkpoint at Nhechung for border crossing observation, said In-charge Thapa.

Furthermore, BOP In-charge Thapa mentioned that 224 motorcycles entered the checkpoint and reached the Korala Border Crossing.

Nepali tourists visiting the high-altitude Nepal–China Northern Korala Border Crossing have been observed to experience various problems due to the cold and high altitude.

In-charge Thapa stated that problems such as the possibility of altitude sickness due to lack of oxygen at the border and difficulties in starting vehicles due to the cold have been observed.

In-charge Thapa announced that as of today, a schedule has been made public according to which, due to the problems experienced by tourists and vehicles from the cold and the difficulties in their rescue, they must enter the border crossing daily at 7 AM and return from the border crossing and enter the Nechung Check Post by 4 PM.

Nepali domestic tourists who reach the much-discussed Northern Korala Border Crossing take individual and group photos and videos, holding the profile of the Nepal-China 24th Pillar and waving the national flag.

Dhindup Gurung informed that Nepali tourists who reach the Korala Border Crossing for sightseeing purchase Chinese goods as souvenirs from the cross-border traders who set up shops in tents near the border.

Gurung further stated that the local traders who are set up to do business at the border crossing are excited, as Nepali tourists have started coming to the border.

Nepali domestic tourists who reach the border crossing are saddened when they look at the grand structures built on the Tibetan land of China across the border to the north.

China has already constructed large, grand physical structures with the aim of expanding it as a north/south trade route.

Although the government has fully operationalized the Korala Border Crossing here, the necessary physical structures on the Nepal side of the border crossing are still has not built.

(Source: RSS reporting)