MYAGDI: A suspension bridge has been constructed over the Humkhola (stream) in Annapurna Rural Municipality-4, Myagdi, along the ‘Maurice Herzog’ trail.

This trail connects to the base camp of Mount Annapurna, which has been developed as a new tourist destination.

The 57-meter-long suspension bridge, built by Annapurna Rural Municipality, has benefited both local residents and tourists visiting the Maurice Herzog trekking trail.

Diwa Tilija Pun, Vice-Chairperson of Annapurna Rural Municipality, stated that the construction of the new bridge has permanently ended the problem of having to cross the Annapurna River by risking lives on a shaky, unstable bridge made of wooden planks.

“Previously, only one or two people at a time could cross the river by taking turns,” Vice-Chairperson Pun said. “With the suspension bridge completed, trekkers, tourists, and locals no longer face the compulsion of waiting in turns to cross the river.”

Aside from tourists, 549 families from Narchyang have directly benefited from the bridge’s construction. She informed that the project also generated direct employment for 1,221 individuals during its construction phase.

Balkrishna Poudel, sub-engineer of Annapurna Rural Municipality, informed that the federal government provided a conditional grant of Rs. 1,382,795 alongside construction materials worth Rs. 189,693, while Annapurna Rural Municipality contributed a grant of Rs. 1,374,400. Furthermore, the local consumers contributed voluntary labor worth Rs. 73,880.

According to him, the bridge was constructed with technical and social mobilization support from Milan Myagdi, a non-governmental organization.

Vice-Chairperson Pun added that coordination is underway with the federal and provincial governments to build suspension bridges in other sections of the trekking trail as well.

The trek to the Annapurna Base Camp begins from Humkhola, which can be reached after a two-hour drive from Narchyang.

Trekkers can reach the base camp by walking along the banks of the Mistri Khola, which flows from the foothills of Mount Annapurna and Mount Nilgiri.

The trail offers views of towering waterfalls, breathtaking mountain ranges, unique geography, hills, rare vegetation, and wildlife.

Trekkers can reach the base camp in two days and return on the third day. Located at the base of Nilgiri and Annapurna mountains, the base camp sits on a flat plain. Right below the base camp, at an altitude of 4,050 meters above sea level, lies Panchakunda Lake.

Visitors can observe the lake and mountains from the ridges surrounding the base camp. Spanning an area of 107,684 square meters, the lake is a natural glacial body formed by melted snow water from Mount Annapurna.

Tej Gurung, a campaigner for the Maurice Herzog trail, highlighted that being able to view Mount Annapurna and Panchakunda Lake simultaneously is the primary feature of the Annapurna Base Camp.