Tourists begin returning to Ghandruk as road access improves

Kaski, October 6, 2026 — Tourist arrivals in Ghandruk, a popular tourist village in Kaski’s Annapurna Rural Municipality-10 and 11, have started to increase after road access to the village improved.

Tourists have begun visiting Ghandruk after the Birenthanti-Ghandruk road, which had been obstructed by floods and landslides, was reopened.

Sneha Gurung, managing director of Nirmal Villa in Ghandruk, said tourist activity had started to pick up after road access improved. She said the village’s tourism business had reached almost zero after the road was blocked by floods and landslides, but there is now hope that business will recover.

“The festival season has started along with the tourist season. The road has also become accessible,” she said. “There were virtually no tourists in Asar, Shrawan and Bhadau. They have now started arriving gradually. We are hopeful that things will improve.”

Lakshman Gurung, operator of Hotel Rock and Mood and chairman of Rodhi Club Ghandruk, said it was necessary to spread the message that the road to Ghandruk was now accessible.

“Tourists have started arriving, but many may still think the road is in poor condition,” he said. “Some may have cancelled their plans because they believed the road to Ghandruk had not been repaired. We now need to convey the message that the road is accessible and that visitors can travel here without worry.”

He said tourists had started arriving after landslides caused by continuous rainfall were cleared and the road was restored, but arrivals were still below expectations. His hotel can accommodate up to 45 guests, he said, adding that it used to be full during this period in previous years but is currently receiving only around five to seven guests a day.

Bikram Gurung, chairman of the Ghandruk Tourism Management Committee, said tourism activity had gradually picked up as both the road and weather conditions improved. According to him, around 200 to 300 tourists are currently visiting Ghandruk each day.