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The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 28. 18 points to close at 1,875.65 points on Sunday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 5. 16 points to close at 361. 94 points.

A total of 2,712,123-unit shares of 283 companies were traded for Rs 742 billion.

Meanwhile, Upper Solu Hydro Electric Company Limited was the top gainer today with its price surging by 8. 99 percent. Likewise, Sonapur Minerals and Oil Limited was the top loser with its price fell by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 88 trillion.

The prices of gold reached an all-time high of 117, 000 per tola in the domestic market on Sunday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 116, 450 per tola.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,415 per tola today.

Jajarkot: Domestic and foreign tourists have been advocating for the development of essential infrastructure to make it easier to reach Shey Phoksundo Lake. They believe that constructing the necessary facilities from Suligad, located near the Dolpa headquarters, to the lake could significantly enhance the region’s appeal to tourists.

Currently, visitors to the lake follow a route through the Jajarkot district and the Mid-Hill Highway, including an overnight stay in the Dolpa district headquarters before finally reaching the lake. To access the lake, one must traverse a dozen deteriorating wooden bridges over the Suligad River, a risky endeavor, according to Ram Prasad Khatri from Nalgad Municipality-8. 

To reach Dolpa’s Dunai, visitors must rely on some form of transportation, and from there, it takes two days of trekking to reach the lake. Stakeholders have expressed that it would be more convenient for both domestic and foreign tourists if a concrete bridge were constructed over the Suligad River, along with a reliable trekking route.

Located at an elevation of 3,600 meters above sea level, the lake covers an area of 4.94 square kilometers and is situated near Rigmo village in Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality-8. 

While the lake is said to have a depth of 145 meters, local residents claim it reaches depths of up to 650 meters. The lake’s unique feature is its changing colors, which vary with the weather. It is shaped like the English letter Y and is often said to resemble a human lung.

Visitors should use the footpath for Shey Phoksundo Lake, Shey Phoksundo National Park, Phoksundo Waterfall, and Upper Dolpa Suligad. Various names have been given to specific areas by the local people, including Kathepul, Thoso, Lapku, and Sankul.

Although suspension bridges have been constructed over many rivers in Dolpa, there are still wooden bridges from Suligad to Phoksundo that provide access to the lake. Nima Lama, the ward chair of Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality, suggests that while suspension bridges have been built along the trekking route from Suligad to the lake to facilitate local mobility and tourism, it is important to preserve the traditional wooden bridges. “Since the area is a popular trekking route, stakeholders should emphasize the importance of preserving these wooden bridges to attract tourists.”

Gandaki: The United Nations Secretary-General is scheduled to make an official visit to Nepal, starting tomorrow, Sunday. This visit marks his first trip to Nepal since assuming office in 2017. During the visit, the UN Secretary-General is planning to visit the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC), creating excitement among local tourism entrepreneurs.

Dilip Gurung, the secretary of the Chhomrong Tourism Committee, expressed his pride in the visit, saying, “It is undoubtedly a matter of great pride for all of us that a highly distinguished personality like the UN Secretary-General will be visiting the ABC. We anticipate that his visit will further enhance the global recognition and reputation of Nepal’s mountain tourism, including the Annapurna Base Camp and the entire region.”

The Annapurna Base Camp is currently witnessing a significant influx of domestic tourists during the Dashain holidays, with hotels fully occupied by local visitors.

According to Gurung, tourism in the ABC has faced challenges in recent years due to the 2015 earthquake, a severe storm a few years ago, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite these setbacks, the area is now experiencing a resurgence in tourism, with approximately 400 internal tourists visiting the Base Camp on a single day, as reported on Friday.

This region is a renowned tourist destination and can be reached via a three-day trek from Ghandruk in Kaski. Those seeking a more extended trek can choose the route from Naya Pul (New Bridge) along the Pokhara-Baglung Highway.

The Annapurna trekking route, which includes the majestic Annapurna Peak, the tenth highest mountain in the world, is considered one of the most spectacular trekking routes globally, according to Dharmaraj Panthi, the President of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) Gandaki.

Traditionally, this area welcomes tourists from various parts of the world, including Europe, the United States of America, Malaysia, China, and Korea. The successful ascent of Annapurna I by French mountaineer Maurice Herzog in 1950 significantly contributed to the global fascination with mountain tourism.

Situated at an elevation of 4,130 meters above sea level, the ABC gained further popularity for trekking tourism after Eric Shipton’s historic trek here in 1966.