Tourist arrivals increasing in Dhorpatan hunting reserve

The number of domestic tourists visiting Dhorpatan hunting reserve has been found to be rising of late.

The reserve spread across Rukum East, Baglung and Myagdi districts is popular among foreign tourists coming to enjoy hunting. But the number of domestic tourists too is increasing in the recent past years.

"Compared to the fiscal year 2079/080, the tourist arrival has doubled in the fiscal year 2080/081," Conservation Officer Mandip Pangeni said. In the fiscal year 2079/80, 7,645 tourists visited Dhorpatan while in 2080/81 the number climbed to 15,573.

The number of domestic tourists visiting Dhorpatan in the fiscal year 2078/79 was 9919, 6,703 in 2077/078 and 3,020 in 2076/077.

Domestic tourists are required to pay Rs 100 per person to visit the hunting reserve. Citizens from other SAARC countries have to pay Rs 1,500 per person and remaining countries Rs 3,000 per person.

The number of domestic tourists has been increasing due to better road transport, hotel and accommodation facilities and publicity in the social media, said Ram Bahadur Ghartimar, proprietor of Dhorpatan Community Homestay. There are 21 hotels and homestays in the Dhorpatan area with a total capacity to accommodate 300 people daily.

Man Bahadur Pun, a hunting guide from the Global Safari Kathmandu, said that hunters from Spain, the USA, Russia, Germany, France, Belarus and other countries come for hunting at the reserve.

Spread over an area of 1,325 square kilometers, the Dhorpatan reserve is home to 32 species of mammals and 137 species of birds.