Kailash-Manasarovar pilgrimage fuels Humla economy as tourist inflow surges

The remote Humla district in Nepal is experiencing an economic boom thanks to the Kailash-Manasarovar pilgrimage. Hotels in Simkot, the district headquarters, are operating at full capacity, hosting between 40 and 60 Indian pilgrims daily. "It has only been a month since pilgrims started arriving, and the Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage season will continue for another three months," said Bijay Lama, owner of Hotel Bijaya. "Providing accommodation, meals and other services leaves us with almost no free time."

Hotel Potala is also fully booked, with owner Min Bahadur Tamang stating they have reservations through September and are accommodating up to 40 pilgrims daily. Since late May, his hotel alone has served nearly 800 visitors. Unlike in the past, tour operators are now distributing guests among hotels, eliminating the need for temporary tent camps that were common before the COVID-19 pandemic due to a shortage of rooms.

“

It has only been a month since pilgrims started arriving, and the Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage season will continue for another three months. Providing accommodation, meals and other services leaves us with almost no free time.

All eight major hotels in Simkot are now occupied. Mim Lama, president of the Hotel Entrepreneurs’ Association, noted that larger hotels are filled with Indian pilgrims, while smaller lodges house airline staff, guides, and other tourism workers. Investors have poured between Rs10 million and Rs50 million into hotels like Kailash, Manasarovar, Karnali, Humla, and Alice to capitalize on the growing pilgrimage market. Hotels across the border in Hilsa, near the Chinese border, have also opened, offering package rates.

The surge in pilgrims is also filling hotels in Nepalgunj, the primary gateway to Humla. Four- and five-star hotels, along with several three-star establishments, are reporting near-full occupancy. Keshab Neupane, regional executive director of Siddhartha Business Group of Hospitality, stated his hotels are hosting 80 to 100 Indian pilgrims daily, with bookings confirmed until mid-August. This renewed tourism follows the 2015 earthquake, which disrupted traditional pilgrimage routes and led Indian pilgrims to use the Hilsa border crossing.

“

We have bookings through September. We are doing everything we can to keep our guests satisfied. We are accommodating up to 40 pilgrims a day with lodging and meals.