Tourist arrivals surge by 13,000 in Nepal's Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve

Dhorpatan, Nepal's unique hunting reserve, has experienced a notable surge in tourist arrivals, with over 37,000 visitors recorded in the last fiscal year alone. This figure represents a substantial increase, with Ranger Sagar Subedi of the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Office in Baglung reporting a rise of 13,000 tourists compared to the previous year. The reserve welcomed 37,520 tourists in fiscal year 2082/83, a significant jump from 23,692 in 2081/82 and 15,573 in 2080/81.

The overwhelming majority of these visitors, 37,270, were domestic Nepali tourists. While foreign tourists historically visited Dhorpatan primarily for hunting, the current trend shows domestic visitors are increasingly drawn to the natural beauty of the Dhorpatan Valley, the historical Nisheldhor and Dhorbarah Temples, and the high-altitude areas of Bukipatan and Jaljala. Dhorpatan Valley itself sits at an elevation of 2,900 meters, with Bukipatan reaching over 4,000 meters.

This influx of tourists is directly boosting revenue for the reserve. In fiscal year 2082/83, a total of Rs 4,768,405 was collected from tourist entry fees, a considerable increase from Rs 3,121,500 the previous year. The reserve charges Rs 100 for domestic and Nepali tourists, Rs 1,500 for SAARC country visitors, and Rs 3,000 for other foreign tourists. Additionally, revenue from the extraction of stones, gravel, and sand reached Rs 10 million in the latest fiscal year, Rs 4.6 million more than the prior year. The growth in tourism is attributed to ongoing development of tourist infrastructure, increased publicity efforts, and the establishment of well-managed hotels and homestays within Dhorpatan.

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the number of tourists reaching Dhorpatan, the only hunting reserve in Nepal, has increased by 13,000 in a year.