Approximately four decades ago, the weary travelers heading towards Mustang to collect the musk deer scent from the 'Ghodepani' lake in Annapurna Rural Municipality-6, were relieved at a resting spot to alleviate their fatigue from the arduous journey. The name Ghodepani originated from the fact that the travelers used to water their horses here, as explained by the elders from the village.
From Pokhara to Ulleri, pilgrims and those seeking to collect yarsagumba (Cordyceps) in Muktinath used to stop at the tea houses of Ghodepani to rest and have food prepared for them. The locals of Khopra used to keep tea houses for grazing cattle, and in the jungle's midst, Ghodepani became a captivating destination for both domestic and international tourists. For many tourists, Ghodepani used to be their final destination before heading back.
Nowadays, apart from being a mere stopover for those trekking the Annapurna Circuit, this region has become a prime attraction for tourists coming to collect the scent of the Annapurna rhododendron forest. Bal Singh Gurung from Khivang had established the first tea house in the chain, which expanded into hotels as the area developed, according to Ram Bahadur Khadka, the chairman of Annapurna Rural Municipality-6. "Initially, there was a trend of setting up tea houses due to the abundant grass found here, then Gurung established a tea house. As the chain expanded, hotels started to emerge, marking the beginning of the hotel industry," he said.
In the past, pilgrims and herb collectors used to reside in Ulleri, then they would proceed to Ghorepani for a night's stay, and from there, they would travel to Ghar for permanent settlement. At Ghodepani's top, there used to be a viewpoint from where a dozen Himalayan peaks could be seen, which was later named Pun Hill by Major Tek Bahadur Pun from the locality. After renaming it, he built a view tower in Pun Hill, which was later known as Pun Hill Tower, as a tribute to his memory.
Designed by local architect Haribahadur Pun, a tower was built in Kathmandu in 2057 BS to facilitate the observation of Ghodepani from afar. Ghodepani welcomes around 30,000 tourists annually, contributing to the local economy. According to Bharatkumar Pun, the chairman of the rural municipality, tourists are charged Rs. 11,000, while foreigners pay Rs. 150 for entry fees to Ghodepani, and locals pay Rs. 50.
Following the completion of the tower, Chanda Sankalan was initiated by Major Pun's wife, Lieutenant Raju Pun, to raise funds, and now, it stands as an attractive and sturdy structure. After the tower's construction, the number of tourists visiting Pun Hill increased significantly, reaching up to hundreds daily.
Ghodepani has become an unavoidable destination for those visiting Muktinath, as confirmed by Dam Bahadur Pun, a hotel entrepreneur from Ghodepani, who stated, "With the rapid development here, even a short stay in Ghodepani during tourists' arrival has left a lasting impression on them."
The initial tea houses in the area have now transformed into fully-equipped hotels. With the closure of the Pokhara-Baglung-Beni road until Muktinath darshan, now there are 23 well-facilitated hotels in the area, which can accommodate more than a thousand visitors daily.
With the increase in tourist arrivals every year, hotel entrepreneurs are expanding their capacities. Initially, only foreign tourists used to visit, but now, internal tourists also come in large numbers, according to Meena Pun, chairperson of the Ghodepani Hotel Management Sub-Committee. "Ghodepani has been a collaborative example in tourism development. Even after returning to their countries, foreign tourists spread positive messages about the beauty here, which has greatly contributed to the tourism development in the region," she said.
Organic food items, well-equipped rooms, and facilities like internet access are available in Ghodepani hotels. The majority of the hotels in Ghorepani, located on the edge of the mountain, offer the unique feature of viewing the Himalayas directly from the rooms.
The Hotel Management Sub-Committee invested Rs. 10 million initially to build footpaths. Scenic routes from Ghorepani to Pun Hill and beyond have been marked with milestones for tourists to easily navigate.
With the support of Gandaki Province Government, infrastructure like buses, lampposts, horse and bicycle paths have been developed to accommodate tourists arriving in Ghodepani, as mentioned by Vice-chairperson Pun. Regular cleaning and maintenance have been ensured on the tourist trails to make them more organized and appealing, and efforts have been made to make the villages plastic-free.
Tourists who arrive by bus in Ghodepani walk for about an hour to reach Pun Hill, from where they can admire the panoramic view of the majestic Himalayan ranges, including Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Nilgiri, and over 20 other snow-capped peaks. Additionally, the strategically positioned view tower in the middle of the jungle offers tourists a breathtaking view of the Himalayas, attracting them to extend their stay.
Peter, a French tourist who visited Pun Hill for the first time, was mesmerized by the view and expressed his desire to return to the region for another visit. "I have visited such a captivating place for the first time. From one place, I could see so many Himalayan peaks. The time spent wandering in the jungle of Laligurans (rhododendrons) is unforgettable," he said.
More than 20 varieties of rhododendrons can be found in the jungle of Ghodepani, including red, white, pink, and others, as revealed by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP). The Ghodepani region sees an influx of foreign tourists during the months of Ashoj, Kartik, Phagun, Chaitra, and Baisakh, with over 500 visitors daily.
From the tourist city of Pokhara to Ghodepani, it takes just a day's journey across the new bridge. Similarly, tourists can reach Ghodepani via Ghandrunk of Kaski, Bhurung Tatopani of Myagdi, and Moharedada of Moharedada. Trails have been established for the operation of routes such as Birathanti-Ulleri-Ghodepani, Naya Pul-Ghandruk-Ghodepani, Myagdi-Nagi-Mahare-Fulbari-Ghodepani, and Tatopani-Ghar-Shikha.
Reference : online khabar and wikipedia