By Amrit Prasad Poudel, Beni, May 6: On the foothills of the Annapurna in Ghorepani and Poon hill the national flower of Nepal, Rhododendrons have been blossoming.

Ghorepani, a prime tourist destination in the Himali district of Myagdi, Annapurna rural municipality 6 is currently seeing various species of Rhododendrons blossom.

Ghorepani and Poon Hill are situated at an altitude of 2,874 meters and 3,210 meters above sea level respectively are witnessing the blossoming of Rhododendron flowers in all its nearby forests.

In Nepal, as of now, 31 species of Rhododendrons have been identified out of which the Ghorepani region has 8 of them as according to the Division Forest Office of Myagdi district. According to the chief of the Division Forest Office, Santosh Khana,10 species of the national flower grows in the forests of Myagdi.

He further mentioned that the forests of Myagdi have red, white, and maroon-colored rhododendrons. The forests of Ghorepani and Poon Hill are known as the capital of the Rhododendrons in Gandaki Province.

The Rhododendrons have occupied a huge area in Ghorepani, Poon Hill, and Ramche of Annapurna Rural Municipality. According to a local resident Suren Gurung, the flowers contribute to the beauty of the place and the weather is also congenial for tourists wanting to walk in the area. All of this contributes to an increase in tourism as according to Gurung.    

Chief Khanal further mentioned that in the current financial year the ministry of industry, tourism, forestry, and environment of the provincial government had allocated 11.6 million rupees into constructing a rhododendron park.

He said that the government has been planning to plant all 31 species of the national flower in the park. Khanal also said that the work within the currently implemented budget has already been taking place. The provincial government along with the division forest office intends to conserve the flower and promote tourism in the area.

The flowers in Ghorepani and Poon Hill have definitely been attracting tourists. The flowers blossoms during the spring which also brings tourists to click photos. TikaUpreti a tourist from Ilam who had come to visit Ghorepani has said that she found it very relaxing to click photos near the rhododendron flowers.

Ghorepani and Poon Hill fall under the Annapurna Circuit. The circuit attracts both domestic as well as foreign tourists. The circuit includes Kaski district’s Nayapool, Ghandruk, Pooh Hill, Ghorepani, Myagi district headquarters, Beni, Pokharebagar, which people use to travel to Mustang, Jhurung and Tatopani. The tourists who arrive in Ghorepani by evening travel to Poon Hill early in the morning. According to the Chairperson of the Annapurna Rural Municipality Dum Bahadur Pun when tourists arrive at Myagdi they travel to both Ghorepani as well as Poon Hill.