Want to experience a little bit of Nepal’s recent violent past? If you are the adventurous sort and have some spare time, here’s the opportunity to put on your trekking shoes and start.
Want to experience a little bit of Nepal’s recent violent past? If you are the adventurous sort and have some spare time, here’s the opportunity to put on your trekking shoes and start.
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On Tuesday, Nepal formally opened Guerrilla Trek, a 19-day trail through the region under control of Maoist rebels during the 1996-2006 Civil War, to tourists.
The trek was launched by Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, chief of Maoists rebels who fought government forces during the unrest before giving up arms to join the political mainstream.
Nepal hopes its effort at promoting ‘war tourism’ through the trek will bring in foreign tourists, which in turn could help revive the economy shattered by political instability.
“Nepal has seen enormous political changes in past few years, but to sustain them we need a strong economy. The Guerrilla Trek can play a prominent role in that direction,” said Dahal.
The trek has been divided into three sections, the short trail being one week long, and tourists will be able to see places where Maoist rebellion began and how it spread.
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Besides the beautiful waterfalls, lakes and beautiful views of the Dhaulagiri range, trekkers will also witness the caves where Maoist rebels hid, the routes they took to carry out strikes or ferry wounded comrades.
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Besides the beautiful waterfalls, lakes and beautiful views of the Dhaulagiri range, trekkers will also witness the caves where Maoist rebels hid, the routes they took to carry out strikes or ferry wounded comrades.
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Though there are hotels and lodges along the route, one can set up camps for night halts or even stay at homes of residents to get a feel of the culture and traditions of the region.
A book on the trek written by American travel writer Alonzo Lyons can provide details of the options available.
Rukum, Rolpa and Myagdi districts which fall on the trek route were hotbeds of violence during the civil war with Maoists controlling most parts and even running parallel administration.
Most of these places, where tourists were not allowed to venture, were heavily bombed by government forces during aerial attacks, the remnants of which are still visible on the trek.
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.
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