Humla: With the onset of the tourism season, the number of tourists traveling to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar via Hilsa through Simikot Airport in the mountainous district of Humla has exceeded 3,700.
The number has continued to rise this year following the commencement of pilgrimage tours to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, with Indian religious tourists increasingly arriving by air.
According to Police Inspector Bishnu Shrestha, a total of 3,780 Indian pilgrims have so far traveled from Nepalgunj to Simikot and onward through Hilsa to Taklakot in China for the pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. Indian tourists began arriving in the district on Baisakh 30 (mid-May) this year. The recorded tourist arrivals cover a period of 23 days.
Among the visitors who have arrived in Humla so far, 1,892 are women and 1,888 are men. Since the start of the season, between 80 and 200 Indian tourists have been arriving in Humla daily by air.
As a result, hotels including Hotel Vijay, Kailash Hotel, Manasarovar Hotel, Karnali Resort, Humla Resort, Hotel Potala, and Hotel Alice have been operating at full capacity. This surge in tourism has significantly increased the income of local hotel operators.
Similarly, more than 30 porters have found employment carrying tourists’ luggage from Simikot Airport to various hotels. Local farmers in Simikot have also benefited, as demand for their vegetable produce has increased.
According to Mahendra Singh, Chief of the Simikot Branch of the Civil Aviation Authority, six aircraft are currently operating flights from Nepalgunj to Simikot from 7:00 a.m. until late evening. These include one aircraft operated by Tara Air, two by Sita Air, and three by Summit Air.
In addition, six helicopters operated by six different companies are providing flights from Simikot Airport to Hilsa. Helicopter services operate from 6:30 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. The increased movement of tourists is not limited to Simikot but is also evident in Hilsa, the border area between Nepal and China. As a result, hotel owners and porters in Hilsa are likewise experiencing improved earnings.
Chief District Officer Tek Kumar Regmi stated that Simikot Airport has become increasingly busy from morning until evening due to the sharp rise in the number of Indian pilgrims visiting Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. He noted that helicopters transporting tourists from Simikot to Hilsa begin operations as early as 6:30 a.m.At times, the heavy volume of air traffic and passenger movement has even resulted in congestion at Simikot Airport.
