Nepalis taking up trekking Pokhara, November 18: Not only foreigners but also domestic tourists are taking up trekking nowadays as a hobby. With the restoration of peace, number of Nepalis going on treks to Annapurna and Everest base camps, hills and mountains has also increased unexpectedly giving rise to travel culture. “The number of Nepalis coming for trekking on Ghandruk-Ghorepani trail has also increased significantly,” entrepreneurs said. A majority of Nepali trekkers enjoy trekking on shorter routes like Ghandruk and Ghorepani. The Annapurna trekking route that includes Manang, Thorang pass, Muktinath, Jomsom, Ghorepani, Ghandruk, Machhapuch-hre and Annapurna Base Camp is considered one of the top 10 best routes of the world for trekking. “Sixty per cent Nepalis coming for trekking this season visited Ghandruk. Due to lack of enough space in hotels, many of them had to be accommodated in the local’s houses,” said Sharad Gurung, the owner of Snowland Hotel and chairman of the Midvilla Youth Club. “Most Nepali trekkers visiting Ghandruk were students on educational tour from Kathmandu, Pokhara, Dharan, Butwal, and Chitwan, and busine-ssmen, youths and family groups,” Amrita Gurung, the treasurer of the Hotel Entrepreneurs’ Committee, Ghandruk said.