KASKI, June 17: Trekking to the world-renowned Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) is set to become much easier for both domestic and international visitors after electricity from Nepal's national grid reached a key section of the trail.
The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has extended the national transmission line from Jhinu Danda to Upper Sinuwa in Ward No. 11 of Annapurna Rural Municipality, bringing reliable electricity to a route that had long relied on micro hydropower and alternative energy sources.
The project forms part of a government plan to electrify major trekking corridors in Kaski. With the arrival of grid power, local residents, hotel operators and trekkers can now access a more dependable electricity supply.
Tourism entrepreneurs have welcomed the development. Jagdish Gurung, who has operated a hotel in Jhinu for two decades, said the arrival of national grid electricity would help promote tourism in the area. According to him, between 60 and 70 hotels now operate along the stretch from Jhinu Danda to Upper Sinuwa.
Electricity arrives on Annapurna Trail as visitor numbers hit r...
Another hotel operator from Chhomrong, Mikash Gurung, said the improved electricity service would make trekking more convenient. Visitors will now have easier access to mobile charging facilities, hot water, internet services and other electrical amenities. Hotel owners say they can provide round the clock electricity, significantly improving service quality.
According to Sajivshree Ramtel, an engineer at the NEA's Pokhara Distribution Centre, power has already begun flowing through the newly extended line running from Ghandruk Bus Park via Jhinu and Chhomrong to Upper Sinuwa. Local residents have also started installing electricity meters.
The electrification project was first tendered in 2022. After the initially selected contractor failed to sign an agreement, the contract was reissued. BNR Mahalaxmi JV of Dhankuta completed the project at a labour contract cost of Rs 22.1 million.
Implementation proved challenging because of the rugged Himalayan terrain. The NEA said electricity poles and transformers had to be transported by helicopter to areas above Chhomrong.
Ramtel noted that trekkers previously struggled to charge phones, heat water and access the internet. The new power connection has resolved many of those issues.
The NEA plans to extend the national transmission line further up the ABC trail to Himalaya by the next fiscal year. Work has been temporarily halted because of a shortage of materials, but authorities say expansion will continue next year.
Local residents believe improved electricity access will benefit not only tourism but also education, healthcare, communication and broader economic activity. Ward Chair Him Bahadur Gurung said modern power infrastructure would give a fresh boost to tourism along the Annapurna trail and improve communication services for visitors.
With national grid electricity now reaching one of the world's most popular trekking routes, locals expect trekking in the Annapurna region to become more comfortable, safer and higher in quality, helping attract even more visitors.
Record tourist arrivals in Annapurna Region
The Annapurna Conservation Area has recorded its highest ever number of foreign visitors this year. According to the conservation area's management office, 441,422 tourists visited the region by mid-June of the current fiscal year.
By comparison, the area received 278,113 foreign visitors during fiscal year 2024/25. With one month still remaining in the current fiscal year, officials expect the total to rise further.
Project chief Dr. Rabin Kadariya said visitor numbers from India and other South Asian countries surged sharply. Tourist arrivals from these countries increased by nearly 300 percent in May, marking the largest influx of Indian visitors the region has ever recorded.
