Snow Leopard Cave in dire need of development of physical infrastructures

KATHMANDU: The Snow Leopard Cave at Thini village of Gharapjhong Rural Municipality-5 in Mustang district is overshadowed due to inadequate physical infrastructures.

Those existing infrastructures including the access track are in a poor condition, causing grave inconvenience to the visitors to reach the Cave situated 10 minutes’ road trip from Jomsom Bazaar and five minutes’ walking distance from Thini village.

The cave is one among three caves that were discovered while removing the mould during construction of a garden in 2071 BS. The cave measuring more than 10 meters in length offers a panoramic view of Thini village and Jomsom Bazar from inside.

Local leaders see the need for developing and maintaining the physical infrastructures in and around the Cave that acquired the name ‘Snow Leopard’ after four snow leopards were captured in camera trap.

Niraj Thakali, local resident of Thini, suggested that construction of 300 metres long trail from Thini village to the cave would enhance accessibility for visitors.

After the uphill track starting from Jomsom-Thini-Dhumbatal road section and leading up to the cave collapsed, visiting the cave has been an arduous affair for the visitors, added Thakali.

Nepal is one of only 12 countries that are home to rare and engendered snow leopards. The rural municipality where the cave lies is a part of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project.

Thakali noted that the cave, a potential tourist attraction in the locality, was eclipsed due to poor infrastructures.

The state government has allocated Rs 2 million in the current fiscal year to build infrastructures in and around the cave, said Prem Prasad Poudel, Chief of Office of Tourism and Industry in Mustang.

He expressed his confidence that the improved infrastructures including a new trekking trail would boost visitors’ influx to the cave.