Rugachaur awaits tourists & infrastructure development

KATHMANDU: Rugachaur, located in Gurja of Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-1, Myagdi, remains overlooked due to a lack of infrastructure and promotion.

It lies within the Warse Block of Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, which spans Myagdi, Baglung, and Eastern Rukum.

Situated at an altitude of 3,800 meters above sea level, Rugachaur serves as a crucial gateway on the trekking route between Gurja and Dhorpatan.

From here, breathtaking views of Annapurna, Gurja, Dhaulagiri, Sisne, Putha, Churen mountains, as well as sunrise and sunset, can be enjoyed, according to Ward Chair Jhak Bahadur Chhantyal.

During the monsoon, locals from Muna, Dar, Lulang, Lamsung, and Khoriya of Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality bring their cattle and sheep to graze in the vast meadows of Rugachaur. However, the area remains largely deserted for the rest of the year.

“We have identified and developed a trekking route from Gurja to Rugachaur, following the ancient path once used by herders between Dhorpatan and Gurja,” said Chhantyal. “We are seeking support from the provincial and federal governments to build necessary infrastructure to attract tourists traveling between Gurja and Dhorpatan.”

Rugachaur is also home to the endangered red panda. It takes about four hours on foot from Gurja to reach this pristine destination. However, the area lacks hotels, restaurants, and a proper drinking water supply.

Ashwin Khatri, a resident of Dharapani in Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-7, who recently visited Rugachaur via Gurjaghat and Dhorpatan, described it as a paradise of natural beauty. “The close-up view of the Himalayas, wildlife, and birds in the meadows left me mesmerized,” he said.

Khatri emphasized the need for temporary accommodation, food facilities, and signage along the trekking trail. He believes Rugachaur has the potential to be developed as a “virgin” tourist destination and should be promoted as a secondary attraction alongside Dhorpatan.

A 3.6-kilometer trekking trail from Doptakhola in Gurja to Rugachaur was recently constructed with a budget of Rs 1.5 million.

This new route enables trekkers to travel between Gurja and Dhorpatan’s Gurjaghat in a single day.

With stunning mountain views, waterfalls, lakes, rhododendron forests, and diverse wildlife, the Rugachaur trekking route has immense potential to become a major tourist attraction.