Homestays and Heritage Trail Put Lamjung's Singdi Village on Tourist Map

Singdi, a traditional Gurung settlement in Lamjung’s Kwholasothar Rural Municipality-5, is establishing itself as a rural travel destination through community-run homestays and trail infrastructure, according to local news reports.

National news agency Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS)—carried by Onlinekhabar, Ratopati, and Nepal Television—reported that the village has drawn steady traffic after integrating into the Gurung Heritage Trail. Khabarhub noted that 18 out of the settlement's 235 households now manage homestay facilities, which first began welcoming visitors informally in 2076 BS before receiving formal regulatory registration in 2081 BS.

Hukum Bahadur Gurung, chairperson of the Singdi Community Homestay, told reporting outlets that the village hosts roughly 100 travelers per month, primarily student groups and visitors arriving in chartered vehicles for overnight stops. Guests are charged an overnight rate of Rs 1,100 per person, which covers lodging along with traditional meals prepared from locally cultivated rice, millet, vegetables, and poultry.

Local organizers host indigenous cultural performances, including Ghatu, Sorathi, and Krishna Charitra dances, while showcasing heritage landmarks such as local Buddhist monasteries and the Devisthan shrine.

Singdi's appeal is tied closely to wider trekking routes linking Kaski, Lamjung, and Manang. The Gurung Heritage Trail passes through historical pastoral paths, seasonal pastures, and sheep stations, affording views of the Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, Lamjung, Himlung, Ganesh, Himalchuli, and Manaslu peaks. To enhance access, local authorities and communities are paving a connecting route toward Krapu Danda in Kaski's Madi Rural Municipality-2, where about 1,300 meters of stone staircases have already been completed.

Surya Prasad Gurung, chairperson of Kwholasothar Rural Municipality, stated that municipal authorities are prioritizing road connectivity and trail maintenance to support eco-tourism. The local government has also introduced vocational training in hospitality and agricultural processing, including pickle making, alongside upgrades to religious infrastructure and village gateways.

Residents say the tourism footprint has spurred domestic improvements without replacing agrarian routines. Yog Prasad Gurung, a 66-year-old local resident cited across the coverage, said homestays have created supplementary income and elevated village sanitation standards, easing exclusive dependence on subsistence agriculture.