POKHARA, Feb 26: While cities and villages across the country are gripped by election fever, tourist destinations in the high mountainous regions remain quiet, untouched by the noise of campaigning.
In the bustling city of Pokhara, discussions about the upcoming polls are inescapable, echoing from tea shops to classrooms. Even in the villages, farmers pause their work to debate the political atmosphere. But for residents of remote trekking regions like Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) and the Mardi Himal area, the election feels like a distant event playing out on their mobile phone screens.
At ABC in Annapurna Rural Municipality–11, tourism entrepreneur Jagan Bahadur Gurung reports no sign of election fever. "We haven't really been touched by it," he said. "We're busy serving guests and have no time to worry about anything else. The excitement hasn't reached the mountainous region."
Silence period for vice-presidential election begins tonight
While they have seen election updates online, no candidate or party worker has made the trek to seek their votes. Residents from these areas must descend for hours to places like Chhomrong to cast their ballots. "Election talk exists only up to Chhomrong. The election campaign has had no impact on trekking region," Gurung said. "No one has come for campaigning, nor has anyone called. Perhaps because it's more of a business area than a permanent settlement."
Despite the political neglect, Gurung, a registered voter, plans to make the journey downhill to vote. "But we've always remained distant from politics. Political developments do affect tourism, yet political parties never try to include us."
The sentiment is echoed in the Mardi Himal region within Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality–9. Here, too, the landscape is free of campaign posters and political rallies. Local entrepreneur Chimanarayan Gautam noted the stark contrast with the rest of the country. "Elections are visible in cities and somewhat in villages. But here in the mountainous region, it is quiet," he said. "We haven't been touched by election discussions."
Gautam explained that political parties have never campaigned in the tourist settlements above Siding, which include areas like Low Camp and High Camp. "Not only now, but they have never come to seek votes before," he said, adding that this neglect doesn't diminish his right to vote. He will descend to Saidighatta to cast his ballot. "Just because parties neglect us doesn't mean we should forget our voting rights."
Both regions are currently welcoming the start of the tourist season with a steady flow of visitors. Around 50 trekkers are making their way to ABC daily, while the Mardi Himal region is seeing about 90 visitors, mostly foreigners. For now, their focus remains on their guests, the mountains, and their businesses, far removed from the political fray below.
