Snow Leopard Cave in Mustang Overshadowed by Inadequate Infrastructure

The Snow Leopard Cave, located in Thini village of Gharapjhong Rural Municipality-5 in Mustang district, remains largely overlooked due to inadequate physical infrastructure. Despite being just a 10-minute drive from Jomsom Bazaar and a five-minute walk from Thini village, the poor condition of access roads and trails has significantly hampered visitors from reaching the cave.

Discovered in 2071 BS during the construction of a garden, the Snow Leopard Cave, which spans over 10 meters in length, offers breathtaking views of Thini village and Jomsom Bazaar. It was named after four snow leopards were captured by a camera trap near the site, highlighting the area’s rich biodiversity.

Local leaders and residents have called for urgent development and maintenance of infrastructure to make the cave more accessible. Niraj Thakali, a resident of Thini, emphasized the need for a 300-meter trail from Thini village to the cave to ease access for visitors. He also noted that the collapse of the uphill track from the Jomsom-Thini-Dhumbatal road section has made visiting the cave even more challenging.

Mustang is part of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, a region known for its rare and endangered snow leopards, making the cave a potential tourist attraction. However, the poor state of infrastructure has kept it in the shadows.

Prem Prasad Poudel, Chief of the Office of Tourism and Industry in Mustang, announced that the provincial government has allocated Rs 2 million in the current fiscal year to improve infrastructure around the cave. Poudel expressed optimism that the planned developments, including a new trekking trail, would increase the influx of visitors to the site, unlocking its potential as a significant tourist destination in the region.