Mugu. The mountainous district of Mugu in Karnali Province is now known not only for Rara Lake, but also as a new destination for adventure sports tourism. The first Chhayanath Trail Ultra 2026, organized for the first time in Mugu, which is considered a confluence of natural beauty, religious faith and original culture, has been successfully completed.
The competition organized by Mugum Karmarong Rural Municipality has highlighted the new potential of Mugu by linking religious tourism, adventure sports and mountain tourism in one thread. The organizers have stated that the objective of the competition is to introduce the religious significance of Chhayanath Dham to the international level, produce local players and connect the Himalayan region with sports tourism.
The competition, organized in a difficult terrain at an altitude of about 4,820 meters above sea level, is considered one of the most important trail races in the history of adventure sports in Nepal. The runners participating in the competition competed in uphill and downhill, narrow paths, cold weather and mountainous environment. The 33-kilometer-long ultra race, which started from Kimri last Sunday morning, ended at Pulu via Chhayanath Dham, Chitaikuna. The organizers say that the race, which was completed in difficult terrain, gave the participating runners an unforgettable experience.
A total of 59 runners, including 12 women and 47 men, participated in the competition. It is said that 23 of them are international-level athletes. 2 elite, 5 intermediate, 9 advanced and seven explorer category runners participated in the competition. The participation of athletes who have performed well in prestigious trail races in the country and abroad made the competition famous at the national level. Winners of famous competitions such as Everest, Manjushree, Changunarayan, Jumla-Rara and Rara Trail Run also participated.
In the men’s category, Dhir Bahadur Budha won first place by completing the prescribed distance in 3 hours 57 minutes and 12 seconds. Dal Bahadur Kunwar came second and Chandra Bahadur Rawat came third. Arjun Kulung Rai and Ramesh Limbu came fourth and fifth respectively. In the women’s category, Sunmaya Budha won the title by completing the distance in 5 hours 25 minutes 50 seconds. Rammaya Budha came second and Kalpana Budha came third. Samjeda Budha and Nirmala Rai came fourth and fifth respectively.
The winning runner, Dhir Bahadur, said that although running in the mountainous terrain was challenging in itself, the journey to Chhayanath Dham gave him a spiritual experience. He said that completing the race amidst difficult uphill and mountainous weather was an important experience of his life. The female winner, Sunmaya, said that the active participation of women in the mountainous region has given a new message. She believes that such competitions will be effective in attracting women from rural areas to sports.
The competition was organized by Mugum Karmarong Rural Municipality, in collaboration with the All Nepal Sports Foundation and with the technical support of the Nepal Adventure Running Federation. Representatives of the organizing organization have said that this competition organized in the Himalayan region is one of the most important adventure trail races in Nepal.
According to Sanjay Adhikari, Executive Director of the Nepal Sports Foundation, there is great potential for adventure sports tourism in the Himalayan districts of Nepal. He said that such competitions will play an important role in introducing the religious and natural heritage of Mugu to the world. “If the Himalayan region can be connected with sports tourism, it will have a direct impact on the local economy. It is believed that it will also contribute to the hotel business, transportation, local production and employment creation,” he said.
Tshiring Kapne Lama, Chairman of Mugum Karmarong Rural Municipality, said that the competition was organized with the aim of making Chhayanath Dham an international destination for religious and adventure tourism. According to him, Chhayanath is a center of faith for both Hindus and Buddhists. “Through this competition, we have tried to introduce Chhayanath Dham to the world and show the potential of Mugu through sports tourism,” he said.
Subash Chandra Rawal, Chief Administrative Officer of the rural municipality, said that the competition will have a positive impact on local tourism and hotel business. According to him, such international-level adventure sports programs will take Mugu’s identity to new heights and create a basis for making the local economy dynamic. The winners of the competition were awarded cash prizes, medals and certificates. The first place winners in the women’s and men’s categories received Rs 200,000 each, the second place winner Rs 150,000, the third place winner Rs 100,000, the fourth place winner Rs 75,000 and the fifth place winner Rs 50,000.
Along with the main race, a five-km ‘fun run’ was also organized at the local level. Local youth, students and sports enthusiasts participated significantly in the fun run. According to the organizers, the program has been effective in increasing the attraction towards sports at the local level. Chhayanath Dham, which has religious significance, has long been known as a center of faith. According to local beliefs, it is believed that if you worship here, your wishes will be fulfilled. It seems that an attempt is being made to develop this religious faith as a tourism product by linking it with adventure sports.
Mugu’s tourism potential is not limited to Rara Lake alone. The mountains, lakes, religious sites, herbs, and original culture here are also worth a visit.
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