A new road in Nepal connects the Everest region to Kathmandu, replacing the essential flight to Lukla.
In November 2011, more than 3,000 tourists were stranded in Lukla after bad weather grounded flights for over a week. This left both tourists and locals in a tough spot as food supplies ran low, causing a lot of frustration.
Instead of spending $180 on an airline ticket, tourists had to pay up to $500 per person to return to Kathmandu by helicopter.
Inclement weather and strong winds frequently leave hundreds of visitors stranded at Lukla airport during the busiest travel seasons in the spring and fall.
Problems get worse during the winter and monsoon seasons, though these areas see very few tourists at that time. In bad weather, trekkers can walk up to Jiri, following the same path that Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa took during their historic ascent to the top of the world on May 29, 1953.
The 64-kilometer road stretches from the village of Surkhe to Salleri, just a short distance from Everest. “This road will make our lives easier,” said Jangmu Sherpa, who owns a lodge along the route to Everest.
The project of connecting Everest region started in 2014
The government decided to open a road to the Everest region with the project, called the Highway to Everest, starting in 2014. However, the devastating 2015 earthquake halted the progress.
After the 2017 elections, which brought local governments under a federal system, the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality took charge of pushing the project forward.
Nearly a decade later, the Khumbu region became accessible by road. On January 4, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inaugurated the dirt road leading up to Surkhe, which will eventually reach Chaurikharkha, situated between Lukla and Namche Bazaar.
“This is a landmark development for the Everest region,” said Jagat Prasad Bhusal, the chief administrative officer of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality. “The road will greatly reduce transport costs for trekkers heading to Everest and help bring in essential supplies for locals.”
Accessible to economic opportunities
The new road between Kathmandu and the Everest region will boost tourism, improve supply logistics, and reduce transportation costs.
While businesses are already witnessing cost reductions in products like oranges and LPG cylinders, local communities are rejoicing in the increased tourism and commerce opportunities.
However, mountaineering purists and environmentalists worry about the road. Increased foot traffic may cause pollution, stress on available resources, and disturbance of the natural environment.
Although it is unclear if it will be possible to make the area emission-free with electric vehicles, authorities are promising stringent environmental measures in spite of these worries, including proposals to restrict commercial helicopter flights.
The new road, officially opened on January 4, now makes it easier to reach one of the most isolated areas of the planet, replacing the previously costly and difficult trek.
Many residents are optimistic about the road’s potential to change the Everest region, making it more accessible and sustainable in the long run, despite some being concerned about its ecological impact.
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