네팔 실종 관광객 400여명 중 외국인 340명이나…트레킹 많이 와

A large-scale landslide and flash flood hit a remote mountainous region in north-eastern Nepal, leading to a high number of foreign tourists among the missing. This area is a significant religious destination, situated near the capital Kathmandu, and offers relatively accessible trekking routes in the Himalayas. On the 27th, Reuters reported that around 340 of the approximately 400 missing tourists were foreigners, including citizens of the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan.

Among the missing, the highest number is estimated to be Indian nationals. According to a report from Kathmandu Post, 390 of the missing Kailash and Manasarovar pilgrims were expected to travel from Gaithasi-Lhasa to Nepal via China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Local travel agents said that by 3 pm that afternoon, most of the pilgrims had not been contacted.

The region around Nepal's Gaithasi-Lhasa is a crucial gateway to Tibet, connecting Nepal and Tibet via a major land route after the 2015 Nepal earthquake damaged previous border checkpoints. Pilgrims who started their journey from Kathmandu would cross the border into Tibet at Gaithasi-Lhasa and then travel through the Tibetan Plateau to reach Manasarovar Lake and Kailash Mountain, which are revered by Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Tibetan indigenous religions.

Kailash Mountain is considered the abode of Lord Shiva in Hinduism and is revered as a sacred site. Gaithasi is not only a border crossing for Tibetans but also a well-known Himalayan trekking destination for foreigners. The Langtang Valley, which includes Everest, Annapurna, and other famous trekking areas in Nepal, is particularly popular among foreigners.

Gaithasi also has a high-altitude trekking route leading to the Kailash Kund, a holy lake for Hinduism and Buddhism.