India’s pilgrimage rush tests Nepal’s tourism readiness

Rising Indian visitor numbers to sites like Muktinath and Swargadwari expose gaps in accommodation, food and basic services while officials argue the surge is an untapped economic opportunity.

Social media in Nepal has been flooded in recent weeks with videos and images of Indian tourists travelling across the country. Some show groups cooking food by the roadside, others depict pilgrims resting on the route to Muktinath.