MYAGDI: Surrounded by steep hills, dense forests and towering Himalayan peaks, Dovaan in Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality has emerged as a serene and attractive tourist destination in western Nepal.

Located in Ward No. 4 of the rural municipality at an altitude of around 3,000 meters above sea level, Dovaan was once used mainly as a seasonal grazing site where locals kept temporary cattle sheds during the monsoon season. Over the past two decades, however, the area has gradually transformed into an important stop along the famous Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek.

Locals say the place derives its name from the confluence of two rivers the Kunawang stream flowing from Dhaulagiri IV and the Myagdi River originating from Dhaulagiri I.

“Until a few years ago, Dovaan was known only as a grazing pasture,” said local resident Laxman Gharti. “But with the increasing movement of trekkers heading towards the Dhaulagiri expedition route and the circular trekking trail connecting Myagdi and Mustang, it has developed into a tourism hub.”

A day’s walk from Dovaan leads trekkers to the Italian Base Camp of Mount Dhaulagiri and the scenic Kunawang Lake situated at the foothills of Dhaulagiri IV. Local resident Som Pun said the lake remains remarkably clean as birds pick fallen leaves from its surface.

He also claimed that Japanese researchers have been conducting studies in the Kunawang area related to the possible habitat of the mythical Yeti, or Himalayan snowman.

Visitors can also spot wildlife such as musk deer, Himalayan goral and blue sheep in the surrounding hills. Domestic tourist Chiranjibi Paudel described Dovaan as an ideal destination for nature lovers seeking peace and solitude away from urban settlements.

The area becomes especially vibrant during spring when rhododendron forests bloom in shades of red and pink, while alpine flowers during the monsoon season further enhance its beauty.

To accommodate tourists, two hotels have been operating in Dovaan with the capacity to host around 50 guests. Visitors can also enjoy local delicacies made from wild mushrooms and bamboo shoots.

Accessibility to the remote destination has improved significantly after the construction of an access road up to the dam site of the Myagdi Khola Hydropower Project. Jeeps and motorcycles can now reach Dovaan directly.

The newly opened nine-kilometer road linking Bagar, the last settlement on the Dhaulagiri trekking route, to Dovaan has eased transportation and travel. Previously, visitors had to spend an entire day trekking through cliffs, forests and streams to reach the area.

Travelers can now reach Dovaan from Beni within about five hours. Although the number of foreign trekkers had declined in recent years due to increased use of helicopter services and alternative trekking routes from Marpha to the Dhaulagiri Base Camp, improved road connectivity has started attracting more domestic tourists to the destination.