A unique resort made entirely of traditional Bhrapsa mud found in local village homes has come into operation in Larjung, Thasang Rural Municipality–2. The resort was built by local resident Gyanendra Sherchan on 12 ropani of land near the Beni–Jomsom road corridor.
Having operated a hotel business in Kathmandu for a long time, Sherchan decided to return to his birthplace after the completion of the national pride project—the Beni–Jomsom–Korala Highway—made the area more accessible. He said that due to the lack of quality hotels and the need to promote tourism in the Thasang region, he built the ‘Mud Resort’, inspired by traditional earthen houses.
Sherchan began constructing the resort in 2020. Apart from the dining hall and kitchen, the resort features 10 well-furnished rooms. Construction, which had been delayed due to COVID-19 and internal issues, has now been completed and the resort officially opened.
Built at a cost of Rs 25 million (2.5 crore), the resort was constructed entirely out of mud, without using steel rods, cement, or sand. According to Sherchan, he was inspired by earthquake-resistant and eco-friendly earthen structures seen on social media from abroad. He mentioned that due to a lack of adequate local knowledge about such construction techniques, the cost turned out to be slightly higher than expected.
“The rooms are built entirely with mud. Our goal is to provide visitors a peaceful and comfortable stay in a natural environment,” Sherchan said. “Located at an altitude of 2,500 meters above sea level, the area offers year-round livable weather conditions, which is why I chose to build a mud-based resort here.”
Sherchan shared his plans to establish an adventure office, stream bath, souvenir shop, and several showrooms near the resort in the near future. He also intends to decorate the resort’s exterior walls with paintings depicting Himalayan religious and cultural identity, biodiversity, and tourist attractions, adding to its visual appeal.
“I had run a hotel in Kathmandu for many years after leaving my village,” he said. “But the rapid development happening in my hometown encouraged me to return. With hundreds of thousands of tourists visiting Muktinath and Korala Pass every year, I saw huge tourism potential here and decided to start a new kind of hospitality business right in my birthplace.”
The Thasang Rural Municipality area is home to Titi Lake, Bhutcho Lake, Sekung Lake, Dhaulagiri Icefall, Lupsang Kharka, and Gurusangwo Cave, all of which have religious, cultural, and ecological significance. Locals believe the new resort will help promote these attractions further. The Kaligandaki Valley also hosts adventure activities such as motorbike races and cycling trails, making Thasang an ideal destination for adventure tourists. The region’s dense forests and yak pastures have recently made it a popular filming location for Nepali movies.
“Despite its potential, Thasang still lags behind other parts of the district in terms of development,” Sherchan said. “I returned to my village hoping to contribute to its growth through this resort. The positive feedback from visitors so far has been very encouraging. I’m confident that increased tourist activity will boost both local tourism and the economy.”
