Sport
The historic Liglige Race will return on October 15, 2026 after a two year pause. The Rising Nepal reported on October 5 that a multiparty meeting organised by Palungtar Municipality confirmed the date for the 12th edition. The municipality had already decided through its executive meeting to continue the competition, and the newer cross party agreement gives organisers a clearer basis for preparations. No start time, registration deadline or final participant list was published in the announcement.
The course begins at Chepeghat, where the Chepe and Marsyangdi rivers meet, and finishes at Ligligkot at an elevation of about 1,437 metres. Competitors will cover approximately 13.8 kilometres. That route combines a demanding climb with a destination of historical significance. The distance and finish elevation are the verified course details in the source, but the article does not specify aid stations, cut off times, transport arrangements or separate race categories.
Palungtar Municipality has formed a seven member facilitation committee to coordinate government bodies, local stakeholders and event management. Mayor Bibas Chintan said the race will be organised in a structured way and linked the revival to tourism, adventure sport and the promotion of the wider Gorkha area. The committee’s creation confirms that preparation is under way, while operational instructions for runners and spectators still require a separate official notice.
The modern competition draws on a well known account associated with Ligligkot. The Rising Nepal says Drabya Shah became king of Ligligkot after winning the race in 1616, after which the earlier tradition of selecting a ruler through the contest ended. Organisers revived the event as a cultural sporting festival in 2010. This historical framing explains why the programme is presented as more than a road or trail race, combining athletic competition with local identity and heritage.
The event was not held regularly after 2024 because of internal disputes. Kantipur reported earlier in October that the race was expected to resume on Asoj 29, corresponding to October 15, and a later report described renewed disagreement around its organisation. The October 5 multiparty meeting is therefore a meaningful update because it records a fresh decision to proceed. Even so, participants should rely on a final municipal notice for practical rules rather than treating every earlier proposal as settled.
For Palungtar and surrounding communities, the race can draw visitors to Ligligkot and create demand for local transport, meals, accommodation and guiding. Those possible benefits are an analysis of the event’s tourism role, not a published attendance or revenue forecast. The municipality has not announced the size of the field, prize amounts, sponsorship structure or expected visitor count. Coverage should celebrate the return without inventing commercial outcomes or describing the event as larger than the verified information supports.
The key confirmed facts are the October 15 date, the 12th edition, the approximately 13.8 kilometre route from Chepeghat to Ligligkot and the formation of a facilitation committee. The race is scheduled ten days after the announcement, so it falls outside the immediate 72 hour social alert window even though it qualifies as a same day feed development. The next useful update will be the municipality’s detailed race notice or, after the event, verified results and participation figures.
Source publication date: 2026-10-05. Event or reporting period: 2026-10-15.
Sources:The Rising Nepal · Kantipur · Kantipur
Source: GPT News Feed
