SATV, Kathmandu, Aug. 21 - Mude in Lisankhu Pakhar Rural Municipality-5, Sindhupalchowk, has long been known for its famous ‘Mude potatoes’. 

The area is now gaining recognition for another local specialty, chhurpi, a dried traditional Nepali cheese.

With locally produced chhurpi gaining popularity, Mude is increasingly being recognised as a destination for the delicacy among both domestic and foreign visitors. 

More than Rs.1 million worth of chhurpi is sold daily in Mude, according to Iraj Lama, who runs a chhurpi and hotel business in the area.

Chhurpi made from the milk of yaks, cows and buffaloes raised in the Himalayan region is popular for its taste. 

Traders from Kathmandu regularly travel to Mude to purchase the locally produced cheese, which they take to the capital and other markets for sale. They also purchase Mude potatoes along with chhurpi.

Mude is a mountainous area that remains chilly throughout the year, with occasional snowfall. 

The cold climate is considered favourable for producing chhurpi, much of which is made by local women at household level.

Mude serves as a gateway to several destinations, including Okhaldhunga, Charikot, Jiri and Ramechhap, and attracts both domestic and foreign tourists. 

Tourists who stop in Mude for food and accommodation often purchase chhurpi and potatoes to take home, Lama said.

The chhurpi is made from the milk of yaks, cows and buffaloes that graze on Himalayan herbs. As local farmers produce it using traditional and organic methods, demand for Mude chhurpi has been growing.

Lisankhu Pakhar Rural Municipality chairperson Raju Lama said the local government has begun supporting and encouraging farmers involved in chhurpi production as the product has started reaching markets both within Nepal and abroad.

According to Iraj Lama, Mude chhurpi is now being exported to countries including India, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and Canada.