Construction of foot trails given priority to attract tourists in Hatuwagadhi

KATHMANDU, August 21: Construction of footpaths and trekking trails has been started to bring domestic and foreign tourists to the historical Hatuwagadhi area. The construction of a tourist trail has been started in Jorahale, Shankhamchuli, and Dimalung of Hatuwagadhi Rural Municipality.

It is said that the rural municipality will construct a footpath at a cost of Rs 13.4 million in the area which is full of natural beauty.

According to the rural municipality, the construction of the footpath has started with the aim of connecting the Hatuwa area with the main tourism. Mahesh Niraula, the chief administrative officer of the rural municipality, said that by bringing in internal and external tourism, the rural municipality can be linked to economic development.

"To develop the village as a main tourist area, we have started the construction of a popular tourist footpath. The construction of about 6 kilometers of the footpath is in the final stage. We have allocated a budget for its further expansion and development,” he said. Niraula also informed that a budget of Rs 15 million rupees has been allocated in partnership with the rural municipality and the central government for the further development and expansion of footpaths this financial year.

Premkumar Rai, chairman of the rural municipality, said that the work has been carried forward by keeping the footpath as a project of pride as it will connect the entire rural municipality with tourism. “It will be easy to promote tourism after the construction of the under-construction concrete bridge of Chuhar connecting Bhojpur with Terai. In the future, it will play an important role in the development of the rural municipality from the point of view of internal and external tourism,” he added.

The footpath is being constructed on the basis of Hatuwagadhi pond. After the completion of the concrete bridge at the mouth of the Dudhkosi river, Rai said that there will be an increase in the arrival of tourists to Ghodetar, the center of the rural municipality, which is 65 km from Dharan, Itahari, and Biratnagar.

Sanjal Rai, ward chairman of Ward-9, said that the history of Bhojpur is also connected with the fort, which was ruled by the historical Kirat kings of Bhojpur. He said that historical Hatuwa will be promoted through the footpath.