SANGAM

Govt goes for Tarai tourism

SANGAM PRASAIN

KATHMANDU, DEC 16 - The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation is planning to decentralize the country's tourism by promoting potential tourist spots in the Tarai that possess historical, religious and cultural importance but have remained unpublicized.

A recent cabinet meeting has endorsed this initiative to promote the Tarai region and preserve its historic, religious and cultural heritage sites.

The Tourism Ministry will play a major role in developing infrastructure and preserving the ethnic and cultural heritage sites before Nepal Tourism Year 2011 (NTY 2011), said under secretary Lok Bahadur Khatri of the ministry.

The government is aiming to diversify Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims whose numbers are expected to increase significantly during NTY 2011, he added.

Khatri said that Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari in the eastern region would be developed as Birat Tourism Area. The mythology of Birat is linked with Mahabharat where King Birat had taken shelter during his return from Mahabharat. King Birat's Palace, Arjun Dhara, Kichhak's Palace, Kichhakgadh and Pandav Gupha are some of the places to see here.

Similarly, Siraha and Saptari will be promoted as Salesh Sahakada Pradesh.

Likewise, Sarlahi, Mahottari and Dhanusha will be developed as Bidhya Mithila carrying a mythological message of the Ramayana. It will also be promoted as a marriage destination.

Parsa, Bara and Rautahat will be developed as Simraon Tourism Area. Nawalparasi, Rupendehi and Kapilvastu will be developed as Lumbini Tourism Area.

Banke, Bardia, Kailali, Kanchanpur and Dang will be promoted as Chisapani Tourism Area. Of these selected areas, Bardia has been selected as Tharu Gram Study Area.

The ministry is also starting a feasibility study in these areas to develop them for home stay tourism. It has allocated Rs. 2.5 million for the home stay programme. "Some areas discovered by Tara Gaon Development Committee will be pushed forward before the NTY 2011 campaign," Khatri added.

Likewise, Sri-Antu of Ilam, Jaljala of Rolpa, Tharu Gram of Dang, Rara of Mugu, Dhimal community of Jhapa, Sirubari of Syangja and Ghalegaon of Samsung district will be developed as Model Tourism Villages. The government has allocated Rs. 4 million for this programme.