Tourist arrivals increasing in Khaptad National Park
Khaptad National Park has received encouraging number of domestic and foreign visitors after the COVID-19 infection rate in the district subsided significantly.
A total of 883 travelers visited the Khaptad region in the Sudurpaschim Province in the past seven months of the current fiscal year, according to the Khaptad National Park. Khaptad, a highly significant area in terms of religious and natural heritages, received 18 foreigners and 865 domestic tourists in the first seven months of the current fiscal year.
KHAPTAD, June 6: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' arrived in Khaptad today from Birendranagar of Surkhet on a Nepali Army Helicopter.
His presence in the famous religious and tourist site in the Sudurpaschim Province is to inaugurate an Internatio
The National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre (NEMRC) has said that 503 small to big earthquakes have occurred in the last five days, making Khaptad National Park area the epicentre since November 8.
Khaptad National Park situated at the confluence of four districts—Bajhang, Bajura, Doti and Achham—is a mystical place of ethereal beauty and home to countless Hindu shrines.
Khaptad National Park was the epicenter of the earthquake that occurred on Wednesday morning and the families of those who died due to the collapse of their houses have been provided with relief money.
Khaptad National Park situated at the confluence of four districts—Bajhang, Bajura, Doti and Achham—is a mystical place of ethereal beauty and home to countless Hindu shrines.
KHAPTAD, Jan 22: The major tourist destination in Sudurpaschim Province, Khaptad, has drawn an increasing number of domestic tourists since the second snowfall this winter last Wednesday.
The green meadow and high hills surrounding Khaptad have been clad with over a foot of snow attracting nature lovers, said the Khaptad National Park Office at Jhigrana.
Around 12 to 15 domestic tourists visit Khatpad daily since the first snowfall on 29 December last year. Although COVID-19 risks persist in the district, tourists have been visiting the place to play with snow and soak up the beauty of the snow-clad hills and meadows, said Hiralal Saun, a local.
The snowfall has stopped and sunshine makes it easier for the tourists to visit the place at noon, Saun said. Due to snowfall, Khaptad, also a protected conservational site, cold has invariably increased making it difficult for the locals for outdoor movement. Farmers are, however, elated with snowfall hoping that they can yield a bumper harvest.
Deepak Bahadur Khadka, a homestay proprietor at Jhigrana, shared that the snowy view of the hills and meadows here serves as a feast for eyes to nature and adventure lovers who have to trek to reach here.
Over 4,000 domestic tourists have visited Khaptad since mid-April last year to date, the Khaptad National Park Office said.
DOTI, August 15: The Khaptad National Park (KNP) has received encouraging number of domestic and foreign visitors after COVID-19 infection rate in the district has subsided significantly, said the authorities.
The park and surrounding areas have turned green and the lakes full with the monsoon which are also the pull factors.
Approximately 3,000 tourists, both domestic and foreign, visited the KNP amid the infection, said the park. "The infection in the district has dropped to zero. Many tourists have visited the KNP and other tourist destinations. Now the area is beautiful and charming which has attracted tourists."
There is a home stay facility and a resting place constructed at Jhigrana and Baglek, an entrance to the KNP, which has added to the incoming tourists, said Hariwan Saud, a resident of Purbichauki Rural Municipality.
The park is focal point of tourism, said Rajendra Shahi, president of the Hotel Entrepreneurs Association, Doti. "Now, Khaptad is main choice for tourists. The area could attract more tourists had there transportation and other infrastructures developed in place," he said.
Khaptad receives around 90 tourists on a daily basis, said the park.
Most of the domestic tourists visiting the KNP are from Bajura, Achham, Bajhang and Doti districts, said Karka Bahadur Singh, chairperson of the Khaptad Tourism Development Committee.
Tribeni Dham, Nagdhunga, Ashram of Khaptad Swami and 22 meadows are among tourist destinations of the area.
Besides, Ganga Dashahara Fair and a jatra on the occasion of Janai Purnima that have been organised in the area in the Nepali month of Jestha have attracted tourists, said Dinesh Thakulla, a resident of Baglek. "In previous years, hundreds of people came here to see jatras. Many people have visited here to observe cultural festivals and pageants this year too," he said. Standing 3,500 meters above sea level, the KNP is a home to 567 types of vegetation, invaluable medicinal herbs and 260 species of birds and other wild animals including musk deer, deer, wild boar, lophophorus, swamp deer, leopard and bear.
Rich in biodiversity, the area spanning in 225 square kilometers was made the Park in 2040 BS.
