In Sudurpashchim Province, a total of 22 tourism development projects have been completed under the Tourism Development Program. The projects were executed by the Tourism Development Program Implementation Unit under the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forests, and Environment of Sudurpashchim Province during the last fiscal year.
According to the Acting Chief of the Program Implementation Unit, Dabal Bahadur Bohara, out of the total allocated budget of Rs. 40,220,000, the unit spent Rs. 36,881,000 on 20 provincial tourism infrastructure projects and Rs. 2.4 million out of the Rs. 2.5 million allocated for two federal projects.
In Bajura, Rs. 3.59 million was invested in constructing railings along the trekking paths in the Badimalika Temple area, including Basudhara, Raulegol, Thiure, Laudi Vinayak, and Bhujyada. Additionally, a passenger waiting area and a field were built in Swami Kartik Khapar Rural Municipality-3, while the Dahakot waterfall in Gaumul Rural Municipality was preserved and managed.
Furthermore, Rs. 3.653 million was allocated for upgrading the trekking paths in Khaptad, and Rs. 3.528 million was spent on repairing and constructing tourist lodges at the Api Base Camp in Darchula. Other expenditures include Rs. 996,000 for the construction of the Yokharjang trekking path in Byas Rural Municipality-1, Rs. 996,000 for Malikarjun Dham tourism infrastructure, and promotion, Rs. 2.229 million for tourism infrastructure development and promotion at Godawari Dham in Kailali, and Rs. 2.996 million for infrastructure upgrades at Shivpuri Dham.
In addition, Rs. 985,000 was invested in religious tourism infrastructure development at Behadababa, Rs. 999,000 for removing invasive water hyacinths from Jakhaur and Murfutta lakes, Rs. 947,000 for constructing the Ringing Hillside Cycling Track at Budhitola, and Rs. 991,000 for building a tourist rest house in the Dolphin area of Tikapur-7.
Moreover, Rs. 1 million was allocated for the construction of structures at Triveni Dham in Tikapur-5, and religious tourism destinations at Mohana, Karnali, Bheri Karnali, and Seti Karnali in Kailali.
The integrated tourism circuit in Kailali and Kanchanpur saw Rs. 4.99 million invested in ecotourism infrastructure, while Rs. 1.988 million was spent on building a water fountain at Parashuram Dham in Dadeldhura. Additionally, Rs. 1 million was allocated for the conservation and management of the Batase waterfall in Shuklaphanta Municipality, Kanchanpur, and Rs. 1.988 million for necessary infrastructure development at Bhamkeni Dham in Bhimdatta Municipality.
Under the conditional federal grant, Rs. 1.476 million of the allocated Rs. 2.5 million was spent on constructing a garden-lined path leading to the Bhagwati Temple in Tribeni Municipality-6, Thulaghar, Pandhara, Bajura, while Rs. 984,000 was spent on building the Vaganchaur Park in Ward No. 4 of Jorayal Rural Municipality, Doti.
The Provincial Tourism Development Program Implementation Unit also announced plans to formulate an action plan from the first quarter of the current fiscal year to promote tourism and develop infrastructure in the province.
