In a significant step toward positioning Butwal as a strategic tourism hub in Nepal, the Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City has unveiled an extensive annual policy and program to establish the city as a religious and cultural rest stop. The policy is specifically aimed at Buddhist pilgrims heading to Lumbini and Hindu devotees en route to Muktinath.
Mayor Khel Raj Pandey presented the city’s annual policy and program during the municipal assembly today, highlighting a strategic vision that integrates religious tourism, infrastructure development, skill-based employment, and cultural preservation.
Tourism-Focused Vision: Butwal as a Resting Point for Pilgrims
At the heart of this year’s policy is the goal of transforming Butwal into a “tourist resting destination.” With its strategic location between Lumbini and Muktinath, Butwal holds a unique geographical advantage. The municipality plans to collaborate with other local governments to promote the city as a layover point for both domestic and international tourists.
Under the slogan ‘Let’s Visit Butwal’, the city has also announced Butwal Visit Year for the current fiscal year. This campaign will include digital promotion, display boards at strategic sites, and enhanced tourist services to increase both internal and external tourist arrivals.
Promoting Key Attractions and Building New Tourism Corridors
To reinforce the tourism infrastructure, the policy outlines detailed plans to promote and upgrade major tourist destinations such as:
- Jitgadhi Fort and War Museum
- Manimukund Garden
- Hill Park, Milan Park, and Peace Park
- Siddhababa Dham and Muktinath Dham
- Narainapur Dham, Baitolia Lake, and Bhairav Park
- Tharu Cultural Museum and Laxmi Park
The municipality has also proposed the construction of a pedestrian trail in Butwal–Nuwakot area, aiming to develop it as Shiv Park. Further plans include the establishment of Colonel Ujir Singh Park, Ramapithecus Park, and the installation of a Buddha statue in Hill Park, adding cultural depth to the city’s recreational spaces.
Green and Bright Roads: Beautification Drive Underway
In an effort to enhance the urban aesthetic and promote eco-tourism, the municipality will beautify several road stretches including:
- Yogikuti to Chidiya Khola
- Ramnagar to Tamnagar
- Belbas–Bethari Road
- Tamnagar–Shuddhodhan Road
These roads will be transformed into “bright and green roads,” featuring enhanced lighting, greenery, and pedestrian-friendly facilities to offer a pleasant experience to travelers.
Strategic Tourism Linkages: Promoting Triangular Routes
The policy also emphasizes promoting triangular tourism circuits, particularly:
- Butwal–Chitwan–Pokhara Route
- Butwal to major religious and cultural destinations like Lumbini, Resunga, Supadeurali, Rani Mahal, Palpa, Triveni, and Banke–Bardiya National Park.
This strategy seeks to integrate Butwal into larger tourist routes, enhancing its visibility and utility as a midpoint in long-distance travel.
Empowering Women Through Skills and Local Enterprise
Mayor Pandey’s program places significant focus on skill development and employment generation, particularly for homemaker women. Under the Homemaker Women Employment Program, the city plans to:
- Organize women into cooperatives and networks at ward and city levels.
- Establish a dedicated production and sales center (Koseli Ghar) to market locally produced items.
- Use these products as souvenirs and symbols of Butwal to promote local identity and entrepreneurship.
This approach aligns with the municipality’s broader objective of inclusive economic growth through skill-oriented policies.
Health and Welfare: Free Blood Supply and Skill Investment
Health and social welfare have also received attention in this year’s policy. The municipality will continue to provide subsidies to the local blood transfusion center, thereby ensuring free blood and blood products for Butwal residents during medical treatments.
Simultaneously, the city has committed to investing in employment-oriented skills training, with a special focus on youth and marginalized communities. This includes establishing training centers and facilitating employment linkages for trained individuals.
Cattle Management and Sustainable Livestock Policy
The policy also outlines measures for better cattle management, including the expansion of Gaushalas (cattle shelters). Plans are in place to:
- Improve facilities at Shivanagar Gaushala (Ward No. 7)
- Establish a Multipurpose Kamdhenu Gaushala at Charpala Community Forest in Ward 12.
- Coordinate with Lumbini Province and local governments to build a Cow National Park along the Bardaghat–Dang corridor to manage stray cattle and protect animal welfare.
Butwal Sets a Bold Agenda for Transformational Growth
The 2025/26 fiscal policy of Butwal Municipality reflects a transformative vision aimed at making the city a key religious tourism stop, economic hub, and cultural heritage site. By aligning tourism promotion with employment, social welfare, and urban beautification, Butwal is poised to strengthen its role in the national tourism landscape.
With the active engagement of local communities, strategic partnerships, and targeted campaigns like Visit Butwal Year, the municipality has laid out an ambitious but achievable roadmap to elevate Butwal into one of Nepal’s most vibrant and visitor-friendly cities.
