The Dhorpatan region is currently lush and green, with colorful flowers blooming in the valley and hills, welcoming visitors. Many domestic and international tourists visit Dhorpatan during this season to enjoy nature.
However, with the onset of the monsoon, tourists face difficulties due to floods, landslides, and road upgrades. The road from Burtibang market, the gateway to Dhorpatan, becomes particularly challenging for visitors.
To reach Dhorpatan, tourists must use the Saljhandi-Dhorpatan road, a national priority project. There are no alternative roads to Dhorpatan yet. The journey from Burtibang to Dhorpatan covers 32 kilometers.
Two years ago, the government awarded a contract to upgrade about 22 kilometers of this road, but the work has not been completed yet. As a result, tourists face hardships while reaching Dhorpatan. Despite Dhorpatan being an evergreen beauty and Nepal’s only hunting reserve, some tourists find themselves stranded due to the poor road conditions, said Gam Bahadur Pun of Dhorpatan Municipality-9.
“Many tourists prefer to visit Dhorpatan during this time due to the greenery all around. However, the poor road conditions make it difficult for visitors to reach here easily. While the journey from Burtibang to Bobang village is manageable, the travel beyond that is extremely challenging,” he said.
The narrow, pothole-ridden, and muddy roads prevent tourist vehicles from reaching Dhorpatan. Most tourists travel by motorcycle or jeep during this season. Landslides and road damage due to lack of upgrades often leave tourists stranded mid-journey, Pun added. He also mentioned that even in winter, transportation is difficult, and the monsoon season exacerbates these issues.
Pun noted that the long-standing problem of the road not being upgraded despite the track being open for a long time affects both locals and tourists the most.
“Tourists come from far and wide to visit Dhorpatan, but many vehicles break down due to the road conditions, leaving tourists stranded. The concerned authorities and the state should have pressured the contractors to repair the road on time. The lack of a proper road also increases transportation costs for local agricultural products like potatoes and apples,” he said.
The road section from Saljhandi in Rupandehi to Baglung via Arghakhanchi, connecting the Terai and hills, opened in 2071 BS. The road from Gangare in Badigad to Dhorpatan covers 61 kilometers within Baglung district, while the total distance from Saljhandi to Dhorpatan is 197 kilometers.
Three years ago, a contract was signed to upgrade the road from Gangare in Badigad Rural Municipality-10 to Dhorpatan via Rajkut in Nisikhola Rural Municipality-7 and Devisthan in Ward No. 1.
By the end of the contract period, only 30% of the work was completed, according to Anju Pariyar, Chief of the Saljhandi-Dhorpatan Road Project Office. The office had signed a contract worth Rs 250 million with Swachhanda/Om Buddha JV to upgrade the road from Burtibang to Falleghar within 30 months. Despite continuous reminders to the construction company to complete the work on time, the deadline has expired, she said.
Pariyar mentioned that the construction company has extended the deadline until the end of the upcoming Poush (mid-January). If the work is not completed by then, the contract will be terminated. “The construction company initially worked at a fast pace but later slowed down. The office has been sending letters according to the rules, urging them to complete the work. The deadline has been extended until Poush, and if the work is not completed by then, the contract will be canceled. Due to budget constraints, we have not been able to pay the construction company Rs 10 million for the work done,” she said.
Acting Chief of Dhorpatan Municipality, Dhan Bahadur Kayat (Kalyan), stated that thousands of locals and visitors face difficulties due to the road not being completed on time. He complained that despite the municipality’s support to complete the work on time, the construction company did not do the work.
Since the project is under the federal government, the municipality cannot work on it, but they have been working to clear the road during floods and landslides, Kayat informed. Due to the road conditions, thousands of tourists visiting Dhorpatan return from Burtibang itself.
