The B.P.-Pushpalal Bakita, located in Mechinagar Municipality-6, Kakarbhitta, has become a prominent center of tourist attraction. Situated adjacent to the bustling Kakarbhitta market, the park draws daily visitors for strolls and photo sessions.
The bakita boasts a picturesque garden, dedicated selfie spots, and water fountains, along with full-sized statues of B.P. Koirala and Pushpalal Shrestha, two prominent leaders of Nepal’s democratic movement. Gopal Chandra Budathoki, the Mayor of Mechinagar Municipality, explained that the idea of erecting statues of these leaders in a single location was conceived after the successful restoration of multi-party democracy in 1990, led by the Nepali Congress and the United Left Front.
Following this concept, local leaders from the Nepali Congress and the Nepal Communist Party (UML) established the B.P.-Pushpalal Bakita and Martyrs’ Memorial Foundation. On January 29, 2022, former Provincial Assembly Member Shriprasad Mainali laid the foundation stone for the statues of B.P. Koirala and Pushpalal Shrestha. The statues, along with the park, were inaugurated by Mayor Budathoki on May 21, 2023. The bakita, covering 12 katthas of land owned by Mechinagar Municipality, now stands as a significant landmark.
Local hotelier Ram Bahadur Tamang noted that tourists from India and Bangladesh visiting Kakarbhitta often make it a point to visit the bakita. “Tourists staying at our hotels frequently ask for nearby places to visit,” Tamang said. “We direct them to B.P.-Pushpalal Bakita, where they enjoy the scenery and take photos. Many also make videos for TikTok and Reels.”
Tamang, who also chairs the Bakita Construction Committee, mentioned that the park was built with an investment of NPR 3 million from the Koshi Province government and NPR 500,000 from Mechinagar Municipality. He added that more budget is needed to further enhance the park’s beauty.
B.P. Koirala, the founding leader of the Nepali Congress, and Pushpalal Shrestha, the founding General Secretary of the Nepal Communist Party, are regarded as the most respected figures in Nepalese politics. Their statues in the same park make B.P.-Pushpalal Bakita a political pilgrimage site for followers of both ideologies.
Raj Karki, the Chairperson of the UML Mechinagar, stated, “On Pushpalal Memorial Day, observed on July 22 each year, we gather at this bakita to pay tribute and remember his contributions.” He added, “Similarly, the Nepali Congress members gather here a day earlier to honor B.P. Koirala, a leading figure in the democratic movement.”
This year, UML leaders and activists, gathered on Monday for Pushpalal Memorial Day, and expressed equal respect for both Pushpalal and B.P. Koirala. On the preceding Sunday, the Nepali Congress Mechinagar organized a memorial ceremony where leaders and activists adorned the statues of both figures with Rudraksha garlands and paid their respects.
