To boost tourism, a special trekking expedition from Rolpa’s Libang to the renowned tourist site Jaljala has been launched under the leadership of Deputy General Secretary of Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Center) and former Finance Minister Barshaman Pun Ananta. The trek, organized with the slogan “Let’s Visit Jaljala,” aims to promote this prime tourist destination. A group of around 50 participants began the journey from Libang on Monday, spending the night in Okhareni before reaching Jaljala’s peak on Tuesday afternoon.
Key figures joining the trek include former Speaker Onsari Gharti, Lumbini Province Chief Minister Jokh Bahadur Mahara, Lumbini Provincial Assembly member Dipendra Pun, Rolpa Municipality Mayor Surendra Gharti Thapa, along with other local leaders, officials, entrepreneurs, journalists, and artists from Rolpa district.
Organized in coordination with Rolpa Municipality, Thawang, and Sunchhahari rural municipalities, Pun’s Secretariat stated that the trek underscores a commitment to developing Jaljala as an attractive tourist destination, supporting local products, and expanding markets. Pun highlighted that the government has recently recognized Jaljala as a new tourist site, with ongoing efforts to establish the necessary infrastructure to position it as a major attraction for both domestic and international tourists.
“The trek will play a vital role in promoting cultural heritage, enhancing local production, and developing Jaljala as a prime tourist destination,” Pun emphasized.
The trek will conclude on Wednesday at Thabang after a special cultural evening hosted at Jaljala on Tuesday night, featuring local songs, dances, and literary readings of poetry, ghazals, and haikus. A similar event was held in Okhareni on Monday evening.
Jaljala: A Unique Blend of Natural Beauty and Cultural Significance
Situated at an altitude of around 3,600 meters, Jaljala is a scenic area shared by Thawang Municipality, Sunchhahari Rural Municipality, and Rolpa Municipality. The area offers panoramic views of Annapurna, Machapuchare, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, and Putha mountains, as well as a breathtaking glimpse of Rolpa district’s landscape.
Jaljala is a biodiversity hotspot, known as a habitat for the endangered red panda. Wildlife such as leopards, bears, boars, deer, ghorals, and barking deer populate the area, along with hundreds of bird species, including danphe, monal, kalij, and pheasants. The region is also home to 14 varieties of rhododendrons, including the rare white rhododendrons, creating a scenic view during the winter season.
Rich in medicinal plants, Jaljala is a natural storehouse for herbs like Himalayan yew, spikenard, chiraito, lily, cinnamon, and mint. Covering an area of 47 hectares, Jaljala also features grassy meadows. Locally known as “Gama” in the Magar Kham language, meaning “plateau on a high mountain,” Jaljala was also historically referred to as “Gong.”
Cultural and Religious Sites in Jaljala
Jaljala is not only a nature lover’s paradise but also a significant religious site with attractions like Bhama Cave and Baraha Temple. The area houses three temples dedicated to Baraha, locally known as Kailu Baraha, Bajhu Baraha, and Sahade Baraha, considered to be the origin of the Baraha deity.
Devotees from nearby districts like Salyan, Dang, Pyuthan, and Surkhet flock to Jaljala for religious purposes. Fairs are held here three times a year on Baishakh Purnima, Jestha Purnima, and Shrawan Purnima, where worshippers make offerings of goats and chickens, seeking peace, family blessings, and fulfillment of wishes.
Source: RSS
