A Martyrs’ Memorial Garden has been constructed in Dhimi Khansing of Kathekhola Rural Municipality-1, Baglung district, to honor those who lost their lives during the armed conflict. The garden, spanning two ropanis and ten annas of land, is managed by the Martyrs’ Memorial Park Conservation Center.
Kathekhola-1 Ward Chairperson Khadka Thapa stated that the garden was built to commemorate Bharat Sherchan, Nagendra Thapa, Bhadrakali Thapa, Dhanbahadur Thapa, Harkbahadur Thapa, and Chandani Thapa, who lost their lives during the conflict. Statues of these martyrs have been erected in the garden.
Construction of the garden began last year and was completed in the current fiscal year. The project was jointly funded by the Gandaki Province Government and Kathekhola Rural Municipality. According to Ward Chairperson Thapa, the province government allocated NPR 1.5 million in the fiscal year 2079/80 (2022/23) and NPR 2 million in the current fiscal year, while the rural municipality contributed NPR 200,000 last year and an additional NPR 200,000 this fiscal year.
With a total budget of NPR 3.9 million, the garden features a 350-meter walking trail, statues, a gate, paved roads, and other infrastructure. Thapa mentioned that the garden, located near the district headquarters Baglung Bazaar, is expected to promote tourism along with honoring the martyrs.
“We constructed this garden in memory of the martyrs, believing it will play a significant role in promoting tourism. The garden is linked with identity, history, and respect. We have placed statues of the martyrs from this area who sacrificed their lives for the nation,” said Thapa.
He also noted that the garden enhances the village’s beauty and that additional physical structures such as pavilions were built last year. “There are plans to develop this area into a study and observation destination by preserving records related to the conflict era near the garden,” Thapa added.
Kathekhola Rural Municipality Chairperson Raju Thapa emphasized that the garden was built to promote rural tourism. He mentioned that the municipality is also working on constructing and promoting other tourist infrastructures in different areas, with a long-term plan to expand tourism-related facilities in Kathekhola, a place with significant tourism potential.
