Tatopani Kunda, located in Singa, Beni Municipality-4 of Myagdi, renowned as a natural healing center, is undergoing significant infrastructure and technological upgrades. The upgrades aim to preserve the natural hot spring while enhancing facilities, including the construction of an office building, access roads, walkways, and outdoor pools.
According to Krishna Khadka, Chairman of the Kunda Management Committee, the improvements are being funded by the fees collected from visitors, government support, and public donations. Efforts are also underway to make the facility more technology-friendly and accessible for patients.
Last fiscal year, the main entrance to the Kunda was constructed using a budget of NPR 1.5 million from the Tourism Board’s Gandaki Province Office in Pokhara, with an additional NPR 300,000 from the committee. The entrance, built with Bhaktapur bricks, has made the Tatopani Kunda area more attractive and artistic. Other infrastructure developments include a changing room, a new roof for the main pool, walkways within the Kunda premises, and a pillar showcasing the significance of the hot spring.
To enhance the site’s beauty, various flowering plants have been planted around the Kunda. Over the past year, approximately NPR 3 million has been invested in infrastructure and facility upgrades from internal revenue. The committee is also working on constructing an artistic entrance gate and ticket counter for the outer pool and installing a system to supply hot water to 30 taps simultaneously. Additionally, efforts are being made to make the infrastructure more disabled-friendly and technology-friendly, including plans to install a lift and provide electric wheelchairs.
“We have conducted a site study with an expert technical team for lift installation. Based on their report and recommendations, we will proceed with the necessary infrastructure development,” said Chairman Khadka. “We are also preparing to offer physiotherapy and massage therapy services linked to hydrotherapy, with the required physical infrastructure and equipment in place.”
The Kunda Management Committee has reported that a building for hydrotherapy services has been constructed with an investment of NPR 5 million from the federal government and over NPR 30 million from the committee. Additionally, NPR 5 million worth of machinery and equipment has been received from the Gandaki Provincial Government.
To develop Tatopani Kunda as both a natural health center and a religious tourism site, evening aarti (prayer rituals) have been introduced every Monday since last July. According to Kumar KC, Secretary of the Kunda Management Committee, the evening aarti was started at the Shiva temple within the Kunda premises, located by the Myagdi River, to promote religious and spiritual tourism.
Approximately 20,000 people visit the main pool at Tatopani Kunda annually for natural healing, with a fee of NPR 300 charged for the service. Two new pools have been constructed for domestic tourists in the outer area.
In the fiscal year 2080/81 alone, 19,403 people visited the Kunda for healing purposes, according to Resham Bahadur Karki, an employee of the Kunda Management Committee. The committee collected NPR 6.79 million from patient fees, NPR 4.51 million from donations, NPR 609,832 from the temple, and NPR 510,911 from lifetime memberships.
“The revenue collected from patient fees is used to pay 13% VAT to the government, with 25% allocated to Beni Municipality. The remaining funds are utilized for staff salaries, support for teachers at the local Saraswati School, and further development of Kunda infrastructure,” explained Karki.
Tatopani Kunda, known for its natural hot water with a sulfur and saline scent, is believed to heal various ailments such as gastritis, nerve pain, arthritis, back pain, skin diseases, swelling, strains, bloating, and goiter. Visitors immerse themselves in the hot springs for treatment, followed by a blanket or thick clothing wrap to induce sweating, and finally, a bath in the nearby hot water taps.
