To promote tourism within Nepal’s national parks, the Nepal Army is organizing the ‘Tour de Banke National Park’ cycling event. The event is scheduled for December 1, 2024, and will take place from the Shree No. 4 Battalion Headquarters in Imam Nagar Barracks, located in Ranjha, Nepalgunj.
The event’s purpose is to raise awareness and promote Banke National Park as a prime tourist destination. Battalion Commander Deepak Gurung explained that the event aims to showcase the park’s wildlife, including various species of animals, birds, and mammals, and its stunning landscapes, such as the picturesque Chure hills. He emphasized that if tourism development is linked to these unique features, Banke National Park could become a popular destination for both domestic and international tourists.
Commander Gurung urged that the park should not always be considered a ‘young’ national park, noting that Banke National Park has the potential to be a central tourist hub. He pointed out the existing trend where many tourists, after visiting Banke, travel to Bardiya National Park and then to Chitwan National Park, a pattern the Nepal Army hopes to shift by positioning Banke National Park as the focal point for wildlife enthusiasts.
The park’s proximity to well-developed areas like Kohalpur and Nepalgunj, which have good hotels, and the presence of an airport in Ranjha, make it a promising spot for tourism development. Gurung emphasized that the Army’s goal is to showcase Banke National Park globally and attract more visitors by hosting the cycling event on December 1.
The event, which will take place within the park’s core area, will cover a 16-kilometer route starting from Bhachhapur in Dhakheri and ending at Ranbam Gana in Heqwa Over, as shared by co-organizer, Major Praveen Thapa. This cycling event has been held annually to promote Bardiya National Park, but this year, it will be focused on Banke.
Around 100 cyclists from various regions, including Banke, Bardiya, Dang, Surkhet, and Butwal, are expected to participate. Of these, about 50 cyclists will be from the Banke Cycling Association, while the rest will come from the Nepal Army. Gagan Thapa, President of the Banke Cycling Association, highlighted the importance of the cycling event in introducing Banke National Park to the world.
The event is anticipated to aid in the conservation and promotion of the park’s wildlife, including its flora, fauna, wetlands, medicinal plants, and forest areas. The Nepal Army’s 4th Division Headquarters hopes the event will contribute significantly to preserving the park’s natural resources and attracting more visitors in the future.
Banke National Park has been under Nepal Army protection since its establishment in 2010, with the Gorkhadal Battalion initially handling security. Following the stationing of the Shree Mehr Battalion in 2017 and the Arjunban Battalion in 2020, the current security operations are managed by the Ranbam Battalion.
This event aims to highlight Banke National Park’s tourism potential, with the Nepal Army leading the effort to make the park a global tourism destination.
