An ashram building has been constructed in Mahashila, located in Ward 5 of the Lungkhudewarali area in Parbat, aimed at catering to the needs of religious tourists. The project was funded with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, with a total investment of NPR 32 million.
Construction of the three-story building began in September 2021 and has recently been completed. The facility includes 17 rooms, a hall for training, workshops, and seminars, as well as spaces for yoga and meditation.
According to Pushparaj Poudel, chairman of the Mahashila Religious and Tourism Development Organization, the building was designed to enhance the experience of both domestic and international tourists visiting Mahashila for sightseeing and study. Most of the construction work has now been completed.
For the current fiscal year, NPR 15 million has already been allocated to begin services from the new building. Poudel noted that the ashram can accommodate more than 50 individuals at once, offering tourists free lodging and meals.
With the recent completion of a permanent motor road to Lungkhudewarali, the influx of tourists from places such as Pokhara, Syangja, Gulmi, Butwal, and Palpa has been steadily increasing, as reported by local resident Saraswati Adhikari. She mentioned that it takes more than ten minutes to walk around Mahashila.
Festivals and fairs are held at Mahashila during occasions such as Ekadashi, Balachaturdashi, Shivaratri, Ram Nawami, and Akshaya Tritiya. The village itself is named after this prominent rock formation, which rises 130 meters high and spans nearly ten ropanis of land. Local residents have generously donated land for various constructions in the rock area, and Poudel confirmed that the rock’s ownership now encompasses nearly 20 ropanis.
The Mahashila Rural Municipality has developed a master plan for the site’s development, allocating NPR 700 million for future projects. Ishwori Prasad Bhusal, chairman of the rural municipality, stated that they are progressing with the implementation of the master plan.
Source: RSS
