A new tourist attraction named Elephant View Resort on the India-Nepal border in eastern Nepal’s Bahundangi village will be inauguratedon Friday by officials of India and Nepal.
The initiative was started a decade back to alleviate the human-elephant conflict in villages in either side of the border by Nature Conservation Society, an NGO from eastern Nepal.
The area is ideal for both domestic and international tourists to view elephant herds crossing the Mechi River from India and entering Nepal to devour crops.
Incidentally, the resort had been built earlier on a low budget, but lack of financial support from the government and poor management had forced its closure.
This year, with the initiative of local social workers Arjun Karki, Rajkumar Oli, Niraj Bogati and Rajesh Baskota, the resort has been rebuilt with concrete huts in ample space. Four big cottages for guests, a large meeting hall, spacious dining hall and huts outside for meals have come up to attract tourists.
Arjun Karki, one of the directors of the resort, said, “The resort has been built not only for revenue but also to provide jobs to local youths who are migrating and falling prey to traffickers. Indian tourists visiting Nepal do not get a chance to see wild elephants numbering 100-150 at one go; this will be a golden opportunity for them.
“We provide Nepali, Chinese, Thakali, Continental and Indian dishes and use organic vegetables bought directly from local farmers. Our intention is also to promote rural tourism.”
The nearest tourist spots from the resort are Mini Mountain Picnic Spot and Krishna Thumki (Huge stone with the supposed footstep of Lord Krishna and image of a cow). (EOIC)