Himal Press 
A bridge over Tamor River in Mulghat. (File Photo)
KATHMANDU: Dhankuta Municipality is developing an ancient trail used by porters to ferry daily essentials to Dhankuta and other hilly districts of eastern Nepal from the plains of Dharan into a tourism product.
Before the Dharan-Dhankuta road was constructed, the trail was the only way to ferry daily essentials and other goods to Dhankuta and other hilly districts. The trail, which passes through the difficult Akkare cliff, however, has remained unused after the road was built by Mulghat.
By upgrading the trail, Dhankuta Municipality aims to attract hundreds of tourists who visit Bhedetar, Namaste waterfall and Mulghat to Dhankuta Bazaar. The nine-kilometer trail starts from Mulghat and ends at Dhankuta Bazaar via Tekunala village. The indigenous Athpahariya people have been using this trail to visit Kok Khola and Barahakshetra since time immemorial. Athpahariya people go on an annual pilgrimage to Barahakshtra to pay respects to the departed souls in the month of October every today.
The construction of a trail till Chirbire Chautara, which lies at the foot of the Tekhunala village, has already been completed with the support of the Sustainable Tourism for Livelihood Recovery Project. “The 400-meter section of the trail has been completed a few weeks ago,” said Ratna Bahadur Rai, the chairperson of the Trail Construction Users Committee.
The total cost of the section was Rs 3.85 million. Dhankuta Municipality released Rs 2 million for the program, while the project contributed Rs 1 million. Similarly, the committee chipped in Rs 455,000, according to Bikas Adhikari of Dhankuta Municipality.
According to the municipality, the estimated cost of the project is Rs 20 million. The project also plans to develop a homestay facility at Tekunala village to showcase the culture, tradition, and lifestyle of the Athpahariya people, Chintan Tamang, Mayor of Dhankuta Municipality, said.
The project is estimated to be completed in five years.
(With inputs from RSS)
