Bishnu Prasad Aryal, an old tourist businessman and conservationist of the tourist area Sauraha, passed away on Monday at the age of 94. Aryal was the owner of Rhino Lodge and Hotel, which opened in Sauraha in 2040. Similarly, he was the chairman of Baghmara Central Community Forest of Sauraha Aad for three terms. He also led the association of hoteliers.

Rhino Lodge & Hotel is the 12th hotel in Sauraha. Now Po Sauraha is full of hotel resorts. Before Rhino opened, there were only 11 hotels here,” said Haribhakt Ghimire, then partner of Rhino Lodge. Ghimire said that Aryal also led the Hotel and Community Development Committee, an organization of hoteliers, and later the Regional Hotel Association (HAN) Sauraha.

Jitu Tamang, the current chairman of Baghmara Central Community Forest, said that Aryal was the chairman of Baghmara Forest for three terms from July 2049 to June 2065. Tourism is very flourishing in our forest now. But this is a forest that was once registered and tried to be usurped by land mafia. During Aryal's tenure, he played a big role in bringing back forests from land mafia and starting tourism," said Tamang.