Before the Corona infection, 12,000 tourists visited Shuklaphanta in one year, the number of visitors to the park decreased to only 3,722 in the last financial year.
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As soon as Shuklaphanta National Park is mentioned, many immediately think of Baharsinga. In the park's 54 square kilometers of vast grasslands, large herds of antelopes can be seen. According to the latest count, the number of elephants here is more than 2300.
The area of Shuklaphanta National Park is 350 square kilometers. Shuklaphanta is also known as the park with more tigers in less area. In the monitoring done this year, there are 43 adult tigers here. The number of adult rhinos in the park has also reached 23. The number of Krishnasars who were transferred a decade ago has also reached 306. There are 461 species of birds in the park.
This park has more than half a dozen lakes including Rani Tal, Sikari Tal and Kalikich. There is also ample grassland with diversity in the forest area. A study is also being done to include Sikari Lake in the Ramsar list.
Looking at the condition of the forest and wildlife, the number of visitors to the park is decreasing every year, even though there is enough potential for tourism in Shuklaphanta. In the last fiscal year, the number of visitors to the park was 3,722. Last year, 4,066 tourists visited Shuklaphanta. "The number of tourists has not increased due to the lack of quality hotels and other tourist infrastructure around the park and expensive air fares," Purushottam Wagle, conservation officer of Shuklaphanta National Park, said at the tourism development program organized by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
Before corona infection, around 12,000 tourists visited Shuklaphanta in one year. According to the park office, 12,138 tourists entered the park in the fiscal year 2074/75. After that, the number of tourists in the park has decreased. "Even now, the bridge is being constructed from forest path to machan and nadinala," said Chandrashekhar Chaudhary, senior conservation officer of the park, "but we have a very low budget, we are working with the help of partner organizations."
He said that even in the current financial year, the budget for tourism infrastructure is only around 3 million. Since it is connected to the border region, it seems that if more Indian tourists can be brought in, the tourism development of this region can be leapfrogged. But the stakeholders say that they have not been able to attract Indian tourists due to the uncomfortable behavior at the checkpoint and the lack of vehicles.
Even in the programs and activities of the Nepal Tourism Board, Shuklaphanta has not been publicized so far. "Now the promotion of Shuklaphanta will be given priority," said Narendradev Bhatt, a member of the board's management committee. He said that since the establishment of the Provincial Office of the Tourism Board in Far West, preparations are being made to establish a Tourist Information Center in Gaddachouki. He also informed that the budget has been allocated to promote Purnagiri Mela.
Even now, within Shuklaphanta Park, there is no road facility that can be used for safari for twelve months. It is not possible to go on a safari in the eastern region and the western region at the same time due to the absence of a bridge across the Chaudhar River. There is a
that can attract more tourists if a classy hotel or resort can be operated outside the park. But now, apart from one or two hotels in Mahendranagar market, there is also a lack of quality hotels for those who want to enjoy nature around the park.
The much anticipated Majhgaon Airport is under construction for tourism development. After the construction of the airport, it is expected that the traffic of tourists will increase along with the park and the surrounding areas. But with that, stakeholders say that it is necessary to increase private sector investment from other infrastructure.
