There is a risk of budget freeze due to lack of agreement to build a tourist trail from Dhorpatan to Bukipatan, while tourists and farmers are suffering during the rainy season.
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The number of tourists visiting Dhorpatan has increased since the previous fiscal year. Tourists who come here do not only visit the valley, but also reach Buki and Tikadhara. Some want to go to Falgune Dhuri as an adventure tourism.
But the road to get there is difficult. Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve allows tourists to visit the reserve by charging a normal entry fee. But tourists who go there only visit the valley of Dhorpatan and return. Due to the lack of trekking routes, few tourists reach Buki and Tikadhara. Tourists who have reached Bukipatan and returned complain that they have to travel at their own risk on slippery, difficult roads.
The best time for Buki is from Jestha to Bhadau. During this time, the roads become slippery due to the rains. Therefore, the district-based Integrated Services Office has planned a tourist trail 'Dhorpatan-Bukipatan-Phalgune to Surtiwang' in the current fiscal year. The Rs. 1.5 million plan for the construction of stairs in the current year has not yet been agreed upon.
The agreement has not been reached after the reserve office did not give its consent despite repeated correspondence and meetings between the office and the reserve office. The reserve has stopped the agreement, saying that the consent of the Forest Ministry is required.
This office under the provincial ministry does not have direct access to the federal forest ministry. ‘We will build a footpath for Rs. 1.5 million, we will not spoil the environment, it is enough if the reserve gives permission,’ said Narayan Rijal, branch officer of the office, ‘The budget is in danger of being frozen because consumers are not allowed to sit on the committee and do not create an environment for discussion.’ The office had set the budget after tourists traveling in that section complained about the lack of a road during the rainy season.
In the last fiscal year 2081/082, the then Ministry of Tourism had allocated Rs. 2 million to build a footpath from Dhorpatan to Bukipatan through the Industry and Tourism Office. The Tourism Office was troubled by the budget. Employees and consumers were forced to visit dozens of departments and ministries to complete the 2 million-dollar plan.
A 9-month-long tug-of-war between the Industry and Tourism Office Baglung, the Ministry of Tourism Pokhara and the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve began over the construction of a structure inside the hunting reserve. At the end of the year, the office received permission to build a one and a half meter wide trail under the direct supervision of the reserve.
The work was done by visiting the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Forests, the Chief Minister's Office, the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Department, and the Council of Ministers' Office. It did not work in the last fiscal year. This time, Rijal says that this budget was allocated again due to the demand of locals and tourists. Even now, it is difficult to reach a plan agreement.
500 meters of stairs have been built with the previous year's budget. Since rest areas and places to rest have been built, building a circular trail will extend the stay of tourists and thus increase the income of the reserve, said the office head Shiva Sharma.
Homestays have increased in Dhorpatan in recent times. Hotel operators said that the hotel and homestay business has also flourished as tourists from Pokhara, Chitwan, and Kathmandu reach Dhorpatan. Many have also promoted Dhorpatan and Buki through social media. Tourists reach Patan, where the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Office is located, by car.
There is only a Lekali gorge that goes to Buki via Dhorpatan. One is forced to travel on foot to places like Garpacheda, Chepta Dhunga, Sanghure Gaunda, Antarethari, Thado Khola, Dhunge Deurali. Jaljala, Surtiwang, Tikadhara and Jalpa Lakes have increased tourist attraction. Dhorpatan Municipality-9 Chairman Khimhadur Gharti said that if a footpath is constructed to easily take tourists to those places, 50,000 to 100,000 tourists can be brought in annually. But he said that since the staircase at the same place could not be constructed, tourists will have to suffer again during the rainy season.
Ranger Sagar Subedi of the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Office said that only the Forest Ministry can give permission to build structures within the reserve. ‘They were coming, but we sent them to come with the permission of the Forest Ministry,’ Subedi said, ‘We will not stop them if the ministry’s documents come.’ He said that the reserve will facilitate the protection of the local environment. He said that there is a provision to obtain permission to excavate rocks within the reserve.
Sharma said that local stone footpaths and wooden resting places have been built to protect the environment of Dhorpatan. Engineer Sujan Darai claimed that even the bridges built across the ravine were made of wood. Local sheep farmers are also in trouble due to the lack of trails and footpaths in the Dhorpatan and Buki areas. Local farmer Govinda Adai said that it is difficult to go to graze sheep due to the difficult trails.
