The 'Kopche Renaissance Campaign' has been launched under the leadership of locals.
We use Google Cloud Translation Services. Google requires we provide the following disclaimer relating to use of this service:
This service may contain translations powered by Google. Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, expressed or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and noninfringement.
The Kopche area of Dhankuta district headquarters was once the major trading center of the Koshi hill districts.
Kopche was known as the main center for providing clothes, food and daily necessities in districts including Dhankuta, Tehrathum, Bhojpur and Sankhuwasabha.
As the saying goes, ‘Wherever the road leads, there is trade’, the former trading center and its hustle and bustle gradually declined. As the road network expanded to villages, Kopche gradually became deserted. Trade was divided, shops moved and the hustle and bustle in Kopche disappeared.
But now, local youth are trying to break that silence again. A ‘Kopche Renaissance Campaign’ has been launched under the leadership of locals. Local youth Ujwal Karmacharya says that various programs are being organized to preserve the identity of Kopche and connect the new generation with history.
He says that special programs in the new year, ‘Kopche Fest’, Newari Food Festival, open dialogue and gatherings have started to increase the hustle and bustle in the market area again.
Dhankuta has two Kopches, the lower and upper. The upper Kopche has launched the Orange City campaign to promote locality. All the houses here have been painted orange. Various programs have started being held, especially focusing on the century-old historical Thursday Hatiya.
The disappearing game of 'Baghchal' has been revived. Exhibitions of traditional handicrafts, local products and original culture have started to give a glimpse of the old Kopche. The attraction of Kopche is its architecture and originality. Houses made of jhingti and teliya bricks are still there. The pati-pauwa, which were about to disappear, have been reconstructed in their original form.
Local Ashish Karmacharya says that even the newly built hotels and restaurants have been built in a way that reflects the old style. He says, 'Only when originality survives, history survives.' He said that they are conscious of not erasing identity in the name of modernity and development. The work of collecting old documents, photos and stories related to Kopche and putting them on an internet platform has also begun.
Old photos are being made public through physical exhibitions and social media. Local Rajendra Bahadur Pradhan says, ‘Kopche is becoming a must-visit destination for those who are interested in old things and love originality.’ Locals say that the number of people visiting Kopche is gradually increasing.
This area is becoming attractive for those interested in history, culture and original architecture. Pradhan said that the Kopche revival campaign is being carried out not only as a campaign to restore commercial activity, but also as a campaign to preserve identity and old memories.
