Construction of a drinking water tank has begun at Khanchi Hill Station, which overlooks Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Machhapuchhre.
What you should know
Khanchikot Hill Station, located in Khanchikot, Sandhikharka Municipality-7, has become an attractive destination for domestic and foreign tourists in recent years.
Tourist attraction has started increasing as one can observe the panoramic views of the Annapurna mountain range, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre and other mountains as well as the surrounding villages and gorges from here. Mules have been used to carry water for the construction of a drinking water tank targeting tourists reaching Khanchi Hill Station. Since there is not enough water at the hill station, work has started by carrying water to the drinking water tank.
The project was carried out using the lifting method with a budget of 2 million allocated by the Lumbini Province government to bring drinking water to the hill station, which is located in Panchase, said Ward Chairman of Sandhikharka-7 Chura Bahadur KC. According to him, the work has been intensified by carrying water daily with seven mules to build a drinking water tank in a place not accessible by motorable roads.
It took 15 days for seven mules from Dolpa to reach the hill station of Arghakhanchi via Jajarkot, Rukum West, Rolpa, and Pyuthan, Ward Chairman KC informed. 'Seven mules carry water five times a day to Chorlek, where a tank is being built from Panchase Mul. One mule can carry 70 liters of water at a time,' he said.
Duk Bahadur Khatri, Chairman of the Drinking Water Consumers Committee, said that Rs 5,000 is being paid per mule daily. 'It costs about Rs 10 per liter to carry water in this way,' he said.
The Khanchikot area is known as a place of ancient historical and cultural importance. With easy access to infrastructure and other facilities to the hill station, this area is being established as a new tourist destination in Arghakhanchi, Ward Chairman KC said.
Sandhikharka Municipality, Lumbini Province Government and tourism-related bodies are working systematically to organize and develop Khanchikot, says Mayor Krishna Prasad Shrestha. He says that the municipality believes that tourism development will lead to employment growth and direct benefits to the local economy.
Mayor Shrestha informed that various structures are being built targeting tourists visiting Supa Deurali. He expressed confidence that Khanchikot, which combines natural beauty, geographical diversity and cultural heritage in one place, will become the identity of Arghakhanchi and the backbone of tourism promotion in the coming days.
