I saw a baby in the womb, the Far West has become a country...'

This local accent and voice, which echoed in the open stage of Dhangadhi on February 18, gained attention in the Far West. Addressing the election meeting of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Balendra Shah had drawn the attention of the state for not recognizing the importance of tourism. He had said, 'People say that the country should be made like Switzerland, but if the father of Switzerland, Badimalika, and its culmination, Rama Roshan, are here, why should it be made like Switzerland?'

That election address has now been transformed into government policy and decision. Rama Roshan of Achham has been given priority in point number 72 of the 100 agenda on governance reforms passed by the first cabinet meeting held on Chaitra 13 after Shah became the Prime Minister. The point mentions that a plan will be prepared within a month for systematic tourism in areas including Ramaroshan in Achham and Badimalika in Bajura. This has brought Ramaroshan, which has been neglected for years, to the main agenda of the federal government.

According to Purna Bahadur BK, Executive Officer of the Ramaroshan Area Tourism Development and Management Committee, the Ramaroshan area, which is at an altitude of 2,000 to about 4,000 meters above sea level, is considered a unique gift from nature. Known as 'Bahra Band, Athar Khand', this area has 12 lakes and 18 large fields. Kinemine Maidan, spread over an area of ​​52 bighas, is the largest field in Achham. The Kailash River flows through the middle of it. The lakes here have their own uniqueness. Jingale Lake is shaped like the English letter 'C'. It is about 3 kilometers long and 2 kilometers wide.

Similarly, standing on the banks of the nearly 2-kilometer-long Lamadaha Lake, one feels the water table shaking up to 10 meters. ‘This is a unique natural experience in itself. In spring, 12 types of redbuds bloom here and the national bird, the Danphe, echoes in the forest. This is a safe haven for wildlife like deer, musk deer, sablefish and ghoral,’ he said. ‘Due to lack of conservation, small lakes like Taune are now in danger of being filled.’ The lights of the cities of the Terai can be easily seen from the Chaka hills here at night.’

Budget allocation for the development of Ramaroshan started a decade and a half ago. However, no body has a clear account of how much budget has been received and where it has been spent. ‘Earlier, the budget was allocated according to the wishes of the people, not according to the needs.’ Ramaroshan has been facing the problem of various people bringing budgets in the name of Ramaroshan but not showing work in the field for a long time,' said Purna Bahadur. He said that the committee provides budget for the provincial government for the project every year. In the current fiscal year, small construction works are being done from the capital budget of Rs 5 million. 'We still don't know how deep the Jigale lake is. Apart from the study of the depth of the lake, DPRs have been done for other areas. But the committee has not received it,' he said, 'I am hopeful that the work will be done after the government prioritized it in 100 projects.'

Shah had said in a meeting in Dhangadhi, 'We Nepalis have become people who are lazy and have no sense of direction. We have not been able to connect the Far West. The day when the songs of the Far West are played in the squares of Kathmandu, the Far West will finally connect with Kathmandu. The song had to be played at the beginning. Then the voice is heard, then the demand is fulfilled.'

Committee chairman Gopi Khanal said that tourists are coming to Rama Roshan based on what Shah said in his election speech. 'After Balenji spoke about Rama Roshan, many tourists are coming from Pokhara. But they are also complaining that the road is not good,' he said. 'The biggest obstacle to reaching Rama Roshan now is the difficult road.'

The road from Mujabagar to Rama Roshan is risky. This area is completely closed during the monsoon. Tourists are afraid to reach here due to the unpaved and narrow road. He said that the drying up of natural lakes, illegal extraction of herbs, and poaching of wildlife have not stopped.

Due to the inconvenience of transportation, the herbs produced here, local dishes, He said that Kodo, Phapar, Sisno and Mahle could not find a market. ‘If the road is organized, this area can become an excellent hill station for tourists coming from Dhangadhi and Surkhet,’ he said.

He said that a hotel is operating temporarily in the Ramaroshan area and it could not be organized because it is not certain whether the hotel will be allowed to operate permanently or not. ‘It is a matter of pride to be on the Prime Minister’s agenda. Now that the federal government has asked for a plan within a month, it has also made us active. We have already started coordinating for the tourism master plan and road improvement,’ he said. ‘This time, we are confident that the work will be done not only on paper, but also in the field.’

The government’s latest decision has been taken as an encouraging and historic achievement by local traders and residents of Ramaroshan. Businessman Shamsher Bahadur Bohra said that after Shah talked about Rama Roshan, the number of domestic tourists has increased in this area. He is currently operating a tent canteen to provide food and accommodation for tourists in Rama Roshan. He is welcoming tourists with local attire and traditional hospitality. According to Bohra, after Balendra Shah spoke about Rama Roshan, tourists from various cities of the country including Kathmandu, Pokhara, Butwal have started arriving here.