The '9th Smart Village Invitational Gold Cup' football tournament is scheduled to be held in Ghalegaun, Lamjung, which is rich in natural beauty, cultural heritage and rural lifestyle, from April 12.

Twelve teams from all over the country have been invited for the tournament. The committee has made arrangements for food and accommodation for the participating teams in the football tournament, which will be held for a week.

The competition will be attended by Chitlang Football Club and Bhuinkhel Football Club of Kathmandu, Nepal Police Club (Gandaki), Abhishek Church Rajahar Nawalpur, Ganni Football Club Pokhara, Suryapur Football Club Chitwan, Friendship Youth Club Tanahun, as well as Pokhara's Bouddha Shanti Youth Club Ramghat and NK Football Club Pokhara. The home teams are Triveni Youth Club Besishahar, Buddha Youth Club Bhoteodar and Nalma-11 Besishahar.

The winner will receive a gold cup, medal and certificate along with 800,000 rupees. The runner-up will receive a medal and certificate along with 500,000 rupees. The best player and highest scorer will be awarded Rs 10,000 each. The organizing tourism management committee, Smart Village Ghalegaun, has stated that a ‘Man of the Match’ will be announced in every match from the quarter-finals onwards and a trophy along with Rs 2,000 will be awarded. The organizers have stated that the prizes will be donated.

The football tournament will be held at the Swargbhoomi Stadium in Kholasothar Rural Municipality-3, Ghalegaun. The tournament is expected to cost Rs 33 lakh and Rs 30,000.

In a press release on Friday, the chairman of the committee, Ghale, expressed confidence that the invitational football tournament will further help in promoting tourism in the village. He mentioned that the prize money of the football tournament, which will be held at an altitude of about 2,100 meters above sea level, is probably the highest in Nepal.

Tourism activities, which started in 2056 BS with the aim of developing rural tourism, had formalized the homestay program along with the ‘First Ghalegaun Festival’ on 23 Baisakh 2057 BS. Since then, various programs to promote art, culture and tourism have been taking place in the village. Ghalegaun, which was declared a model village in South Asia (SAARC Village) in 2064, was declared a 'Smart Village' on 27 Mangsir 2076.

Out of about 130 houses in Ghalegaun, 45 are homestays. 3 well-equipped hotels are in operation. One is under construction. After being declared 'Sukhigaun' on 2079 Baisakh, Ghalegaun has garnered more attention in tourism activities.

'Ghalegaun Festival' is being organized every year on 23-25 ​​Baisakh to promote rural tourism, but the festival could not be held in 2077 due to the Corona pandemic. The 20th Ghalegaun Festival on 23-25 ​​Baisakh 2076 was the last festival.

A football fair is being organized every year on 1 Baisakh at the Swargabhoomi Stadium in Ghalegaun, which is known as the Baisakh Bazaar. After the competition could not be held regularly last year, the Uttarkanya United Youth Club initiated the event. Smart Village Gold Cup has been in operation since 2073 BS. 

The Tourism Management Committee, Smart Village Ghalegaun has been organizing it as a festival for the past year, said the committee's secretary Umal Bahadur BK.

A cultural program will be organized on Baisakh 1 before the football tournament and there is a program to honor folk singer Raju Pariyar in the program. Ward Chairman Asbir Gurung informed that artists including Madhu Thapa Magar, Usha Gurung, Priya Gurung, Anuj Adhikari will perform at the program.

Ghalegaun, which was the seat of the Ghale Raja during the Chaubise kingdom, is an 800-year-old settlement. There are tourist attractions here, including the statue of the last king of the Gurung caste, Kyaalboroja Clay, 'Khoinbo', a museum, Gorkha Army Park View Tower, Uttarkanya Temple, and tea plantations.