Government to Develop Janakpur as a Wedding Destination, Boost Lumbini Infrastructure

Kathmandu — Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle has announced various plans and allocations for the culture and tourism sector through the budget.

Wagle said major infrastructure will be developed at the historical sites of Tilaurakot, Devdaha, Kapilvastu, and Ramgram. He said Rs 830 million has been allocated for the Greater Lumbini Development Programme.

The Finance Minister said Janakpur will be developed and branded as a wedding destination. He said funds have been set aside for upgrading the Ram-Janaki Path and the Ram-Janaki circumambulation road.

He said emphasis will be placed on infrastructure development to promote hill stations in hilly areas important from a tourism perspective, and that reliable arrangements will be made for the safety and emergency rescue of mountaineers and trekkers.

Wagle said a special project will be brought to conserve at least two dozen historical Buddhist monasteries more than two hundred years old in high Himalayan districts including Mustang and Manang.

The Finance Minister said work will be advanced to include Tilaurakot in Kapilvastu, Janakpurdham in Dhanusha, and Gokarneshwar in Kathmandu in the World Heritage list.

He said the government will promote provincial tourism corridors — Khaptad-Badimalika-Shuklaphanta, Kankrebihar-Panchakoshi-Rara, Thakurdwar-Swargadwari-Ruru, Devghat-Muktinath-Tilicho, Kalinchok-Jugal-Gosaikunda, Sakhada-Dhanushadham-Gadhimai, and Halesi-Chatara-Pathibhara.

Wagle said the Great Himalayan Trail and other trekking routes will be developed as strategic trails. He said a high-hill eco-tourism trail (the Danphe Route) will be developed, connecting Khaptad, Ramaroshan, Badimalika, Budhinanda, Rara, Swargadwari, and Muktinath.

The Finance Minister said the Api Himal, Dordi Himal, Sikles-Kahupuche-Manang, and Tinjure-Pathibhara trekking routes will be developed. For cycle trails, two pilot routes will be built in the mid-hills of Gandaki province — Kaski's Lipeni-Thumsikot-Bhachok-Lamtari (via the Prince Charles Route to Karaputar) and Byas-Chhabdi Barahi-Bandipur-Chhimkeshwari-Labdi-Devghat.

He said the museum in Kirtipur will be expanded for the cultural conservation of indigenous and ethnic communities. To promote the traditional original skills, art, and professions of the Dalit community, model homestays will be operated targeting dense Dalit settlements in Madhesh, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim.

Finally, the Finance Minister said Himalayan peaks above 6,000 metres that have not yet been named will be given original names and specially marketed for mountaineering.