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Taplejung and Panchthar
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Taplejung:
Pilgrimage to Pathibhara temple
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The
temple at the north-eastern region of Taplejung of the eastern mountainous
district situated on the measuring-vessel-shaped (pathi) mountain is thronged
by thousands of religious people. The pilgrims from the surrounding districts
such as Panchthar, Tehrathum, Ilam, Jhapa and across Nepal, as well as
from Assam, Sikkim, and Darjeeling defy the precarious hills to pay their
homage. |
More
than 20,000 pilgrims come to this place every year mostly during the Dashain
festival.
This
temple which is about 20 km away from the district headquarters Taplejung
is situated on the altitude of 3,794 metres. The traditional belief is
that those who come here to pay their homage are granted their wish and
those without children will be blessed with offspring.
| Cable-system
there is underway |
A
provision for the opening of a cable-system there is underway from the
private sector and the first phase of feasibility study has already been
conducted. The district development office has the target of extending
the motorable road to cable-car station Balugaunda in the very near future.
Transportation is a major problem for Pathibhara. The five flights from
Royal Nepal Airline Corporation to Suketar as well as the daily bus service
from Birtamod to Phungling bazaar can't meet the needs of the thousands
of pilgrims.
September
2006
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Kangchenjunga
Conservation Area handed over to community
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The
government has handed over the management of Kangchenjunga Conservation
Area (KCA) in Taplejung district to the local community. The KCA Management
Council represents all stakeholders from seven Conservation Area User Committees,
44 User Groups, and 32 Mother Groups. These community-based institutions
were involved in all Kangchenjunga Conservation Area Project activities,
implemented by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation
with the technical and financial support of WWF Nepal.
The
Kangchenjunga Conservation Area is known for its rich biodiversity, its
spectacular scenery with Mount Kangchenjunga (8,586m), and rich cultural
heritage represented by the 5,254 inhabitants living within the four Village
Development Committees (VDCs).
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Panchthar
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Panchthar:
Timbu Pokhari attracting tourists
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| tea
factory in Panchthar |
| Timbu
Pokhari, which lies in the northern part of Panchthar district bordering
Sikkim of India has been successful in attracting internal as well as foreign
tourists. |
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The
pond, which lies about 70 kilometres away from district headquarters Phidim,
is covered with ice for eight months and pilgrims wait until September
to visit.
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| There
are 41 village districts in Panchthar in eastern Nepal bordering on India,
and Phidim is the district headquarters. Within the area are Brahmins,
Chhetris, Rais, Limbus, Kirantis, Tamangs, Magars, Gurungs, and many other
groups. In addition to general agriculture, Phidim grows extremely high
quality tea, certainly comparable to the best Darjeeling tea, as well as
cardamom, and produces a large quantity of rice paper. Sadly, they have
not developed any markets to export their products. |
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The
village also has a variety of service centers - a post office, telecommunications
center, bank offices, health centers, and a hospital sorely in need of
a doctor and medicines. The town also has several elementary schools, a
college, and a private school. Yet literacy is sorely lacking. In 1981,
out of a total district population of 126,802, 76 percent of the people
were considered illiterate.
Phidim,
like Birgha and Nuakot, was begun shortly after the revolution of 1991
that turned Nepal into a constitutional monarchy. It was one of the three
pilot libraries after Junbesi. The patron, Deepak Baskota, was a Congress
Party member of Parliament, sponsor of the private school and the college
in Phidim, and a tea producer. He has also served more recently as Assistant
Home Minister when the Congress Party was in power and is tremendously
influential politically. In addition to Baskota, the Phidim Library Committee
had 10 other members, including a woman and several non-Brahmin members.
The committee decided to build a two-story building, using the bottom floor
for stores. The idea has been quite successful, and the rent from the stores
supports the library.
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