Pathari:Located at a
northern Morang section of East-West Highway, for travelers, Pathari bazara was
mainly known for its transit location to embark on a journey to northern hills
of Morang like Jante and Samling, among others. Pathari has added new identity
as travelling stopover point of East-West Highway. This is owing to a newly
constructed park inside Shree Shanti Bhulke Wetland. The wetland falls under
Shanti Community Forest which was formally established in 2056 BS.
According to Kul
Bahadur Gurung, the chairperson of the community forest, the park receives 200
visitors in an average day. During Nepali picnicking months of Poush and Magh,
Gurung said, the park receives huge crowds. The park has multiple facilities
like boating, picnicking, Children Park, free wifi, jungle walks,
bird-watching, among others. Bhulke Dewi temple is another famed attraction
inside the park.
Purna Limbu, a recent visitor
at the park was elated at seeing latest developments there. ''I have been to
Pathari countless times but I haven't thought that a beautiful park like this
would be constructed here'', said Limbu, ''I am so happy to see this.'' Limbu said he was mesmerized to see fountains
and murals in the premises of park.
The park charges Rs. 30
for entrance to public. The entry is free for children below the age of 10 ,
elderly and physically challenged. For
boating, the fee is Rs. 50. Picnickers have to pay Rs. 1000 for a vehicle. Six
concrete structures are constructed with charging facilities for picnickers.
Inside parks are three ponds; the biggest one
is spanned over 2.5 Bigha whereas two others are within the area of 1.5 and 1
Bigha respectively.
Located within
5-minute-walk from East-West Highway of Pathari Shanishchare Municiality-1, the
park is reached within a minute in two and four wheelers. It talks around 20 minutes to walk around the
park area. Started to give facelift
since 2072 BS, the park got more attraction in the last couple of years, said
chairperson Gurung. ''In the last two years, we have invested a lot in the
beautification and other infrastructures inside the wetland area'', Gurung
added, ''We have invested around Rs. 25 million so far from multiple fronts.''
Gurung said a
Detailed Project Report (DPR) worth of Rs. 180 million has been finalized. ''According
to our DPR we are planning to construct restaurant, bar, elderly park, meditation
center, auditorium accommodating 400 people, nature information center for
measuring earthquakes and rains, and the likes.'' RSS
