Pokhara, 13 August | The Barahakshetra Municipality in Sunsari district, formed by the merger of several former Village Development Committees, relies on agriculture and religious tourism as its main sources of income. The construction of a permanent bridge over the Saptakoshi River has significantly boosted domestic tourism. According to Ramesh Kumar Bisht, former president of the Barahakshetra Chamber of Commerce and Industry, more than two dozen hotels have opened near the bridge, with each generating over NPR 1 million in monthly revenue. He notes that the area sees a surge of domestic tourists on Fridays and Saturdays, with about 4,000 visitors per week. As one of the four sacred regions in the world and a major center of Hindu faith, Barahakshetra attracts over 500,000 pilgrims annually from Nepal and India who come to bathe at the confluence of the Koka and Saptakoshi rivers and worship Lord Barah.
Despite this religious significance, many of the area’s ancient temples, shrines, and historical sites remain neglected. While new temples like the Kumbh Stambh and Radha Krishna temple have been built, older sites are deteriorating. Local youths have launched a “Chatara Hiking” campaign to raise awareness about these forgotten attractions. The ancient Auliya Baba Monastery is a prime example of this neglect. Although a budget of NPR 24.8 million was allocated for its reconstruction, locals claim the Guthi Sansthan (Trust Corporation) has shown little interest in its preservation. Historical records indicate that the Guthi owns extensive land in several districts, but the revenue from this land is allegedly managed by the Guthi Sansthan, and much of it has been illegally registered under tenants’ names. As a result, the monastery’s archaeological artifacts are in ruins, and its popularity among devotees is dwindling due to a lack of maintenance and promotion.
Similarly, the Chhinnamasta Bhagwati Temple, a site of immense mythological importance, suffers from a lack of conservation and publicity. The deity, considered a sister to the Chhinnamasta Devi in Belka and Saptari, is revered by pilgrims from Sunsari, Bhojpur, and Dhankuta. However, the temple’s dilapidated state and poor promotion have caused its historical significance to fade. Other important sites like Gupta Barah, Bhavani Than, Suryakunda, Adi Barah, Durga Kali Temple, and Tekane Devi are also facing similar neglect. While the local government’s policies and programs have repeatedly highlighted religious tourism as a cornerstone for the municipality’s prosperity, these plans have not been effectively implemented. The municipality lacks a dedicated tourism committee or a specific budget for tourism development. The newly elected Mayor, Ramesh Karki, has acknowledged these issues and pledged to form a tourism development committee and create the necessary legal framework to boost the sector, stating that agriculture and religious tourism are the main pillars of the municipality’s development.
