Off the beaten Treks
Taplejung and Panchthar
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Taplejung: Pilgrimage to Pathibhara temple
Panchthar: Timbu Pokhari attracting tourists
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Taplejung and Panchthar
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Taplejung: Pilgrimage to Pathibhara temple
Taplejung 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

Kanchenjunga Conservation Area handed over to community

The government has handed over the management of Kanchenjunga 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 Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project activities, implemented by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation with the technical and financial support of WWF Nepal.

The Kanchenjunga Conservation Area is known for its rich biodiversity, its spectacular scenery with Mount Kanchenjunga (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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Panchthar
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.

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.

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.

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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