GANDAKI, Jan 20: Anyone visiting Pokhara cannot remain unaffected, seeing the bewitching mountains surrounding the valley. The shadow of Machhapuchhre peak in Phewa Lake further mesmerizes the tourists.

Most recently, the ace tourist destination in Nepal welcomed a special foreign guest. It was the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres. He had the opportunity to see the snow-clad mountain during his visit to Pokhara.

Guterres was fortunate to be greeted with snow-clad mountains and a clear sky as he climbed up Pumdikot hill from the Pokhara Valley on October 30, 2023.

Pumdikot, which is being developed as a site of religious tourism lately, was not on the Secretary-General's schedule, but he climbed up from the valley to have a better look in the vicinity. He entered the premises of the colossus of Lord Shiva, observed Phewa Lake down in the valley, and sighted the majestic mountains.

Onlookers could easily observe the elation exuded on Guterres' face upon relishing the natural beauty.

Guterres reached there at 4:30 pm, and standing by were the Mayor of Pokhara metropolis, Dhanraj Acharya, and the coordinator of Mahadev colossus construction campaign, Chandra Kant Baral. They were accompanied by the Chairman of Ward No 22 of Pokhara metropolis, Himlal Baral.

The special guest stepped toward the southwest corner of the colossus premises. He was as if stuck to the beauty of nature he was observing from there. He also went upstairs. After coming down the stairs, he again went to the same southwest corner and fixed his eyes on the mountains!

Those standing in line to welcome Secretary-General Guterres were observing him closely.

Later, the people here concentrated on the southwest premises of that colossus Mahadev and decided to develop it as 'Guterres Point'.

The Pumdikot Development Committee has now decided to develop the southwest corner of the religious spot as 'Guterres Point,' according to Committee Chairman Chandra Kant Baral.

From the southwest corner of the Shiva colossus, ridges of snow-clad mountains can be viewed. As many as 11 peaks, including Annapurna I, II, III, and IV, Khangsarkang, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, Ghandruk Himchuli, and Mardi, enchant the visitors.

As the UN Secretary-General visited Pumdikot, the locals here have been encouraged and excited to further develop the place as a modern tourist destination. Baral further said they were happy to welcome special guests in their town, which could help make Nepal further known to the world.

Guterres, however, spent only 45 minutes at Pumdikot, said another Rudra Paudel, the manager of the Pumdikot Development Committee.

The 51-feet tall giant statue of Lord Shiva built at Pumdikot with the active participation of the public has become an attractive tourist destination of Pokhara at present. The Committee initially set the target to build a 105-feet tall statue, but following the recommendation of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, the Committee installed a 51-feet statue, paying heed to the concern of aviation security.

Committee Chairperson Baral gushed that the influx of tourists—both domestic and foreign—was on the rise at Pumdikot with the installation of the statue. To build the colossus along with other infrastructures incorporated in the Master Plan, over Rs 260 million has been invested so far, informed Baral.

The Committee has taken forward works as per the Master Plan of Rs 400 million estimated cost for the installation of the giant statue and construction of other infrastructures at Pumdikot.

Visitors there, 13 km away from the major city in Pokhara, could soak up the panoramic view of the Pokhara Valley, Phewa Lake, and various mountain ranges, such as Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Machhapuchhre, among others besides the gigantic statue.

Considering the growing attraction towards the Lord Shiva's colossus at Pumdikot, the Committee is confident that Pumdikot would be established as the second most important pilgrims' site after the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu.

With the objective of fund-raising to harness tourism potential here, a religious event, Maha Shiva Purana, was organized in 2017 where 20 ropanis of land were received in donation along with Rs 60 million. Another Mahayagya organized in 2022 had raised around Rs 30 million funds for tourism promotion at Pumdikot, shared Baral.

The Committee is accelerating the remaining works of the Master Plan, according to which an administrative building, monorail, Shivalinga, a replica of Sumeru mountain nearby Guru Maharaj Ashram, and entrance, among others, have been constructed.

Moreover, a plan is afoot to install an electric chair car connecting Kailash, where the statue is erected, with a replica of Sumeru mountain and to construct a well-organized parking place, according to the Committee.

The Committee envisions building Shanti Ashram, a senior citizens meeting center, and a garden. Installation of a projector to project the deeds of Lord Shiva and the life cycle of animals through the laser light to the visitors is also on the agenda of the Committee.

Committee member Matrika Baral claimed that Pumdikot had become a must-visit destination for the visitors arriving in Pokhara. The arrival of VIPs and distinguished visitors, including Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres last October at Pumdikot, has immensely excited the local residents and helped promote its global recognition.

The colossus of Lord Shiva at the foothill of Machhapuchhre mountain has further added to the charm of Pumdikot. With the installation of an enormous statue of Lord Shiva, the glory and dignity of Pumdikot has assumed a greater height.

More and more infrastructures are being built, drawing tourists and pulling the migrated local residents back to their village.

 
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