This is being popular as an attractive destination because of its environment now a days, in the context that it was already an ancient religious and historical site with enchanting environment.[break]
Legend has it that in ancient times, Kathmandu was a large lake. When Manjushree came here to make a human settlement and created a lotus flower in the pond, sat on the lotus and chopped the Chobhar hill with a khadga to drain out water of the pond, the king and queen of the pond or the Karkotak Nagas also started to go out.
In this situation, Manjushree thought Nepal would face extreme drought and crisis if the Nagas went out of Nepal and built a habitat for the Nagarajas by building a pond now called Taudaha, in the south of Chobhar.
The Taudaha pond, in which the clear reflection can be seen of Champadevi (Chandragiri Hill) which is at highest altitude in the southern belt of Kathmandu, is spread in an area with 500 m length and 400 m width, has a shape similar to that of Kathmandu valley, says Shanti Chaudhary, a social worker and writer of the book "Great Taudaha´.
Taudaha is on the way to Dakshinkali temple at a distance of seven kms from Kathmandu. The Kathmandu valley´s largest natural lake, Taudaha, usually has six m deep water even in dry season, locals say.
This lake has also a direct link with the showing of the vest of Rato Machhindranath´s. There is a popular belief that the invaluable vest (bhoto) shown in the bhoto jatra is a gift given by the Nagraj of Taudaha to a local farmer. A special fair takes place in Taudaha on the day of Nag Panchami, a festival to worship the snakes (around August) each year.
The lake, which is home to 38 species of trees and vegetation, 36 species of insects and 116 species of birds, is lately an attractive destination for studies and research in environment point of view.
In recent times, tourists also come to visit from home and abroad in the pond being developed as a site of eco-tourism, says Chairman of the Champadevi Area Improvement and Management Organization, Janak Tamang.
Anyone visiting Taudaha is enchanted with the natural beauty and mesmerizing environment of the lake.
Tamang says there is no exaggeration to say that Taudaha reached easily in a 30-minute bus ride from Kathmandu is a religious tourism site.
It is quite significant for eco-tourism that birds of various species come here from Siberia in Russia in winter each year and go back with the increase in temperature around April.
In Taudaha, one can simultaneously observe aquatic creatures of various species.
The preservation of the pond full of natural beauty spread in 82 ropanis of land is being undertaken by the Taudaha Conservation Committee.
The characteristics of the pond is the shape of the pond to be octagonal and to be similar to the shape of Kathmandu valley, and all parts of the lake to be seen from any corner of the lake. There is a popular belief that a person who takes the soil, stones and other objects from around the lake for one´s own personal use is harmed, and snakes also trouble him. People also believe that one´s wishes are fulfilled, one will not catch disease if the serpent king living in the pond is pleased by worshiping, says social worker Chaudhary. She says- the serpent king Karkotak of Taudaha has a harmonious relationship with the Naga of Panauti in Kavre district, about 35 kms from Kathmandu. The tradition of attending both the fairs of these places by people is still intact, she says.
Locals say that diseases like rashes, eye inflammations, skin diseases and leprosy are also cured if regular bath is taken with the water in the pond.
There is a saying still popular that in ancient times, one would get silver utensils if prayed near the Taudaha if any family had to perform some holy rituals and the utensils were to be put near the pond after cleaning them after completion of the holy rituals and would disapread from there. But once as one kept the utensils without cleaning, since then, utensils were not found by praying from the pond.
The interesting happenings of Taudaha are also mentioned in various puranic scriptures.
There are more activities of people visiting the Taudaha pond in Nagpanchami festival, on Saturdays and other holidays, says Secretary of the Kirtipur Area Tourism Development Society, Birendra Shakya.
A minimum fee is fixed for entry to the pond premises which is open all the seven days of the week.
Various tour groups of schools and colleges, families and friends as well as couples and lovers visit here to enjoy the enchanting environment in February and March more than any other months of the year.
Likewise, researchers of environment also come for study and research of the diverse environmental conditions of the vicinity of the pond, says Shakya.
In recent times, resorts are also run adding attractions to the tourists.
Although Taudaha is a blessing of the nature, in latest times, people are taking baths, washing clothes, and throwing covers of noodles and biscuits, thereby polluting the pond and making negative impact for the fish kept there.
Increasing water hyacinth, and fast spreading water plants are also seen as challenges to the lake.
As it can be a beautiful gift to the future generations, locals and others engaged in preservation of Taudaha should pay special attention on its conservation.
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