Mahenndranagar, 27 September

Due to the lack of infrastructure development and publicity, many tourist areas of Kanchanpur have been neglected. They have been overshadowed by the publicity and lack of infrastructure of these tourist spots. Tourists from India and third countries come through the Gaddachouki border here. However, according to the immigration office in Gaddachouki, the tourists who come through the Gaddachouki checkpoint leave the tourist spots here and go to Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Information Officer of Immigration Office Kanchanpur, Padmaraj Bhatt, said that even though tourists from third countries come through the Gaddachouki checkpoint, they go directly to visit Kathmandu and Pokhara cities. "Now the number of foreign tourists has increased." He said, "The number of foreign tourists has increased compared to last year." According to the statistics of the Immigration Office, in 2022, 542 foreign tourists entered Nepal through the Gaddachouki crossing. So far this year, 685 foreign tourists have entered. In September alone, 154 foreign tourists have entered Nepal. Shuklaphanta National Park in Kanchanpur is an area with great potential for tourists. Hundreds of wildebeest herds and grasslands in Shuklaphanta are the main attractions of the tourists who come here.

Here is not only Shuklaphanta but also Asia's longest suspension bridge connecting the village Dodhara and Chandi on Mahakali. The length of this bridge is 1,495 meters. Tourists are not able to reach there due to the unmaintained road leading to Dodhra Chandni, the lack of proper hotels for accommodation for tourists coming from outside. Similarly, the religious tourist places here are important in terms of religious and archaeological importance. Bedkot Lake and Jhilimili Lake are also important tourist spots. But due to the lack of easy access to reach here, these areas are overshadowed.

Jang Wahadur Malla, a central member of the Federation of Commerce and Industry, said that there was no investment from the state level for the development of tourism here. "We have a lot of potential for tourism here, but due to the lack of infrastructure and publicity, they are overshadowed." Malla said - "Sahajmahongo does not have facilities including convenient hotels in the transportation and tourist areas." He said that there is not enough investment from the state level for the development of tourism here. Big cities including the capital of India are close to Kanchanpur. Businessmen here say that the government should focus on promoting the tourism sector and infrastructure development. Jagadishchandra Bhatt, President of the Hoteliers Association of Kanchanpur, said that due to the lack of infrastructure and facilities, even the tourists who come here do not stay here. "Publicity and lack of infrastructure are the main reasons why tourists do not stay here." He said - "Even the tourist information center has not been operationalized in Nakama." Along with this, it is necessary to start air transport.
 
Similarly, the banks of the Mahakali river have started to develop here as a tourist destination. The Mahakali Bridge Planning Office is going to construct man-made lakes for tourists along with four-lane concrete bridges on four Mahakali rivers. According to the Mahakali Bridge Project Office, four ponds will be constructed along with the bridge. It is planned to plant 5000 saplings in its vicinity. Along with the construction of the bridge, four ponds with an Iceland are going to be constructed on the banks of the Mahakali River to attract tourists. It is also expected to help the tourism here.