Siraha. Rajaji Danda, located in Lahan Municipality-16, is now not just a religious site, but a symbol of historical consciousness and a place with tourism potential. Rajaji Danda has started to develop as an integrated religious tourism center due to the coordination between the expectations of the locals, religious beliefs and the municipality’s plans. {
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Things like the centuries-old brick temple, well and Dev Haat on the open hill have further strengthened the religious and cultural importance of Rajaji Danda. Where local residents participate in religious activities such as worship, vows, and worship of deities. According to local beliefs, calling on the local deity Rajaji Baba in times of crisis brings good fortune and fulfills one’s wishes.{
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According to Gadul Bahadur Jarghamgar, Ward Chairman of Lahan-16, there is a legend that in ancient times, there was a king’s palace on this hill and royal business was conducted from here. Raja Salahes, who is now believed by the people, was actually the prime minister of that palace. ‘Rajaji was the teacher of Salahes. By whose name this hill is known today. This is the interpretation that is prevalent in the minds of the people. It is also believed and there is a reliable basis for it,’ said Ward Chairman Jarghamgar.{
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According to local elders, there were large brick walls on this hill earlier, which are hundreds of years old. ‘As far as we know, it was like that since my grandfather’s time,’ recalls 73-year-old ward chairman Garja Magar. According to him, it is still unclear who built it and when, which is why it is considered a structure from the mythological period. Although there are no written documents, their stories, rituals, and the worship tradition that has been going on for generations clarify its mythological aspect. {
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} Even today, those old bricks are still intact, but due to lack of conservation, their condition is deteriorating day by day. Ward chairman Garja Magar believes that the Department of Archaeology should start the process of researching such an old structure and object as soon as possible. ‘Unfortunately, despite its historical importance, this heritage remained in the shadows for a long time due to lack of publicity for this area. Now, with the initiative of the local level, the development of this area has started to gain momentum. Recently, a Gahwar temple has been built on Rajaji Danda at a cost of Rs 2.5 million, which is believed to attract more tourists, he said. {
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The structure of Rajaji Danda, its connection with Salahes and its archaeological potential have the potential to make it a cultural and historical heritage not only of Siraha district but also of the entire Terai. Earlier, it was necessary to climb uphill for more than an hour to reach here. Crossing the Chure hills and ups and downs, devotees used to reach Rajaji Danda every year in Asar to perform Asari puja. {
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In the meantime, as the faith and belief of the locals began to show signs of developing into a religious tourism area, the track to the mountain was opened for the first time in 2078 BS under the leadership of the outgoing mayor Muni Sah. After that, motor vehicles started reaching Rajaji Danda by crossing the Jhijhari River at the foot of Chure and climbing about five kilometers of Chure. This has made it easier for the locals to perform religious rituals. Local Devendra Yadav said, “We never thought that a motorable road would be built to reach the mountain. Now that the track is open, we can easily reach the mountain with our parents. If this road were further improved and organized, it would be even easier. Domestic tourism would also develop.” Rajaji Danda, located about 15 kilometers north of the East-West Highway in Lahan, offers a panoramic view of the plains and landscapes of various regions of Siraha, Saptari, and Udayapur. The mixed view of greenery, farmland, villages, and fields from here fascinates anyone. Especially during the summer, people come here to seek relief from the scorching heat. Being the closest high point, Rajaji Danda seems to be the choice of both domestic and foreign tourists. {
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Keeping this unique potential in mind, Lahan Municipality has prioritized its infrastructure development. According to Mayor Mahesh Prasad Chaudhary, the construction of a new Gahwar temple at Rajaji Danda at a cost of 2.5 million has been completed in the current fiscal year, and in the upcoming fiscal year 2082/83, additional budget has been planned to be allocated to build stairs for those who want to walk from Jhinjhari Khola to Rajaji Danda. Mayor Chaudhary said, “Rajaji Danda is becoming a trinity of faith, history and tourism today. If it can be protected and promoted in time, there is no doubt that this place will become a major tourist destination in Madhesh Province.” Therefore, our long-term plan is to make Rajaji Danda a religious and tourist hub.'{
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Rajaji Danda has become a place with many possibilities today. It has become a unique confluence of religious faith, historical pride, cultural heritage and natural beauty. If it can be protected and promoted, it has a strong potential to become a major tourist destination at the provincial level in the future. On Sunday this week, Mayor Chaudhary, while inaugurating the inscription carved on Rajaji Danda and waving the Nepali flag, said, “Our master plan is to build a Salahes circuit by connecting not only Rajaji Danda but also Lahan’s Salahes Flower Garden, Brahmansthan, Manik Daha, Devi Daha, and Hatti Daha.” According to this plan, the story of Salahes picking flowers in the flower garden, bathing in Manik Daha, wrestling in Brahmansthan, administering justice in the Pakadiya fort, storing grain, and taking cool air in Rajaji Danda during the summer is based on this. “Lahan can be made a tourist city by connecting all these religious statements and places. For that, structural development has now been started,” said Mayor Chaudhary. It is necessary to keep in mind the natural balance and cultural conservation along with the development steps in the hills of the Chure region.{
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The municipality believes that this area, which is a confluence of local beliefs, original narratives, religious practices and tourism potential, can be made an exemplary religious-tourist destination in Nepal through balanced development. The mythological stories associated with Salahes, old structures and the natural beauty of the Chure region have made it unique. Salahes Flower Garden, Pakadiyagadh, Devidaha and Brahman Flower Garden under the Greater Salahes Tourist Area announced by the government led by former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal have been listed among the cultural heritages. Through the preservation and promotion of these heritages, an opportunity has been seen for the cultural renaissance of this region, a journey of original culture, and the reconstruction of local identity.{
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Salhes Flower Garden
A grand fair is held on Baisakh 1st at the historical and religious tourist area of Salhes Flower Garden to see the garland-shaped Sunakhari flowers that bloom only on New Year’s Day as a symbol of love and to perform pujas in the temple. Located in Wards No. 12 and 22 of Lahan Municipality, this flower garden, which blooms every year on Baisakh 1st, is considered a symbol of the union of Salhes Baba and Malini. According to old legends, this flower garden was within the palace area of Salhes. Even today, the Phulbari Mela is held here, attracting millions of devotees, making it a living cultural heritage.{
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The Phulbari Mela is a living example of the original cultural heritage of the Terai, attracting millions of devotees. Its preservation and promotion can further strengthen local identity and cultural pride. Salhes is the deity of the Paswan tribe of the Terai and is a folk hero of the 14th century. It is also believed that worshipping Salhes will cure problems such as childbearing, skin diseases, and leprosy.{
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Pakdiyagadh
Pakdiyagadh, located in Lahan Municipality-18, is a historically, religiously, and culturally important place, which falls under the Salhes circuit. Every year, thousands of visitors gather here from different parts of Nepal and neighboring India for the fair held here on Baisakh 2.{
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According to legend, this place was the palace of King Kuleshwor in ancient times. It is believed that the king’s daughter Chandravati used to visit this flower garden. The special attraction of the fair is the tunnel said to have been dug by Choharmal, which attracts a crowd of visitors.{
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The public pond within the Pakdiyagarh complex had fallen into a dilapidated state in the past due to lack of maintenance. Due to garbage and structural neglect, the number of visitors there was decreasing. However, recently, under the beautification plan of the Madhesh Province Government, structures such as ghats on the east and south sides of the pond, boundary walls, stadium lights and PCC slopes have been constructed at a cost of Rs. 4 million. This has facilitated social activities like marriages and fasts, and has also helped in the conservation of the pond and the promotion of religious tourism.{
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Devi Daha
Devi Daha is a historical, natural and religiously revered place located in Lahan Municipality-17. Located about six kilometers north of the East-West Highway, this daha is found on the banks of the Balan River that separates Siraha and Saptari. According to local folklore, since the Treta Yuga, it is believed that bathing in the water here cures diseases. Similarly, there is a widespread belief that wounds filled with doubts arising in the mind can be healed. However, due to lack of budget, the conservation, promotion of the pond and the surrounding physical structures are becoming dilapidated. Budget and initiative are needed from the government and local levels to restore the religious and touristic importance of this lake.{
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Manik Lake
Located in Lahan Municipality-24, Manik Lake is not only a natural reservoir, but also an ancient religious pilgrimage site under the Salhes Circuit. Which, especially due to the mythological beliefs associated with Salhes, has a deep faith in the local people’s lives.{
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According to experts, it is believed that Salhes Baba used to bathe in this lake. For this reason, a grand fair is held here every year on Baisakh 1, where thousands of devotees from various districts of the Terai including Siraha, Saptari, Udayapur arrive. Manik Daha is a huge reservoir spread over an area of about 17 bighas. This place, filled with greenery, temples and sanctity, offers not only a religious experience but also an experience of natural beauty.{
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More than Rs 7 million of the city budget has been spent so far for the construction of the Dihbar temple, ghats and maintenance of the dil (shore) in the southern part of Daha. In addition, the Salahes temple has been built in the western part, which has further strengthened the religious identity of this area. The belief that bathing in the water here will cure diseases and fulfill wishes has made Manik Daha a center of local religious faith.{
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Rajdevi Temple
Similarly, the temple of Rajdevi Mata located in ward no. 15 of the municipality is known as the Bhagwati Devisthan that fulfills vows. On the day of Baisakh Purnima, four types of animals and birds are sacrificed, including goats, in which it is customary to sacrifice 10,000 to 20,000 goats. There is a belief that vows will be fulfilled if sacrificed in the temple. The local and provincial governments are working on making roads easier, constructing dharamshalas and parks, and beautifying the temple premises. {
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} If the local, provincial and Nepal governments and the relevant organizations active in this area can work on an integrated master plan for the management of Lahan’s tourist town ‘Salhes Circuit’, then proper benefits can be gained from commercial and religious perspectives by attracting domestic and foreign tourists, and proper attention should be paid to this area, says human rights activist Rajkumar Raut. ‘The fact that so many historical and archaeological sites exist within a single municipality is proof of Lahan’s religious tourism potential,’ Raut said. ‘If Lahan Municipality can protect and properly develop these heritages, this municipality will become a prosperous religious and tourist destination in the country in the near future.’
प्रतिक्रिया दिनुहोस्