सिंहदरबार संवाददाता
Birgunj. Today, on the first day of the first month of the Gregorian calendar, Thori is packed with Indian tourists. The arrival of domestic tourists from neighboring India as well as from Nepal has increased in Thori.
Dhir Singh, the owner of Thori Jungle Resort, said that Indian tourists have filled Thori’s hotels on the occasion of the New Year. ‘We are busy with the increase in the arrival of Indian visitors,’ he said, ‘Most of the hotels in Thori are full.’ Recently, Thori has become a tourist destination with year-round business.
Not only Indians, domestic tourists from around Parsa also come to Thori. There are about 50 tourist attractions in Thori, including Raidhara, Seto Pahad, Goledanda, Rato Pahad, Sinehi Pahad, ‘Stone Park’, Raniban, Amritdhara, Chisapani, Sitagufa, Vanshakti Temple, Baghmorcha Temple, and Sikaribash.
The first homestay in Madhesh Pradesh is in operation in Suvarnapur. Many tourists go to watch the sunrise and sunset from the view tower located in Thori Rural Municipality-2. With the increase in tourist arrivals, hotels and restaurants have also started opening there.
Currently, six high-class hotels and restaurants are in operation there. Thori is the meeting point of three national parks. Nature-loving tourists also go there to observe wildlife and flora. Tourism entrepreneur Singh said that tourists come in droves from Indian border towns like Jamuniya, Narkatiyagunj, Ramnagar, Raxaul, Sugauli, Muzaffarpur and Patna.
The number of Indian tourists officially visiting Nepal is negligible. According to the Immigration Office, 2,086 tourists entered Nepal through the Birgunj border in 2024. In 2023, 2,041 tourists visited.
Hari Pant, President of the Hotel and Tourism Entrepreneurs Association, Birgunj, said that around 60 percent of the guests stay in more than 50 hotels in the Birgunj market area during the New Year.
Indian and domestic tourists have also visited religious places such as Shankaracharya Dwar, Gahwamai Temple, Ghadi Arwa Pokhari, Pashupatinath Temple, and Bindavasini, which are connected to Raxaul, a border town within Birgunj metropolis.
Domestic tourists also visit the historic Parsagadhi, which is close to the metropolis. Parsagarhi Municipality Mayor Gokarna Pathak said that a significant number of domestic tourists also visit Parsagarhi during the New Year.
He said, ‘It is necessary to promote local tourist destinations.’ He expressed confidence that the arrival of domestic tourists will increase as the 210th Vijay Mahotsav will be celebrated in the fort on this Poush 19.
प्रतिक्रिया दिनुहोस्