Taplejung. Sidingwa Rural Municipality is going to organize a three-day tourism festival on May 15-17 to promote the religious and tourism area Sidingwa Dham.
Located at an altitude of 3,515 meters above sea level, Sidingwa Dham is a delightful place full of biodiversity. According to the rural municipality, sidingwa dham festival is being organized for the overall development of the area, which is full of religious importance as well as tourism potential.
Other major tourist destinations in the rural municipality including Dhandhange Waterfall, Timbung Pokhari, Chamere Cave, Kalipokhari and Hatidhunga will also be publicized and promoted through the festival. The event was organized with the objective of preserving biological diversity, developing rural and international tourism and promoting cultural heritage.
Rural municipality chair Man Bahadur Rai expressed the belief that the festival would contribute significantly to the promotion of tourism in eastern Nepal as Sidingwa Dham is a religious tourism area known as the international biological route.
According to him, the increase in tourism activities will also contribute to the economic prosperity of the rural municipality. Krishna Kumari Kadariya, vice-chair of the rural municipality, said that although Sidingwa Dham is the main entrance of the Kanchenjunga trekking route, the expected achievements have not been achieved due to lack of adequate publicity.
According to him, the festival will increase the attraction of local and foreign tourists. Chief Administrative Officer of the rural municipality, Bikash BK, said that the festival will feature various activities including Sidingwa Dham Darshan Yatra, sports competition, exhibition of local products and cultural performance.
A ward-level volleyball competition will be held in the three-day festival. The winner of the tournament will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 50,000 along with a trophy, medal and certificate, while the runners-up will get Rs 30,000.
The first, second and third runners-up will get Rs 40,000, Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000 respectively. According to the rural municipality, naumati baja, chabrung dance (K.Lang) and culture of local ethnic groups will be displayed as part of the cultural programme.
Sidingma Dham has become popular among domestic tourists in recent times in terms of religious tourism. Kailash Rai, a local, said that there has been a significant increase in the number of domestic tourists visiting the country in recent times.
According to him, a growing number of tourists have started coming to Sidingma Dham, which used to attract only a limited number of tourists earlier. Dham is located on the border of Sidingwa Rural Municipality-2, Sadewa and Ward No. 3, Angkhop.
Now the road up to Sikredanda has become more accessible. From Sikredanda to Sidingma, you have to walk for about two and a half hours. From here, one can get a closer look at the world’s third highest mountain Kanchenjunga, Pathibhara (Mukkumlung), Timbung Pokhari, Sikkim and Darjeeling of India.
According to religious beliefs, Sidingma Dham is considered to be the place where a sage named Siddha fulfilled his wish by doing penance. Visitors come here to worship with the belief that their wishes will be fulfilled. According to the locals, a significant number of religious tourists visit Sidingma, especially during Baishakh and Ashoj and during Rishi Tarpani.
Kadariya, vice-chairperson of the rural municipality, said the number of tourists in the area has been decreasing due to lack of publicity. Construction of road track up to Sikredanda, trekking route, gate and other structures are underway, she said.
The rural municipality has prepared a long-term plan including the festival for further publicity and promotion of Sidingma Dham area. At present, tourists from sidingma dham, other areas of Taplejung and Panchthar also visit.
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