Tanahun. Looking down from the hills of Manungkot with the flickering light of the morning, Damauli market seems to be lost in the thick veil of fog. Setamme The golden rays of the sun rising above the fog, the surrounding mountain ranges and the touch of the cool breeze leave anyone who visits here mesmerized. To see this scene, the movement of domestic tourists has started to increase in Manungkot, the tourist destination of Tanahun.
Geeta Parajuli, who reached Manungkot from Pokhara, took the morning here as an unforgettable experience. She said that after spending one night in Manungkot and watching the sunrise and fog in the morning, she was very attracted. He has the experience of being enthralled by the natural scenery seen from here.
Radhika Parajuli from Pokhara was also mesmerized by the fog-covered scene. He said that in the morning, the fog spread all around and the natural scenery seen through it was very beautiful. The experience of these tourists indicates that Manungkot is becoming an attractive destination not only for those who want to spend the night and observe the natural beauty of the morning.
Manungkot located in Byas Municipality-5 of Tanahun has increased the number of tourists with the onset of cold weather. Due to domestic tourists who come with family, friends and groups to celebrate holidays, the tourism activity here has started to increase. The main attraction of Manungkot is the morning fog and sunrise. When the weather is favorable, the fog that spreads down from the hills, the sun rising above it and the mountainous terrain that can be seen in the distance create a fascinating scene. With the onset of cold weather, the atmosphere here becomes more pleasant, so the attraction of tourists increases.
Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Annapurna, Manaslu and Lamjung mountains can be seen from Manungkot. The snow chains seen when the weather is clear and the changing natural scenery in the morning have become a special attraction for the tourists who come here. Manungkot is becoming known as a suitable destination for those who want to spend time in a peaceful environment with natural scenery. Due to its close proximity to Damauli market, the choice of tourists to come here has increased, from short-term excursions to overnight trips to watch the sunrise.
According to the local youth Anil Adhikari, since last few days, 2 to 300 tourists have been reaching Manungkot every day. This movement of tourists has increased the activity in Manungkot. He said that the atmosphere here has become more dynamic due to the tourists who come to see the sunrise in the morning, observe the natural scenery and take pictures.
With the increase in the number of tourists, the hotels and other businesses around Manungkot are also getting busier. According to Shailesh Sunam, a local businessman, the presence of tourists has benefited local businesses. The increase in the number of tourists will not only increase the demand for hotel and catering services, but also increase employment and income generation opportunities at the local level. According to him, businessmen who provide necessary services to tourists, vehicle operators and people connected with local products are also likely to benefit from tourism activities.
A religious legend connected with fog
The fog seen from Manungkot is also linked with local religious and cultural beliefs. A mythological legend about Sage Parashara and Satyavati, the father of Maharishi Ved Vyas, is connected with the incident of fog covering the Damauli market.
According to the legend, Sage Parashara created a fog so that people would not know when he wanted to live alone with Satyavati. Due to this religious belief, the fog seen in and around Damauli has also got cultural and mythological significance. Along with the natural scenery, such legends have also made the identity of Manungkot more interesting. Tourists who come here get an opportunity to understand the religious beliefs and cultural stories prevalent in the local society along with the view of fog and sunrise.
Preparing to make a tourist village in seven hundred ropani
After increasing tourist attraction in Manungkot, Beas Municipality has prepared to develop this area in a planned manner. The municipality is going to develop Manungkot as a managed tourist village by conducting a land consolidation project in an area of about 700 ropani. According to Sukdev Lamsal, the chief administrative officer of Beas Municipality, preparations for the land consolidation project have been advanced with the aim of making Manungkot an organized and sustainable tourist destination.
He said that the area is suitable for the implementation of the project from the preliminary study. According to him, institutional preparations are being made to conduct the project through the municipality’s own land integration project implementation unit. “This area near Damauli market is considered very promising for long-term tourism development due to its original identity and visual beauty,” said Lamsal. According to him, after the implementation of the project, it is expected that basic infrastructure such as roads, water supply, electricity, footpaths, parks etc. will be developed in a planned manner. This will prepare the basis for developing Manungkot as a managed tourist destination.
It is expected that the plan to organize settlements and infrastructure through land consolidation will expand the opportunities for employment and organized living for local residents along with tourism development. Likewise, the municipality believes that if necessary infrastructure is built, it will be easy to attract domestic and foreign tourists.
The challenge of sustainable tourism while preserving originality
The increase in tourist traffic in Manungkot is an opportunity for the local economy, but as tourism activity increases, it is equally important to preserve the natural environment, local culture and the originality of the destination. Along with the expansion of roads, water supply, electricity, footpaths and public facilities, it is necessary to pay attention to waste management, hygiene, safe movement and protection of natural scenery. It is said that if the needs and participation of local residents are prioritized while building tourism infrastructure, it will be easier to spread the benefits of development to the community.
The charm of Manungkot lies in its natural appearance, morning fog, sunrise and the surrounding Himalayan and hilly scenery. Therefore, only if these natural features are protected along with infrastructure development, tourism here can become sustainable in the long term. According to the locals, two to three hundred tourists have started arriving daily and the preparation of the municipality to develop a tourist village in 700 ropani has raised the expectation that the upcoming tourism trip to Manungkot will be more organized.
Damauli market hidden in the veil of fog, the sun rising on the horizon and the enchanting view of distant snow ranges are the distinctive features of Manungkot. Manungkot is likely to be established as an attractive tourist destination not only in Tanahun but also in Gandaki province if the necessary infrastructure can be expanded while preserving this identity. -Rasus