Enchanting Tarebhir Lake luring tourists

A historic pond of Tarebhir, which has been collecting rainwater for a very long time, has become an attractive tourist destination.

After the construction of the necessary physical infrastructure, Tarebhir pond situated at ward no 7 of Pumdibhumdi in Pokhara, has gained a lot of attraction among domestic and international tourists these days.

According to a local, Jung Bahadur Gurung, the water of the pond is being used for irrigation and animals. Sharing experience of the pond having water for the whole year, Gurung says that he usually takes the animal to the pond to drink water and bath.

Chet Bhakta Baral, a ward member, says that the pond, situated at an altitude of 1,600 meters, is 20 meters in length, 15 meters in width and 1.5 meters in height. He informed that previously, drinking water was brought from Dharakhola, but now there are water pipelines in each home brought from Patalakharka.

According to Baral, Tarebhir pond has been reconstructed with a budget of around four hundred thousand rupees collected from the Pokhara Metropolitan, Green forest program, and the local community. He says that the concrete wall and 10-meter high fence around the pond has helped a lot to protect the beauty of the pond.

Recalling that he used to swim in the water of the lake during his childhood, local Dil Bahadur Gurung says that there are around 800 Mahur fishes in the pond bred after the conservation. Now, the buffalo is not allowed inside the pond.

Daily 50 to 100 tourists are arriving at Talawang homestay, Pumdibhumdi to revel in the mesmeric view of Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, and other mountains which can be seen clearly from here and efforts are being made to take the tourists up to the Tarebhir pond to enjoy its aesthetic beauty.

From the Chorepatan section of Pokhara-Siddhartha Highway, an unpaved road has been constructed to reach Tarebhir pond via a touristic destination, Shanti Stupa.

With the protection of ancient ponds, like the Tarebhir, which the ancestors constructed hundreds of years ago for their needs, it is believed to support the commercialization of natural products in the rural setting and also contributes to the income of the residents.

All Photos: Shiva Gurung