Attraction of hiking & homestay in Ulleri

• Basudev Poudel  

Gandaki. Ulleri is a place that has a lot of tourist potential from Pokhara. Located in Pokhara Metropolitan City-22, this village is rich in nature and culture. This village is inhabited by Brahmins, Chhetris, Gurungs, Dalits, and other community people. The beautiful mountain range and hilly scenery was seen from this village has attracted everyone.

Considering the backwardness of the village despite its potential, the locals have given priority to the construction of tourist-friendly infrastructure along with infrastructure development for the last two decades.

The locals have been promoting cultural activities in the village by setting up community houses about 20 years ago to hold various cultural programs and conventions. Secretary of Ulleri Community Homestay, Durga Bahadur Gurung, informed that the houses have been operated in four houses here since last year in view of the development of the village as a good tourist destination near Pokhara.

He said that local organic products are served to the tourists visiting the homestay. He said that Rs. 1,000 per person is charged for the package of corn, etc, along with the evening meal and breakfast.

Another local, Jit Bahadur Gurung, said that tourists can reach Thaplo above the village and observe the distant mountains and hills at the same time. Min Prasad Lamichhane, a local social worker, said that the locals have been active in the promotion and development of Thaple Tiger Hill, which is located at an altitude of 2,056 meters above sea level.

Thaple is a place of pilgrimage for the locals. According to popular belief, a Siddha Baba had established a hut here and gained knowledge through penance.  Special worship is performed here on the day of Buddha Jayanti. People who come here to raise bells and flags in the belief that their aspirations will be fulfilled.

From Thaple, not only Pokhara but also Lamjung, Gorkha, Palpal and other places can be observed at the same time. Man Singh Gurung, chairman of Thaple Tiger Hill, said that the mountainous scenery of Dhawalagiri, Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, Gaurishankar and Panchase Lake and Palpa attract everyone.

In Thaple, people from Ulleri, Galem, Dhaba, Bhumdi, and Makwanpur of Kaski and Syangja come to worship with reverence and faith. This place has the potential for paragliding as well as hiking through Ulleri-Bhumdi-Galem Torke.

Secretary of Homestay Gurung informed that the work of publicity and infrastructure development has been expedited in recent days. According to him, a 400-meter wall has been constructed around the temple in Thaple and two ponds have been constructed.

A stone staircase has been constructed with the assistance of Rs. 2 million from the state government to reach from Ulleri to Thaple.  He informed that the stairway from Kubinde to Ulleri has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 500,000 with the help of the state government.

In view of the attraction of the youth towards sports, a multi-purpose basketball court has been constructed recently by collecting Rs. 1.225 million under the coordination of Gurung. “We are linking Ulleri’s homestay with hiking tourism here,” he said.