Foreign tourist arrivals at Pathibhara Temple soars

KATHMANDU: The well-known Shakti Peeth Pathibhara in Taplejung has seen a significant increase in the arrival of foreign tourists recently.

In addition to the religious visit, foreign tourists are also attracted to the natural beauty of the region, as reported by the Pathibhara Area Development Committee.

Previously, the temple mostly attracted pilgrims from neighboring countries, especially India.

However, in recent times, tourists from countries like the United States, Japan, Thailand, and the Netherlands have also started visiting, according to Prajin Hangbang, the Executive Director of the Pathibhara Area Development Committee.

He mentioned that just on Tuesday, more than a dozen foreign nationals visited Pathibhara. Tourists from the Netherlands and other places enjoyed the temple rituals and the breathtaking view of the Himalayas from the site.

Ravi Lama, a guide with JRN Trek and Expedition, who brought tourists from the Netherlands to Pathibhara on Tuesday, shared that it was his third trip leading foreign nationals there. The tourists expressed their appreciation for Nepal’s religion and natural beauty.

Between the months of July and mid-November, 478 foreign nationals visited Pathibhara.

Among them, the highest number came from India, as informed by Assistant Inspector Shishir Koirala at the Kaflepathi Tourist Police Assistance Post.

With the promotion of both religious faith and natural beauty, the number of foreign tourists visiting Pathibhara has steadily increased, according to the Pathibhara Area Development Committee.

The committee believes that as tourism infrastructure expands and tourism promotion efforts continue, the number of foreign visitors will keep rising.

Every year, millions of devotees, both local and foreign, visit Pathibhara with the belief that their wishes will be fulfilled.

To ensure the safety and convenience of tourists, a Tourist Assistance Police Post has been set up in Kaflepati, which is along the Pathibhara trekking route.

The committee has also been working to upgrade and develop physical infrastructure, such as the trekking route, toilets, and drinking water facilities, for the comfort of visitors.

Additionally, efforts are underway to establish a telephone tower with internet facilities for easier communication in the temple area and install solar-powered lights along the trekking path.