By Manoj Bhattarai
Okhaldhunga, Mar. 12: Champadevi Kakani – a significant religious tourism hub near the outskirts of Sunkoshi Rural Municipality, still remains vastly unsullied. With no access to electricity, lack of proper road infrastructure and paths fraught with potholes, the destination is inaccessible by vehicles.
Despite its potential to lure both foreign and domestic tourists, development works have been moving at snail’s pace. In the devastating 2015 earthquake, over 300 houses of the villages were flattened. Although the people of Chamapadevi Kakani were rendered homeless in the wake of the disaster, the government has built two-room prefabricated houses for the denizens. However, the residents, especially those living in a joint family complain about the dearth of space. The limited space has also created problems in storing one of the village’s staple crops, potatoes.
According to Jhanak Karki, Ward Chairperson of Sunkoshi Rural Municipality Ward No. 9, several men and youths migrate to the cities, which has further added to the village’s growing troubles.
Moreover, due to lack of basic health infrastructures and services, residents here suffer greatly during illness. There isn’t even a single health post in the area to cater to the people’s needs. “It’s a hassle to even get a paracetamol. The more affluent ones among us charter a helicopter and travel to nearby cities for treatment but those with limited means feel hopeless when sick,” bemoaned a local, Chakra Tamang. Many here seek solace in shamanic healings as getting to a nearest hospital in Koshhat takes over four hours to reach.
In order to connect the remote village to nearby cities and towns of Okhaldhunga, the Ward office has allocated Rs. 500,000 and Rs. 1 million from the Infrastructure Partnership Programme. “In name of infrastructure, we only have dirt roads as of now. There’ a lot that needs to be done in terms of development here at Chamapdevi Kakani,” said Ward Chairperson Karki.
While there is an elementary school in the village, there are no optimal options for secondary education. As a result, several young ones drop out after passing Grade V -- after which a majority of them either get married or relocate elsewhere in search of employment opportunity.
Three years since Provincial system, the local government is only beginning to establish road networks to Chamapdevi Kakani. However, electricity is still a far cry for the locals.
Stepping into the village feels no less than a trip to the past. However, there’s no dearth of culturally significant structures and pristine natural beauty at Chamapdevi Kakani. After walking uphill from the village centre through a taxing rocky trail, hikers can reach the beautiful Chamapdevi Kakani Temple. Likewise, there’s also a magnificent waterfall just down the village.
Bearing this in mind, the local government has been contemplating a master plan to transform the hitherto unsoiled destination into a religious and cultural tourism hub. “We have already worked out a master plan and have prepared a Detailed Planned Report,” claimed Champadevi Rural Municipality Chairperson Navaraj KC.