By Sher Bahadur Sarki

Bajura, July 28: The waterfall of the Birekhola River near Martadi is currently bustling with domestic tourists. In spite of its beauty, the 200-metre-tall waterfall had remained deserted for much of 2020 and the first six months of 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the travel restrictions imposed to contain it. But now, with much of those restrictions lifted, the area is once again alive with visitors from all over Nepal coming to soak in the natural scenery.
Wards 6 and 8 of Badimalika Municipality, where the waterfall is located, claim that it is the tallest waterfall of Bajura.
For a very long time, this beautiful waterfall lacked protection and promotion. However, now, realising its tourism potential, the local government has begun developing the area. “The municipality has built a fence and a bridge to allow people to see the waterfall safely,” said Kala Baduwal, Ward No. 6 chair.
The Birekhola waterfall is located just six kilometres away from Martadi, the district headquarters. The municipality’s efforts have succeeded in bringing domestic tourists, who would have otherwise left from Martadi, to the area, the locals told The Rising Nepal. They hope that the influx of visitors will boost their businesses as well.
“If protected and promoted well, this waterfall can even attract foreign tourists and generate millions of rupees in revenue,” Baduwal said. Despite recent works, Ward No. 8 chairman Prakash Bahadur Rawal still feels there is much to be done. “The site isn’t as popular as it should be,” he complained.
Badimalika Mayor Padam Baduwal expressed the municipality’s commitment to work tirelessly for the preservation and development of the waterfall.