By Thakur Prasad Acharya, Beni, Dec. 2: A museum has been established along the Karbakeli Eco Trek to preserve art, culture and tradition of the Pun
Magar community.
The community has collected fund and established the museum at a cost of Rs. 8 million at Karbakeli of Kafaldanda in Annapurna Rural Municipality 8, Myagdi district.
Karbakeli is worshiped by the community as a community deity.
It is believed that the establishment of the museum will help promote tourism in the area.
Cham Bahadur Pun, patron of Karbakeli Baba Conservation Committee, said that the museum was established to preserve the art and culture of the Pun community and develop tourism.
The museum was inaugurated by Everest summiteer and actress Dia Pun on Tuesday.
Actress Pun said that the museum would help study the materials used by the ancestors in their daily life and transfer their art and culture to the new generation. She expressed her belief that the museum would be a place of study for the new
generation people.
“It is necessary to transfer our original art, culture, costumes and traditional lifestyle for the new generation,” said actress Pun.
During the opening ceremony, a traditional dance of the Pun community was performed.
The tools used by forefathers of the Pun community have been kept in
the museum.
Traditional materials like clothes, weapons, utensils, jewellery, old books and metal coins are in the museum, which has been opened for people since Tuesday. A two-storey building has been constructed for the museum.
Secretary of Karbakeli Conservation Committee Rabi Pun said that over Rs. 8 million was spent to build the museum.
Karbakeli Eco Trek features a museum as well as jungle safari, community culture and natural beauty.
Located at an altitude of 2,200 meters above sea level, Karbakeli offers a view of 10 glaciers including Gurja, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Machhapuchche, Annapurna, Tukuche, Myagdi and rural settlements of mountainous areas as well rhododendron forest.
A footrail connecting Beni Bazaar from Pokhara through Ghodepani, Punhill, Phulbari, Kafaldanda and Karabakeli has been brought into operation. The route passes through Banskharka, Mahbhir, Kafaldanda, Rim, Phulbari, Ramche and Kuwapani.