‘Tea Garden Viral Sports' goes viral

By Bishnu Prasad Pokharel 

Damak, May 16 : Thousands of tourists have been flocking to Damak in Jhapa every day due to the alluring flowers that have bloomed along certain sections of the road over the past month. This area, located near a tea shop in Damak-9, has been named 'Tea Garden Viral Sports' by the locals.

The sudden surge in people visiting this spot has surprised the locals, turning it into a viral attraction. 

This viral spot is situated adjacent to the Himalaya Mahalakshmi Tea Garden, where the former king's mini palace is located.

According to Kuber Bhattarai, Chairman of Ward No. 9 of the municipality, the area gained viral status due to people sharing photos and videos on social media. 

Currently, approximately 2,500 to 5,000 people visit the area every day.

"I am also astonished to see that the road in my ward has become viral all of a sudden," said Bhattarai. 

He further mentioned that efforts are being made to manage waste and enhance the area's attractiveness due to the daily influx of visitors. "In less than a month, more than 100,000 people have come here to witness the beauty," he added.

The primary attraction of this place is the blooming flowers on one side of the road and a section of the tea garden on the other, which provide picturesque backgrounds for photography. Since these flowers bloom from April to June, they are also known as Asare ful (seasonal flowers). 

Professor Basu Kafle from Damak Multiple Campus stated that the allure of this place lay in the flowers, but the Nepali name for the flower has not yet been determined.

The Asare flower is a perennial plant native to the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, China, Korea, and Japan. 

It is widely cultivated as an ornamental shrub or small tree. 

In Nepal, it is found at an altitude of 1,000 to 1,500 metres above sea level, and the flowers bloom abundantly on tall bushes.

Various books mention the medicinal properties of this flower. Its paste is applied to cuts and wounds. Due to its attractive appearance, the area itself has gone viral following the sudden increase in the number of people who come to capture photos and videos of the flowers.

The Ward Office has initiated the painting of roadside trees and tea garden trees. 

A committee has been formed at the local level to transform the area into a permanent tourist spot and maintain its viral status.

"We are planning to undertake necessary measures to attract tourists to this area in every season, even after the flowers cease blooming," Bhattarai stated.