Route used for carrying salt becoming historic trail

By Kabiraj Ghimire, Hile, Jan 16: The trail that was used to carry salt by most locals of the eastern hilly district, Dhankuta, because of lack of transportation is now being preserved. Around 50 years ago, the thoroughfare was used to carry salt from Dharan. 

The Dhankuta Municipality has started this noble initiation to rejuvenate the recent history and to attract internal tourists. The municipality has started its preservation in such a way that it can be developed historically. 

Ratna Bahadur Rai, Chairperson of the Consumer Committee said that the target is to develop the old salt-carrying lane as a tourist trail. The stairways are being built in north–south of Mulghat and an at-grade junction Dhankute stream from Dhankuta Municipality-9.

According to him, the project which was started in November has completed 400 meters long trail from the first phase till February.  

The tourist trail is being built at an investment of Rs 3.85 million, Rs 2 million from the municipality, Rs 1 million for the preservation of the tourist, and Rs 455,000.

He said that around Rs 20 million more budget is needed to see the under-construction 4000 meters trail. This is the only road used to move things from east of Dharan to Dhankuta before the construction of the Dharan-Dhankuta Highway. 

Likewise, the trail which has been used by the minorities Athpahariya community, and locals of the Dhankluta, a time memorial to pilgrimage on foot to Koka stream and Baraha area to give respect and to wash away the pain of death in a family in a year. 

This trail, which lies at the  Akkar slope, does not come in use rather than going for a pilgrimage once a year as the construction of the road is difficult in the harshest terrain. 

To overcome this geographical difficulty, the municipality has built a road from the Tamor river bank in Malghat to Akkar slope-8 to Tekunala gaun leading to the Dhankuta market. 

Chintan Tamang, Mayor of the Dhankuta Municipality said that a homestay in the Athpahariya community is being established as well along with the construction of a trail. The aim is to complete the project in five years.