Shailung’s Great Wall: New attraction for tourists

By Sujan Kafle,Charikot, Apr. 26: Shailung Great Wall, which is still under construction in Shailung of Dolakha district, has become the latest attraction for tourists. There has been a significant increase in the number of tourists visiting the mini Great Wall. The tourists visiting religious and tourist sites in the district have been attracted towards the mini Great Wall. 

Sanjeev Neupane, the chief administrative officer of Shailung Rural Municipality, said that Shailung has become a centre of attraction for tourists due to its natural scenery and beauty. He said that there had been an increase in the number of foreign tourists visiting Shailung for meditation, study, research and exploration.

Stating that tourist flow had increased in the area, Neupane said that a significant number of tourists are seen on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays. He said that approximately 20,000 individuals visited the Great Wall on Nepali New Year Day on April 13.

The mini Great Wall was constructed in Shailung for tourism promotion with joint investment from the federal government's Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and Shailung Rural Municipality. For the construction, the federal government provided 70 per cent of the budget and the rural municipality bore 30 per cent of the construction costs. 

Although initially, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) was prepared for the construction of the 950-metre  Great Wall from Kalapani to Dafedhunga, currently only about 500 metres of the Great Wall has been constructed, informed the rural municipality.

For the initial phase of the construction of the 500-metre Great Wall, a contract was awarded for Rs. 49.415 million. 

Tourists from the Netherlands have also been visiting Shailung. They also observe the Great Wall. Bharat Dulal, the former Chairman of Shailung Rural Municipality, said that after the federal government agreed to support the construction of tourist destinations, the rural municipality proposed the construction of the Great Wall to make Shailung the main tourist destination.  He further said that upon completion of the construction of the Great Wall, there would be an increase in the number of tourists.