Butwal’s Sen era garden attracting Indian tourists

By Our Correspondent,Butwal, Nov. 28: The historic Fulbari in Butwal, the palace of King Manimukunda Sen, has become a preferred destination for Indian tourists. Visitors from India now frequent the Manimukunda Sen Garden (Fulbari) daily.

According to Ananta Ram Silwal, Chief Executive Officer of Manimukunda Sen Park, there has been a notable increase in the number of Indian tourists visiting the park recently. These visitors, travelling from various cities across India, are also enjoying activities like sky cycling at Fulbari.

Initially built in 1575 B.S., Fulbari is the site of the ruins of the Manimukunda Sen Palace of the Sen Dynasty. While it was previously popular mainly among domestic tourists, the park has seen a significant rise in Indian visitors.

Former chairman of the Manimukunda Sen Park, Khem Prasad Luitel, said that the influx of Indian tourists to the park, a site tied to the historic defeat of British forces by Nepali soldiers, is a matter of pride for Butwal.

Spread across 12 bighas, the park features a zoo for wildlife conservation, housing animals such as blue cows, rabbits, leopards, sarus cranes, peacocks, hawks, jackals, pythons, deer, bears, monkeys, Eurasian Hoopoe, Japanese chickens and more.

Once managed as Aishwarya Park, this area has now evolved into one of Lumbini Province’s premier tourist destinations. Silwal said that a significant number of Indian students, particularly from Uttar Pradesh, visit the park daily.

In the fiscal year 2023/2024, Fulbari attracted 699,394 visitors, including around 70,000 Indian tourists. The park council is also discussing plans to develop the Manimukunda Sen Palace into a museum showcasing artifacts used during historical wars.

According to Madhav Nepal, chairman of the park, efforts are underway to promote Fulbari as a key tourist destination. Plans include the construction of a planetarium targeting students, the development of a botanical park, the transformation of the animal kennel into a zoological study centre and enhancing the Munamadan Garden to make it more appealing.