Janti Dhunga in Tulsipur awaits conservation

By Gokarna Paudel,Tulsipur, Dec. 27: First-time visitors to the Janti Dhunga area might be surprised to see stones that look like Janti (procession accompanying the groom), standing motionless from afar.

There are stones of different sizes that look like statues of people, located in the Jhakri Dhunga Community Forest area in Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City, Ward No. 13. The Janti Dhunga area lies between Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City Ward No. 13 and 14.

According to local legend, a group of Janti arrived there at night and by the next day they turned into stones.

Mohan Poudel, Ward Chairperson of Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City-13, said that thousands of stones are scattered across an area of about one bigha of land. He explained that these stones have been protected by a fence with the cooperation of locals and the ward after some stones were stolen.

The Janti Dhunga Conservation Committee has been formed with the active participation of the locals. Poudel mentioned that a budget has been allocated this year for the conservation of Janti Dhunga.

Shankar Khadka, Chairperson of Ward No. 14, said that Janti Dhunga is located near the road that connects the East-West Highway and reaches there through Bijauri, Bhojpur and Malawar.

He also said that road expansion and blacktopping work has already begun to improve access to the area. Additionally, efforts are underway to extend drinking water and electricity services to the region.

Tika Ram Khadka, Mayor of Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City, said that the budget for the conservation of Janti Dhunga will be managed according to the detailed project report (DPR). He added that Bagh Dhunga, Hati Dhunga and Janti Dhunga will be protected as eco-tourism centers.

Hum Bahadur Nepali, Chairman of the Janti Dhunga Conservation Committee, explained that the locals stayed awake throughout the night to protect the stones after incidents of theft and smuggling. He emphasised that the committee has been actively promoting awareness about Janti Dhunga for some time now.