Infrastructure being built at Pulastya Pulhashram

BY THAKUR PRASAD ACHARYA,Myagdi, Feb. 25: The infrastruc ture development has begun to develop the Pulastya Pulhashram, located at the top of Beni, into a religious tourist destination. Over the past decade, approximately Rs. 25 million has been invested in building structures in Pulastya of Pulachaur of Beni Municipality-5, with the support of government bodies and donations. 

To develop this area as a major religious tourist site, Beni Municipality started the construction of Ravan Park three years ago. The park is being constructed with an investment of Rs. 17 million, with 70 per cent of the cost funded by the Ministry of Tourism and 30 per cent by Beni Municipality. 

Once completed, the park, featuring a statue of Ravan, is expected to enhance the religious significance of the area and attract more devotees.

Beni Municipality Mayor Surat KC said that the construction of Ravan Park is now in its final stage. He said, "One part of Ravan's statue, the feet, is already in place. Regarding the placement of the statue in the park, the work is proceeding as per the interim order of the court, as there is an ongoing court case about it."

Leela Baniya, president of the Pulastya Pulhas Area Development Fund, said that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared for the park’s construction, with an estimated cost of Rs. 300 million.

He said, "Due to the lack of promotion, infrastructure and preservation, the religious significance of this area, mentioned in the sacred Hindu scripture Srimad Bhagwat Mahapurana, had been overlooked in the past. However, with the active involvement of local people and initiatives from the local government, we have been working over the last decade to build infrastructure and promote it as a religious tourist destination."

The guardian of the Pulastya Pulhas area, Anantashri Vibhushit Jagatguru Ramanujacharya Tridandi Swami Himalayan Babaji, stated that since the Pulastya Pulha area is in the shape of a cow's mouth, it is already famous and has great potential for religious tourism. He emphasised that everyone should work together for the sustainable development of the Pulastya Pulha area.

He also said that by constructing religious structures and promoting the area both domestically and internationally, religious tourists visiting Muktinath could be attracted to this site. Himalayan Babaji pointed out that if Indian Hindu tourists were attracted to the Pulastya Pulha area, which is close to Galeshwar Dham, thousands of tourists could visit it annually.

Chairman of Ward No. 5 Govinda Baniya said that the ward and municipality have taken the necessary initiatives for infrastructure development, including road expansion and upgrading, to revive the historically and religiously significant Pulastya Pulha area.

Madhav Prasad Regmi, the secretary of the fund, said that the local, provincial and federal governments must allocate the necessary budget for infrastructure construction to develop the Pulastya Pulha area as a religious tourist destination.

Located at an altitude of 1,530 meters above sea level, to the northwest of the district headquarters, Beni, in the Myagdi district, Pulastya Pulhashram is believed to be the meditation site of the legendary sage Pulatsya. There is also a rock near the Pulastya temple, which is believed to be where Ravan's navel is buried.