Khuwa becoming souvenir delicacy from Hetauda

By Anil Parajuli,Hetauda, Mar. 15: The expansion of more than half a dozen road networks connecting the federal capital Kathmandu with Hetauda has contributed significantly to enhancing the quality of locals’ life.

With the improved road access, people travelling from Hetauda to Kathmandu have begun carrying locally produced khuwa (condensed milk) as a souvenir.

In the past, traditional sweets like gudpak and pushtakari were common souvenirs from Kathmandu. However, now travellers from Hetauda are taking khuwa to Kathmandu as a special gift.

Travellers using Tata Sumos, private vehicles, motorcycles and other public transport on the Hetauda-Bhimphedi road section often stop at Ranikhola in Bhimphedi-4, Makwanpur to take Khuwa to Kathmandu.

According to Keshav Ghimire, the operator of the Eke Dairy Industry and Khuwa Shop, people passing through the route increasingly purchase khuwa to take to Kathmandu.

As Chuchchekhola in Makwanpur is developing into a khuwa hub, locals in Bhimphedi have also started collecting milk and producing dairy-based delicacies to sell as keepsakes. This is the first time khuwa and chocolates are being commercially produced in this municipality.

Local Ram Bahadur Ghimire said that when dairy farmers faced losses due to milk holidays, they started producing khuwa, chocolate, gudpak, peda, yogurt, ghee and pushtakari to prevent milk from going to waste.

According to Ghimire, the industry uses buffalo milk to make khuwa and cow milk to produce chocolate. Ghimire, who has reared five buffaloes and seven cows, produces 60 litres of milk daily from his farm and also collects milk from 30 local farmers to prepare various dairy products.

He collects up to 200 litres of milk daily from Ward Nos. 3 and 4 of Bhimphedi Rural Municipality. Alongside khuwa, chocolate made from milk similar to that produced in Ilam is also sold. 

The chocolate and pushtakari are mainly marketed in popular religious and tourist sites such as the Sahid Smarak in Hetauda, Kulekhani, Sisneri, Daman-Palung and Makwanpurgadhi.

Ghimire said that tourists visiting Makwanpur often purchase these items as souvenirs when returning home. His dairy industry, which began operations six months ago, has created employment for six people who are involved in stirring khuwa and making chocolate.

He said that khuwa is sold at Rs. 700 per kilogram and both the khuwa and chocolate have received positive feedback from customers. The enhanced road network has enabled locals to generate income by selling dairy products produced in rural areas.