Hotel business thrives in Morang hill station of Ramite

By Hari Prasad Koirala,Urlabari, Jan. 8: Over the past two years, 18 small and large hotels have come into operation in Ramite, in northern Morang. 

Located 22 km north of Kishan Chowk in Morang along the East–West Highway, the tourist area of Ramite remains cool in summer and boasts of pleasant sunshine in winter. As domestic and foreign tourists have begun visiting Ramite to bask in the winter sun and escape the summer heat during the monsoon, tourism-related businesses have flourished alongside hotels.

Following the extension of a blacktopped road to Ramite in Miklajung–1 of Morang, hotels have opened up. Kumari Limbu, who initially launched Hotel Tent Town together with six partners, said that tourist numbers decline in winter, but hotels are never empty. “In summer, guests stay in tents set up outdoors,” she said.

According to her, Hotel Tent Town was started with an investment of Rs. 15 million and has been expanding its services every month. “Compared to 21 months ago, when we started the hotel, we have improved the quality of everything. Whatever we earn is reinvested here,” she said, adding that total investment in the hotel has now reached Rs. 30 million. 

The hotel employs 18 people in winter and 24 in summer, and its operation has helped curb out-migration from the village.

Another hotel entrepreneur, Bhola Luitel, proprietor of Hotel Bhanubhakta and Lodge, said, “No hotel remains vacant in summer, and even in winter we are not sitting idle.” 

According to him, the growth of hotel business in Ramite has also increased agricultural and livestock production. “Earlier, people used to go down to the Tarai for trade and animal husbandry. Now all produce is being sold here, so people have started running enterprises within the village,” he said.

Trade in oranges, large cardamom, bay leaves, ginger and broom grass has expanded in Ramite. Those who once had to walk five hours to reach Tandi now sell agricultural and livestock products directly from their homes. Luitel said that investment in the hotel sector alone in Ramite has reached between Rs. 250 million and Rs. 300 million.

Ward Chairperson of Miklajung–1, Parbat Rai, said that 2 km of the road is still unpaved. “Once the entire road is blacktopped, Ramite will become a new tourist destination of Koshi Province,” he said. 

According to him, Ramite will be the closest hill village accessible from the East–West Highway. While average temperatures in the Tarai reach 38–40 degree Celsius, Ramite enjoys temperatures of around 18–19 degrees, encouraging visitors to stay overnight.

Although roads and electricity had reached the area years ago, it was only after hotels began opening that Ramite and the nearby Aaitabare market started to thrive. Local resident Santosh Rai said many people have found employment, businesses have grown, and vehicle movement has increased. “We no longer have to go down to the plains to sell fiddlehead ferns, chayote, potatoes and fruits,” he said.

For many Nepalis, Morang district is commonly associated with fertile paddy fields and sal forests. However, rhododendrons bloom in Ramite and the climate remains cool throughout the year.