Photographs showing Gulmi’s beauty on display

By Our Correspondent,Resunga (Gulmi),may .1: At the Fifth Gulmi Festival, 20 of the best photographs showcasing the district’s religious and tourist areas have been exhibited. 

Visitors have shown great interest, keenly observing and taking pictures of the photographs displayed. The 20 photographs were taken by Dinesh Basnet of Thulapokhara, Ward-7 of Gulmidarbar Rural Municipality.

According to photographer Basnet, the exhibition features images of religious and tourist sites such as Resunga, Charpala Durbar, Garjura and Gaudakot, including views of the Dhaulagiri mountain range, Dhagithum Temple, and birds found in the Resunga area. 

He claimed that around 500 people observed the exhibition on the first day. Basnet also shared that a similar exhibition was held in Butwal in coordination with the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Rupandehi, featuring photographs of Charpala Durbar, Balkot Pauwa of Arghakhanchi, and Himalayan views seen from Upper Tamghas.

Basnet said that he invested approximately Rs. 40,000 personally to organise the exhibition, aiming to promote tourism development and identity of the district. He has been building his identity in photography for the past three years through Kaji Photo.

 So far, he has captured and published more than 1,000 photographs of religious and tourist sites across the district. Interested in photography from a young age, Basnet works in a bank and spends his free time taking photographs.

He initially started taking photographs using a mobile phone. A camera sent by a neighbour from abroad boosted his work. He further added that encouragement and support from photographers Raj Adhikari, Supradipta Neupane, Sandip Sharma and Jiban Panjiyar Tharu helped him reach his current position. 

He added that although he did not receive formal training or education, inspiration and learning from seniors have been key to his achievements.

Last year, Basnet got the opportunity to work as an official photographer at the Prime Minister Cup held at the Extratech Oval International Cricket Ground. 

The festival, organised by the Gulmi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has been running from April 24 to May 6 and features more than 200 stalls, including agriculture, household goods and handicrafts.

To help promote the district through photographs, a free stall was provided to Kaji Photo, said Tara Prasad Bhusal, Vice-President of the Gulmi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.