Magar and Tribal Museums in the shadows

By Kabiraj Ghimire,Hile, May 15: The Magar tribal museum in Chaubise, Dhankuta, has remained in the shadows due to a lack of adequate publicity and poor road access.

Although the museum houses a collection of more than 100 historical items, only a few tourists reach the museum. The museum contains items used by the Magar community, said Tankamaya Pangmi Magar, vice-chairperson of the rural municipality.

She said that although preparations had been made to operate homestays near the museum, the museum itself was neglected after the homestay project could not be brought into operation.

Construction of the museum began four years ago with a budget of Rs. 1 million provided through the constituency infrastructure programme.

Mudhebas, which is home to the largest Magar community in Dhankuta, has a collection of cultural items, including traditional costumes, utensils, musical instruments, old weapons, wooden artefacts, and other materials related to the Magar community.

The museum, which depicts the customs and culture of the Limbu community, was built in 2075 BS.

Visitors can observe objects reflecting the cultures of different ethnic groups, including the Limbu, Yakha, and Magar communities. The site is accessible by both small and large vehicles. However, despite the construction of the museum, it has remained neglected due to the lack of tourists in the area, said Rajkumar Chemjong, chairman of the rural municipality.