okhaldhunga agam

About पोकली falls,Okhaldhunga, नेपाल

By Dr. Khagendra N Sharma
I happened to read two articles on the prospects of the development of the Pokali Falls watershed of Okhaldhunga district in the issues of the 6th and 8th February, 07 of the Jagaran Times. Almost obsessed by the overwhelming political literature on present Nepal, I felt excited to turn to the concept of development. I was born and brought up in the hills of Ilam and am familiar with the problems and prospects of development in the hills. I have never been to Okhaldhunga, but the two articles mentioned above made me feel that I know the district almost from my heart. The truth is that I had only read the poem entitled Mero Pyaro Okhaldhunga by poet Siddhicharan on the beauty and love of Okhandhunga during my school days. Although I did not write any poem myself, that poem had aroused a deep sense of love for my own district in my mind and I spent six important formative years of my career in the service of Ilam, as the founder principal of its college. I was exposed to the issues of development in Ilam where I was also motivated and involved in a lot of activities other than the running of the college. Sharing this experience, I want to speculate on the development prospects in the Pokali Falls area of Okhaldhunga.

Although Ilam had the initial advantage of being exposed to the development prospects because of its proximity with the Darjeeling area of West Bengal, Okhaldhunga is situated in the central eastern hills and can have the future advantage of sustained growth centre. I have not seen any leader or planner with this focus of development in the context of Okhaldhunga. But, looking at the central location of the district, this is a definite prospect. Ilam had the initial push because of its cash crop potentials particularly that of the tea plantation, cardamom plantation, ginger plantation, potato farming, cattle raising for dairy, all of which were export oriented. Lately, it is trying its hands at the growth of tourism. Ilam has natural attractions that can allure increasing number of tourists. It has also got some religious places that can attract tourists.

Going through the two articles in the Jagaran Times, one feels that Okhaldhunga is blessed with the most attractive natural marvels. The Pokali Falls is just one. The district headquarters is the obvious one which inspired Siddhicharan Shrestha to compose the immortal poem on its beauty and love. A stretch of imagination comes into my mind connecting Okhaldhunga Bazaar with the Pokali Falls, approximately two days leisurely walk on foot. If this stretch is made motorable, a vast array of socio economic development can be launched with the local resources alone. The Pokali fall is the obvious attraction for the outsider tourist, but the people living on either side of the road can make the most unexpected economic gains from the road.

The road connects the centre not only with the ultimate destination but also with the outreach along the road. Every road has a hinterland with plenty of resources and products. The road is the booster of the resource use and the products. The present state of the products may be rudimentary. But the road brings in qualitative changes or improvement in the production process and quantum, delivery services and marketing. If there are cottage level indigenous industries in the region, their quality will be improved, their quantity will be vastly increased and their potential market will be expanded several times. Similarly, in the case of agriculture, the subsistence level farming can be converted into a market based cash farming, hugely improving the economic status of the farmers. There is the prospect of agro-based industries.

One obvious prospect is that of development of tourism. The Pokali fall is so fascinating that it will attract a horde of tourists. But the mere attraction of nature is not enough. Tourism needs a range of infrastructure. The first is the road which we presume there will be in the near future. But there is a greater need for the accommodation of the incoming tourists. Hotels are the priority need. Good food and comfortable lodge will attract a large number of tourists. Resorts are the present fashion. They can run a number of entertainment and adventurous activities in and around the resorts. If good and comfortable resorts are made, we can expect national and international tourists. They can arrange a number of local cultural shows as part of their entertainment programmes. They can make tracks on either side of the 130 metre fall where lovers will spend imaginative moments of their life. You can go on imagining. The sky is the limit.

But who will take the lead? The central level politicians have no spare time from their politics of indulgence in power. The local level politicians are dependent on their central leaders. No visionary leader ever looks back into the villages. The villages need a lead, but a true lead is not forthcoming. When the shape of future of Nepal itself is not structured, the future of local structure is all the more foggy. In such a state of affairs, the leaders are not expected to take a deterministic step in local level development. That is the fate of local development now.

But there is a ray of hope in the case of the Pokali fall and its watershed area. Enthusiastic local youths of Okhaldhunga presently studying or working and residing in the capital have taken a due initiative to form a society called the Pokali Falls Service Society (PWSS). There are several inspirational features in the society. There are 11 founder members under the inspired chairmanship of a tantric student named Guru Kedar Baral. All the 11 members are young and energetic. Their composition is inclusive in nature with three women, two dalit and two Sunuwar members/ office bearers. With less than a year in existence, they have already published a calendar which could be the beginning of the tourism promotion activity. The Society is now articulating its future strategy. They can augment their work by working in collaboration with the development agencies some of which are named below.

Until a new local governance structure is developed under a new constitution, the District Development Committee (DDC) is the proper local governance unit that can decide the development activities within the district. Above the DDC, the Ministry of Local Development (MLD) is the central government agency that coordinates the local development programs and provides needed resources. Apart from that, a number of international governmental, intergovernmental and non governmental agencies are also involved in different programmes of local development. To take some examples, CARE/Nepal has been involved in a number of watershed management programs; SNV of the Netherlands and GTZ of Germany are involved in different local development programs; UNDP has been supporting a number of local development programs.

The PWSS is a non governmental initiative that will harness support from all the possible sources. DDC is urged not only to support it but also to develop it as a model to be emulated by the other regions of the district. The government is urged to give it the needed resources and other support. The donors are urged to extend their helping hands in the development of the Pokali watershed area. The intellectuals are urged to develop a proper focus on the parameters of local or regional development. The hoteliers or resort owners are urged to expand their business in the rural areas, and give this venture a realistic consideration. Tourism must flourish in the private sector. It will be the good policy of the government to promote such people oriented programs.

okhaldhunga agam

Celebration in Okhaldhunga this week

Posted on March 12, 2012 under News

Fifty years ago, Dr Jimmy Dick and his team of four medical personnel tramped for seven days through the hills to establish a small dispensary in Okhaldhunga, in eastern Nepal. Over the years, this grew to include community health programmes, and a big rural development programme.

Now, Okhaldhunga Community Hospital provides wide-ranging preventative and curative health service across the district. But things are getting crowded at the hospital, and so the team has embarked on an ambitious building programme that will see its capacity extended to 50 beds, and better facilities all round.

UMN is proud to join with the people of Okhaldhunga and the current hospital team in remembering the contributions of the pioneers, celebrating the achievements of 50 years of service, and looking forward with confidence to an exciting future.



Celebration in Okhaldhunga this week

okhaldhunga agam

Okhaldhunga is the headquarters of Okhaldhunga District, in the Sagarmatha Zone of Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 3761 living in 790 individual households.^[1] It is located at 27°19'0N 86°30'0E and has an altitude of 1561 m (5124 ft).^[2]
The district gets its name from Okhal, meaning a grinding stone. As if in evidence of the same, a big grinding stone still lies at the district headquarters, which is also named as Okhaldhuga. The district contains ancient forts such as Okhaldhunga Gadhi, Taluwagadhi, Chisankhukot, Bhaluithumkagadhi, and Chyanmakotgadhi that were important in :the history of Nepal. The birthplace of the famous Nepalese poet, Siddhicharan Shrestha, Okhaldhunga is also known as the 'District of Martyrs'. It is believed that more than 56 citizens of the area died in the Nepalese struggle for democracy. The district provides breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains Sagaramatha, Kanchenjanga, Gaurishankar, Tholedemba, Taklung, Rawadelu and many others. It also possesses many sparkling springs like Pokali, Lipu, Patle, Sepli, Dhikure and more, which descend along the hills from heights of around 300 metres. The district is known. as a good source of slate, especially on the cliffs like Khiji Khijee, Ragani and Dandapakha. The proper development of the slate industry, with procurement, processing and transporting to .lucrative markets could be a boon not just for Okhaldhunga but the entire nation. Other industries that could be developed are copper mining and iron ore mining as the district is said to be rich in these metals. In the agricultural sector the district is well known for various cash crops such as like tea, coffee, cardamom etc. The climate is most suitable for these crops as well as for many different citrus fruits.

okhaldhunga agam

About Okhaldhunga

Sitting at just over 5000 feet, Okhaldunga is an ideal destination for immersion in a genuine Nepali village. The magic of this town is conveyed in both it’s hospitality and natural beauty.  Although a narrow dirt road now connects this district to the rest of Nepal, the hilly terrain makes travel to Okhaldhunga difficult at best, and at times quite treacherous.  For most, a two day walk from the town of Katari continues to be the best and safest way to reach Okhaldhunga.
Amidst a scenic wonderland, Okhaldhunga offers a truly Nepali experience.  The district capital is a small town surrounded by hills dotted with small faming villages.  Okhaldhunga’s pristinely breathtaking scenery, immortalized by 20th century poet Siddhicharan Shrestha, invites visitors to a number of local hikes and treks, including a two hour walk to Pokali, the second largest waterfall in Nepal.  During certain times of year, the crisp, clear skies give view to the Himalayas, including Mount Everest, providing a perfect excuse to relax in front of the world’s tallest mountain range.
The Okhaldhunga district, with Okhaldhunga as its capital, is part of the Sagarmatha zone of eastern Nepal, one of 75 districts. It spans an area of about 1,100km2 and has a population of over 150,000 people.
Okhaldhunga also offers the setting to accomplish many things, working hand in hand with the community in such areas as education, English instruction, sanitation and waste management, health, youth activities, infrastructure planning and development, and more.
Your trip to Okhaldhunga is an all-inclusive opportunity to live and work in the “Real Nepal”, far away from city life.

okhaldhunga agam

                                      okhaldhuga 
is district of nepal there is fifty five village development commitee
my village development commitee balakhu.this is near boarder of sindhuli districtthere is sun
koshi revers between   sindhuli and okhaldhunga have there nine ward for
balakhu village development commitee my ward number is four there is school tow place
nepal  
                          abouts misson hospital okhaldhunga

In the early 1960’s, a Ghurka soldier extended an invitation to a physician in the British Army to start a medical project in the Okhaldhunga district. From its humble beginnings as a small remote clinic, it has grown into a small community hospital with 45 inpatient beds and an active Public Health Unit. Nestled in a remote region of the foothills of the Himalayas due south from Mount Everest, the hospital is the only facility in Okhaldhunga district and additionally serves people in four surrounding districts, accounting for a population of more than 250,000 people. In comparison to other areas of Nepal, Okhaldhunga district is severely impoverished. A recent study by the community health team, found that less than 3% of all people in this district have any extra resources left after meeting the basic needs of feeding their family. This is also is an acute care general hospital.

This hospital treats about 30,000 outpatients every year and admits about 2500 cases. Surgical procedures depend on the availability of a surgeon. The hospital normally performs about 1000 surgical procedures per year. The surgical procedures here consist of emergency life-saving surgeries like caesarean sections, other obstetric emergencies, laparotomies, and trauma surgeries including craniotomies as well as some orthopedics, in addition to minor surgery. This hospital is not as well equipped as Tansen hospital for complicated surgery but a wide range of surgical procedures are being done. There are presently 59 Nepali staff and two expatriates working there.

This is also one of the more remote hospitals where family medicine doctors are trained for their district posting. These residents are trained in basic general surgery, obstetric and gynaecology and most of the time in basic anaesthesia. Therefore these residents provide crucial manpower in a hospital like this.

okhaldhunga agam

okhaldhunga 
a part of Sagarmatha Zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal, a landlocked country of South Asia. The district, with Okhaldhunga as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,074.5 km² and had a population of 156,702 in 2001 and 147,984 in 2011. Okhaldhunga is part of area traditionally called Wallo Kirat (near Kirat), home to indigenous ethnic groups Rai and Sunuwar. Apart from these indigenous ethnic groups,other ethnics and hill castes live in the district.
okhaldhunga distric is hill side of nepal there is good weather in any condition
i m burn in also okhaldhunga. District dead quater is also okhaldhunga
 there have now develove for acsses road have been time three year.
there pet for animal goad cow buffelo cat hen and also pet honeybee. we god honey from honey bee honey one time deferant from fifteen days three/ four kilo gram been growth. price is par kilo gram five hundred .
sagarmatha mountian is also this district worldwide highly mountain is sagarmatha.
have there nearly district from sagarmath. there cames many more tourist so benifit from tourist
taken visiting charge now develop any more form before.
                                           Balakhu is a village development committee
  in Okhaldhunga District in the Sagarmatha Zone of mid-eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 3703 living in 677 individual households.
 Tourist are attracted towards the beauty of Okhaldhunga Rafting-Rafting in Sunkoshi and Botekoshi attracts the tourist in Nepal. Water-falls – Pokali waterfalls attracts the tourists who are religious and loves natural beauty. If Pokali waterfall could be advertised within Nepal it would relief the public of Okhaldhunga. We can take an example of Pathibhara as a symbol of Devi temple in Taplejung district, the public in Ilam named it as Pathibhara. Visitors from Darjaling and Sikkim visit Pathibhara, this shows that if people have unity the work becomes successful. Gadhi – Historical corners “gadhi” are found to be constant. Repair and maintenance of gadhi could attract the tourist. Chasankhu gadhi of Diyale and Kotkateni gadhi of Thulachhap are also found to be not well taken care of. Cave – Cave has great significance throughout the world. Our ancestors used to live in the cave and wodhar? One of the most popular cave of Pokhara “Mahendra gufa” has demonstrated of attraction of tourist towards cave and wodhar . Chameru Gufa of Okhaldunga Bilandu has proved to be playground “kridasthal” of chameru. The darkness inside the chameru gufa makes it difficult for people to go inside. If proper arrangement could be done, travel would be convenient for the people in the district, and it would make it possible to collect the money as well. Religion- Okhaldhunga has a lot of religious conviction center. After Kathmandu the most faithful conviction center and ????? ?????? should be in Okhaldhunga district. The most popular Pokali water fall and forest shaman cave “ban-jhakri gufa” are found in the district, we have established an institution, “Pokali Jharana Sewa Samajh” to spread the information of these beauty and also to help the sufferers and the orphan locally. Okhaldhunga has the most faithful temples; Shree Champadevi temple in Bilandu -9, Kotika Kalika Devi temple in Chisankhu, Jageshwar Mahadev temple in Salleri Laglage, Pokhara devi temple in Tin Kanya Devi temple Pokhara-1, Namaideshwor Mahadev temple in Singhadevi Temple, Kuibhir -5, Mahadev temple of Thulibanshi in Bunnam and Kuntadevi temple of Khudampa in Diyale, Samanawati devi temple in Barnalu-9, Raghuwireshowr Mahadev temple in Okhaldhunga bazaar, and Kalikadevi in Saraswati sthan, Jalpadevi in Bhimsensthan, Watuk bhairab Ganesh temple. Involvement of local government bodies and local people of Okhaldhunga in spreading the information of these temple to people is seem to be important. Social and cultural institution should also play leadership role in the process. Gumba – 15% of Buddhist are in Okhaldhunga and we have eight popular gumba which are also not well informed to the public. Some popular gumba of the district are Tolthol gumba, Riyal gumba and Dolakhark gumba of Patle, Kimardin gumba of Bhusinga, Ketuke gumba of Ketuke, Bhirkhark gumba of Khiji, Ghunsa gumba of Baruneshwor and Lamja gumba of Ragani. These gumba attracts both national and foreign tourists, and nuns and monks. We need to do some fine-grained research studies on gumba of Manang, Mustang and Rasuwa. In reality it is not practical for Okhaldhunga if you stay in a room like you would if you were to make a development strategy for national planning in Kathmandu. The reason behind this is only the local public of Okhaldhunga knows the taste of water, and they have love and affection for Okhaldhunga. These local public of Okhaldhunga live their life and send the last minute of their life in Okhaldhunga due to which they should be devoted in development of the district and spreading the information to help growth of the tourism. We should be free from our misunderstanding of the Government employees, they are not going to benefit Okhaldhunga nor are they going to view Okhaldhunga with a sacred vision. Things to do to make Okhaldhunga a tourism sector: People living outside the district needs to spread the information of Okhaldhunga. Integrate the religious and racial unity in the district. Coordinate the plans and programs of Okhaldhunga to the Non-government organizations. A feeling of “Village development is development of your own home” should be developed. If we could adopt these above mentioned points, it will not take long for us to reach to our goals and objectives