By Tara Chapagain
Kaski, June 26: A 51-foot-tall idol of Lord Shiva has been erected in Pumdikot, in Pokhara Metropolitan City-22, in Kaski district.
The idol was erected to develop the area, located 13 kilometres southwest of the main market of Pokhara, as a tourist destination, said Pumdikot Development Committee chairman Chandra Kant Baral. He informed that the Shiva statue was part of a larger Rs. 400-million project.
“The total project will cost Rs. 400 million. Of that, we have completed works worth Rs. 200 million so far,” Baral said, adding, “In addition to the huge Shiva statue, we have also constructed 108 Shiva Lingas, a 108-stepped stairway, 18 shutter rooms, office spaces and a ticket counter. A Martyrs Memorial Park, senior citizens meeting centre, green spaces, a model of Mount Sumeru featuring shrines of Parvati and Kumar, an attractive water fountain, multipurpose building and a garden will also be constructed.”
Baral also said that, when complete, the pathway to reach the statue would also be disabled-friendly.
The Government of Nepal has provided 22 Ropanis of land to the committee to use for 30 years.
Though it will take another two years for all the structures to be completed, the committee plans to complete and inaugurate statue in September, said Baral.
Support and donations
The statue, costing around Rs. 350,000, was donated by Kamal Jayan, managing director of Hill Tank Pvt. Ltd.
The federal government provided Rs. 40 million, the provincial government provided Rs. 15 million, Pokhara Metropolitan City provided Rs. 15 million and another Rs. 15 million was collected from various organisations.
Birgunj-resident Muralidhar Rukmagat also donated Rs 10 million. Bishnu Baral, who currently lives in New Delhi, India, donated Rs. 5 million.
Similarly, 12 people provided Rs. 2.5 million each for which they will get to place a statue of their desired person in the Martyrs park.
Meanwhile, many people donated an average of Rs. 225,000 each for the 108 Shiva Lingas.