By Prakash Chandra Bhattarai

Tanahun, Mar. 16: When Bikash Khanal, a hotelier in Damauli, visited Kulung village for the first time on Saturday, the majestic view of the mountains took his breathe away.
“The mountains were never so clear and beautiful to me. I didn’t know I could enjoy such a majestic view from so near. It seems such beautiful places are not known by many due to lack of advertisement,” said Khanal.
Kulung village, also known as Kulungkot, lies only 20 km east of Damauli, the headquarters of Tanahun district, in Ward No.14 of Vyas Municipality. Ten different mountains are clearly seen from Kulungkot unless the weather is foggy.
“Api, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I & II, Machapuchare, Dr Harka Gurung, Himchuli, Ganesh and Langtang are the peaks seen from Kulungkot,” said Hari Singh Gurung, a tourism expert.
According to Gurung, being able to see the mountains with ease from around 1,100 metres above the sea level is something splendid.
“We would not be able to see the mountains properly from other hills of Kulungkot even with similar altitude,” added Gurung.
Along with Khanal, media workers, industrialists, businessmen, local representatives and those working in tourism sector had visited Kulungkot on Saturday.
“I have been to different parts of Nepal from where beautiful view of mountains can be enjoyed. However, the view of such a long range of mountains from Kulungkot was stunning and I had never seen such a long range of mountains earlier,” said Stephen, an Australian citizen who also visited Kulungkot.
Despite a sumptuous scenery from Kulungkot, the place has not been a tourism
destination so far due to lack

of advertisement.
“There is no doubt about the beautiful views from Kulungkot. But due to lack of advertisement, we have not been able to attract domestic and foreign tourists,” Kajiman Shrestha, Ward 14 chairman of Vyas Municipality, said.
As per locals, tourists began visiting the village only after they operated a community homestay a year ago. “The ones who came here had extended their stay after their first glance of the mountains. Tourists come here for two days but at the end extend two more days,” said Rita Maya Thapa, chairperson of the community homestay.
It has now been a year that the homestay has been operating from 10 houses. As per locals, they have been cultivating organic vegetables and are raising local hens and he-goats in 40 other houses to provide healthy food to the tourists.
“With the tourism sites of Tanahun less known to many, the local representatives of different villages have been taking each other to their respective tourism destinations for their promotion,” said Rajendra Karki, chief of social department of Vyas Municipality.
Kulungkot is easily reachable through various routes. Kulungkot is 20 km east from Damauli while only 7 km away from Chhabdi Barahi Temple. Similarly, the village is only 7 km far from Bandipur and 17 km from the route of Keshavtar through Damauli.
As per locals, both private and public transport can easily reach Kulungkot.
On the other hand, the Karnali Rafting Adventure Pvt Ltd is planning to start rafting in Bheri River. The company tested rafting in the river and is also undergoing feasibility study for construction of homestays and cottages.
The rafting was tested from the Bheri Bridge at Bangad Kupinde Municipality to the point where the municipality’s border ends.
“We are studying and researching more in a bid to develop infrastructure perfectly. Rafting in Bheri is expected to increase tourists in the area. We will make the place a better living area for the tourists,” said Mohan Khadka, chief administrative officer of Bangad Kupinde Municipality.