Govinda Marasini

Bordering the capital of Gandaki Province, Syangja is a district with a high potential for the tourism. Besides, its scenic beautiful places, the district is known for its religious sites. The place is just an hour's drive from Pokhara. Various places and religious sites in Syangja district attracts both internal and external tourists. Here, we have discussed some of the most popular destinations, including religious attractions of Syangja.

Darau Shiruwari
Daru Shiruwari, the first home-stay in South Asia based on the concept of rural tourism is situated in Adhikhola village in the northern part of Syangja. Shiruwari, 5-km away from Pokhara, is famous for the Gurung Community. It is situated at an altitude of 5,600 meters. We can drive towards Nagdanda, Setikhola, Badakhola and Helu on Siddhartha Highway. A warm welcome, an organic clean food based on local product will please everyone who reaches Shirubari. We can observe beautiful Dhaulagiri and Machhapuchhre mountain ranges from here. Siruwari has been listed on the promotional tourism destination by the Ministry of Tourism.

Swarek Maidan
Swarek Maidan is another major tourist attraction in the district. The Swarek maidan, located in ward no 5 of Bheerkot Municipality, is being developed. Open international paragliding competition and national aviation player selection competition has been completed for the first time in this venue.
That's why the name of this place has been raised not only in Nepal but in the world. We can reach swarek maidan via Siddhartha Highway, 9 km from Bhirakot Municipality -1 Bayarghari and around 11 km from Waling Bazar. The first paragliding school in South Asia has also been established at Swarek. Swarek Maidan has also been listed on a promotional list under the tourist destination announced by the Ministry of Tourism.

Bhalupahad
From Pokhara, 28 km drive on Siddhartha Highway leads to Bhalupahad. The rolling hills and cliffs on the main highway are eye pleasing. Anyone travelling this was found posting their pictures on social media. This place is more popular for music video and movie shootings. Bhalupahad is also known as Bhalupaharo. This place has become the most opted picnic spot for schools and various organizations nearby. Once home for bears and wild animals is now safe for locals as Siddhartha Highway passes by.

Kaligandaki Hydropower Project and Setibeni
The Kaligandaki hydropower project is about one hundred kilometers west of Pokhara. The Kaligandaki hydropower project is also Nepal's largest hydropower project. The hydroelectricity of this project is 100 MW. The Kaligandaki hydropower project extends to ward no 5, 7 of Kaligandaki village and to ward no 2 of Galyang municipality. With the operation of water steamer in Kaligandaki, the number of domestic and foreign tourists has increased dramatically. Tourist comes to observe and study the world's largest Shaligram at Setibeni, the union of Parwat, Gulmi and Syangja. During the monsoon, the flow of kaligandaki increases so, it is closed from the end of May to the 1st of October. Indian tourists and pilgrims also visit the Shaligram since it is the world's largest and only found in Kaligandaki river.

Ramdi Ghat
Ramdi Ghat is a famous religious place at the border of Syangja and Palpa district on the bank of the Kaligandaki river. We can observe various fair at the time of Baisakh Sankranti, Kattike Thulo Ekadashi. This religious place is located 52 km south of the headquarters. Death rituals are also performed here. There is also an oldage home in Ramdighat, where about one hundred elderly people live. There is a Shiddha cave near Ramdighat. There are various traditional beliefs about this cave.

Bahakot Kalika Temple
The Bahakot Temple is also one of the most visited and religious destinations in Ward No 8, Putalibazar. It is believed that, the then kings of 22 states and 24 states used to live there. One day they haunted sleeping tiger and tigress. The next day, two sisters were born in the same place. They were named kushmawati and kanthawati. And, when two sisters were vanished the temple called Bahakot Kalika was built overthere. In this temple, goddess Kushmavati and Kanthavati are worshipped during Nawami of Dashain and Ashtami of the Chaitya Dashain.

Kailash Gufa
This cave is located in Putli Bazaar municipality ward no 8. It is believed that Lord Shiva have come to this cave. There are two entrance to this cave. Those entrance meet within about 300 meters and continous as one route ahead. And it is not quite sure where it ends. Local says that there is statue of god and goddess, images of cow and beautiful pond inside. Due to the repeated landslides and lack of cleanliness the cave is in the state of demolishment.

Satau Chandinath and Chandikalika
Chandithan is another tourist destination of Syangja. It is located in Satau, ward no 8 of putalibazar. About an hour and a half walking distance. We can go by bus as well. Because of the blacktopped road it is easier to reach nowadays. We can find devotees going to the temple on various dates. We can enjoy the panoramic views and beautiful nature from the temple. It has been listed on the list of one hundred new tourist destinations of the Government of Nepal. This place is also considered as the most powerful of the twenty-four states in the West during the twenty-four states. This is also the site where Kair Singh Basnet, the commander of Prithvi Narayan Shah, was killed. We can see the remainings of palace. There are two temples of Chandi and Kalika, which are believed to be about six hundred years old. Devotees come from different parts of the country and neighboring India as well.

Suntalabari and Cannoning
Another popular tourist destination in Syangja district is the Suntalabari homestay and canyoning in Waling Municipality-4 Eladi. After reaching Rambachchha, one can reach the Suntalabari homestay after a journey of 7 km off road. Two canyoning sites have been constructed in Khalte, about 25 minutes away from the homestay site. The slopes in Basanti and khalte pond are 55 and 35 meters high respectively. Visitors can enjoy cannoning along the fun of a homestay. The number of visitors have increased here after the cannoning was introduced.

Syangja Nuwakot
Nuwakot is located in the central of high mountainous region. Nuwakot, the old headquarter of Syangja, is at a height of 1900 meters above sea level. Nuwakot, a powerful state among twentyfour state, is full natural of beauty. We can enjoy the beautiful mountain ranges like machhapuchre, Annapurna, Dhawalagiri and Manaslu.

Alamdevi
Alam Devi Temple is a historic religious area located in ward no 3 of Kaligandaki, Syangja. This temple is about 75 km west of Putali Bazaar. This is the famous temple of Syangja considered as the Kuldevi of Shah Dynasty. The temple was built by the locals themselves. Devotees come from neighboring districts on Shivaratri, Ramnavami and other festivals.

Panchase Dada
Panchase Dada is popular tourist destination on the outskirts of Kaski and Parwat districts. The tallest place of the district situated at an altitude of 2512 meters above sea level. 30 km northwest of the headquarter.

Kharsuko Lake
Kursu Lake in Putli Bazar -1 , has been the center of attraction. This place was said to be visited by the sages who have been doing penance in ancient times. The remaining of the sages who have been doing penance, as well as fascinating views are breathtaking. This is the tallest place in the Putalibazar municipality at a height of 2000 meters from sea level.

(Marasini is a freelance writer)