Kathmandu, 5 Jul: Manungkot, a popular tourist destination located in Vyas Municipality–5 of Tanahun, is set to be developed as a tourist village. The municipality has initiated this plan with the aim of managing and organizing Manungkot, which has increasingly become a favored destination for tourists in recent times.
Vyas Municipality Mayor Baikuntha Neupane stated that an integrated land development project will be expanded to manage and enhance the appeal of Manungkot. According to Neupane, the land development program will be carried out in collaboration with local landowners and the Town Development Fund, aiming to preserve the original identity of Manungkot while promoting modern development.
He said, “The Magar community of Manungkot has been gradually leaving their land, while outsiders are increasingly purchasing property there. With this in mind, we are working to manage the lands in Manungkot accordingly.”
The municipality has set a goal to expand the integrated land development project not only in Manungkot but also in the Shishaghat New Town Project located in Vyas Municipality–6. Manungkot is increasingly being developed as a scenic viewpoint in recent times. Ward Chairperson Bishnu Kumar Shrestha said that the sunrise and the misty views seen from Manungkot have been particularly captivating to tourists.
Hotel entrepreneur Chudamani Dahal mentioned that domestic tourists often stay overnight in Manungkot to enjoy the sunrise and misty views early in the morning.
As the number of tourists visiting Manungkot has increased, the number of hotels has also grown. Once a place without even a single hotel, Manungkot now boasts around a dozen. To support sightseeing, Vyas Municipality has constructed a viewing tower, installed railings along the edge of the hill for safety, and recently built a walking trail alongside the railing.
From Manungkot, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Annapurna, Manaslu, and Lamjung Himalayan ranges. The sight of fog covering Damauli Bazaar is also linked to an ancient legend. According to a religious myth, when sage Parashar, the father of Maharshi Vedavyas, wished to unite with Satyawati, he created the fog to ensure that no one would witness the act.
With the growing influx of tourists, even those who had left the village for the city have started returning to Manungkot to engage in business. Previously, locals had abandoned the village due to a lack of drinking water. Today, bottled and tanker water from the market has provided an alternative water source for Manungkot.
The road to Manungkot has now been blacktopped. With financial support from the Ministry of Urban Development, the road stretching 4,300 meters from Alaiche to Manungkot has been paved. In particularly difficult sections, 180 meters of RCC (reinforced cement concrete) pavement has been laid.
