Galeshwor (Myagdi), January 5: Ratnechaur village in Beni Municipality-1 of Myagdi, which was dependent on red soil and agricultural production until a few years ago, is now known as a famous tourist village in the district. From Kartik to Magh, domestic and foreign tourists flock here. In Kartik-Mangsir, along with the rice fields of Ratnechaur, tourists flock here to enjoy the scenery of Dhaulagiri Himalayas, Myagdi, Baglung and Parbat rural areas in the background and the attractive view of mustard flowers blooming in early Pus-Magh (Jan-Feb).
There is a crowd here who cannot sit down to make TikToks and videos enjoying the mustard fields of Ratnechaur, a viral village located between the district headquarters Beni and Baglung. Local leader Bharat KC informed that more than 12,000 tourists have come here to enjoy and have a forest feast since Pus(January).
Looking to the north, the white snow range shines like silver. KC said that hundreds of tourists have been coming here every day since the beginning of the month to enjoy the mustard fields blooming in the east-facing plains and the blacktop road between the fields. Now, the Pahelpur mustard fields have become a highlight of Ratnechaur. The scenic view of the Dhaulagiri mountain range to the north, the lush green fields and the blooming mustard fields in Pahelpur have further enhanced the natural beauty of this area, said Harish Gautam of Parbat Kushma.
The world’s seventh highest mountain, Dhaulagiri (8,167 meters), is clearly visible from Ratnechaur. Similarly, the mustard fields blooming in the plains and the blacktopped smooth road of the Beni-Baglung road section have added more attraction. The delightful sight of bees and bumblebees sucking nectar in the mustard fields has brought the village to life. People on the corners of the fields and on the right and left sides of the road are seen enjoying the mustard fields and the mountains.
The green wheat growing between the early blooming tari has caught the attention of everyone who comes here. Wheat and mustard are swaying in the Ratnechaur fields. Young people and the general public are busy making tik-tok and dancing to enjoy the beauty of the swaying wheat and mustard.
Local Netra Bahadur Mahat said that hundreds of tourists come here every day to take photos and make tik-tok with the blooming mustard in the fields on the right and left of the blacktop road of the Ratnechaur-Arjam-Jamarukot road section, the open mountains and the smooth road in the background. He said, “Ratnechaur has become an attractive tourist destination. The locals here are working hard to preserve the originality of Ratnechaur and make it an agricultural tourism village.”
After the road in Ratnechaur, which was deserted until a few years ago, was blacktopped, people come from various places using vehicles to sit in the mustard fields and take photos and videos. There is more crowd on Fridays, Saturdays and public holidays than on other days. Local Santosh Mahat said that it is difficult to manage the crowd of people who come to visit from different areas of Myagdi, Baglung and Parbat at the same time.
The 388-meter-long suspension bridge connecting Kudule (Fedi) of Ratnechaur and Baglung has also become another attraction for tourists coming here. “When people start coming to play on the bridge, enjoy the mustard and have a forest feast, there is an unbearable crowd,” said local Mahat.
The surrounding greenery and the view of the smiling Dhaulagiri Mountains, as well as the flat plains of Pahelpur, have promoted tourism and also helped in the business of the locals, said outgoing ward chairman Tek Bahadur Thapa. Thapa said that by creating a mustard production area, it can be promoted at the national level in terms of tourism as well as during the current season, which will promote local mustard and attract tourists on a large scale.
