Solukhumbu, 28 November: Local residents and tourists have to suffer due to poor communication service at Pikedanda, a famous tourist destination and center of religious faith located in Solududhakund Municipality-3 of the district. Due to the weak network of Nepal Telecom and the lack of presence of other service providers, there is a communication problem here, due to which religious and other tourists who come here tend to turn away from communication services. Pikedanda and Jwalamai temple of this ward, which is connected with the district headquarters Salleri, are the places of choice for tourists.
Tourist importance and potential of Pike Hills
This mountain, which is 4,065 meters above sea level, is known as a major destination for tourists. From here you can have a unique view of the mountains including Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu. In addition, locals say that the opportunity to closely observe the mountain vegetation including Sunpani, Chimal and Laliguras has attracted domestic and foreign tourists to this area. Because of this, various trekking companies also conduct pike peak treks during the season.
According to Phurba Sherpa, a tourism businessman, about 15,000 local and foreign tourists visit Pike Hill every year. “Compared to Everest base camp, this area has been developed as an easy trekking destination, but the lack of communication services has greatly affected the tourism potential here”, he said.
Communication is the challenge
Gelu Sherpa, a hotelier, said that due to poor communication services, some tourists lose their way and lose contact and rescue is delayed. “Some tourists lose contact with their friends during the tour and disappear for the whole night. When they call, they don’t answer the phone, which causes problems even in rescue”, said Sherpa.
Five years ago, Purna Bahadur Khadka, a youth from Salleri, lost his life while going on a visit to Pike Hill. On his way back from there, Khadka, who was separated from his friend, died on the spot when he fell from a mountain during the night. Locals remember that despite trying to contact Khadka, there was a problem when the telephone did not answer. The next day, during the search, his dead body was found lying at a place called Pike Khop.
This is only a representative incident. According to Lhakpa Galjen Sherpa of Loding, the phenomenon of tourists getting stranded and confused due to lack of communication links in Pike area has become common. He said that the communication link which has been weak since moving from Salleri, is completely severed when reaching Pike danda area. Locals say that Tamakhani and Loding villages, which are below Pike, have suffered even more because of weak communication services.
Center of Religious Belief: Jwalamai Temple
Similar is the problem of Jwalamai temple area located in Solududhakunda municipality-3 area. About 30,000 devotees come to this temple every year due to the public belief that it will be fulfilled. Bhimnarayan Shrestha, a member of the temple management committee, said, “The devotees who come to the temple complain about the network while traveling. Not being able to provide reliable service even in such a famous temple area is a weakness.”
Therefore, the local Ang Pula Sherpa says that there is a negative impression on religious and nature-loving tourists. He said that the locals of Tamakhani area still have to go to the mountains to communicate.
. Complaints of locals
Local residents and businessmen of Solududhakunda municipality-3 have complained that no one has shown interest in solving the problem despite their repeated complaints. Santa Bahadur Magar, Chairman of Pike Community Forest Tamakhani, said that it is sad that there is no attention to infrastructure including communication in an area with great potential from a religious and tourist point of view.
Local Baburam Ghimire said, “Like roads and electricity, communication is also a basic need in today’s era, but the lack of this facility has left us behind. Although the headquarter is close to Salleri, this area has not yet benefited from communication achievements.”
State effort
According to Raju Rana, head of Nepal Telecom branch office Okhaldhunga, there is no attempt to solve the problem here. He says that although efforts have been made to solve the problem by increasing the capacity of the Chandanda radio link in Salleri, it is not enough. “It is necessary to install a new tower to address the problem of Pike danda(Hill) and Jwalamai area. There is no alternative to develop more budget and infrastructure for this”, said Rana, the head of the office.
Ward President Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa complains that the absence of concrete results despite repeated attentions through the ward is due to the indifference of the regulatory body. “Lack of reliable communication services in areas of touristic and religious importance is affecting both locals and tourists”, he said, “Keeping in mind the importance of destinations like Pike Danda and Jwalamai Temple, it is inevitable to provide sustainable communication services. For which I am ready to help as a local government and elected representative.”
Tourism businessman Dawa Sherpa also urges the concerned agencies for reliable communication services to promote tourism here.