Myagdi, 19 Ashoj (Oct 5): Residents of Jhin of Raghuganga and Purnagaon of Mangala used to take cattle sheds to Todke in Myagdi. Todke was also known as Kharka at that time.
Located at the confluence of Raghuganga and Mangla Rural Municipality and Beni Municipality, Todak has recently become the choice of domestic tourists. The place where cattle are kept is called Kharka. According to Durgadatta Acharya of Purnagaon, there is a legend that the village called the place Todke instead of the place where Todko was because the cattle got stuck in the 50-meter long tunnel in the forest and were eaten by tiger bears. “Until we were young, cattle and sheep were kept in Todke,” said the 70-year-old Acharya.
At an altitude of 2,430 meters above sea level, Todke is a destination of natural beauty. Roshan Raut, who came from Kathmandu, narrated his experience that the clean climate and peaceful environment of Todke made both body and mind happy. “The calm environment, beautiful mountains and cool air have made Todke beautiful,” he said. Different scenes can be observed in Todke according to season, weather and time. In February-Chait, the sight of red-flowered flowers blooming in the forest to the right and left of Todke is fascinating. You can have fun playing in the snow in Todke, where it snows in whitening from January to February. The beauty of the mountains is different in the morning, afternoon and evening, said local Gam Bahadur Paija.
“The backdrop of Gurja, Churen, Manapathi, Dhavalagiri, Nilgiri, Annapurna, Machhapuchhre and Lamjung Himal is a different scene during sunrise and sunset,” he said. The Himalayan smile of autumn can be seen from the fields painted with groundcover in the winter. The fog and the hideousness of the mountains. The chirping of birds and the greenery of the forest make sticks.” Todke, which has been practiced by many saints including Swargadwari Mahaprabhu, also has religious significance. There is also a branch of Swargadwari Ashram ‘Tapovan Shivalaya’ and Siddhathan in Thaplo of Danda. Shivalaya is a branch of Swargadwari Ashram, Pyuthan. Swargaddhaari, disciples Pujari Maharaj and Rakhal Maharaj, etc. are kept inside the temple and there is a Shivlinga and the kharau used by Mahaprabhu is a historical heritage. There is also a cowshed in the ashram premises.
Another specialty of Todke is to indulge in ancestral dance of Magar, Sorathi, Yanimaya, Salaijo, Bhajan Kirtan and Panchebaja. Man Bahadur Shermanja, Ward Chairman of Raghuganga Rural Municipality-5, said that the garden was built in Siddha Community Forest near Todke. “Infrastructural arrangements have also been arranged for those who go to have a picnic,” he said. Todke has the facility of a comfortable hotel for eating and staying. Owner Bhim Sherchan said that the Todke Hill Resort and Homestay, which is operated in an area of six ropanis, has the facilities of rooms with toilets and tents that can accommodate up to 60 people in a day. He said that domestic tourists come to Todke during Dasai Tihar, New Year, Phagu Purnima to visit and celebrate holidays. He said that Todke has become a honeymoon destination for newly married couples.
There is also a seminar hall for conducting training seminars. Nepalese, Indian, Chinese and continental dishes are cooked in resorts and homestays with electricity, internet and hot water facilities. You can also stay in the pilgrim residence of Swargaddhari Ashram. When returning from Todke’s tour, you can take mula in season, pickles and dhajra kosheli in season. There are five roads to reach Todke by car from Beni. Beni-Arthunge-Jhin to Todke (19 km), Beni-Arthunge-Patlekhet-Wakhet village to Todke (15 km) and Beni-Arthunge-Pulachaur-Daduwa-Purgaon to Todke (14 km) can be used.
While going back and forth through the road connecting Todke through Beni-Sim-Kuhan-Purgaon, a distance of 29 km, one can bathe and enjoy in the natural healing place Singa hot water. The religious place Galeshwar Dham can be seen on the nineteen km Beni-Galeshwar-Patlekhet-Wakhet-Todke road. For those who want to hike, there is also an old rough road from Beni to Arthunge-Pachhai-Dholthan-Kevhil-Jagannath-Dhadekot Darwar-Todke. Todke has Jheen to the northeast, Wakhet to the east, Purnagaon to the southwest and Kuhungaon to the west. In front of the Dhawalagiri Himal, there is also a well-maintained footpath leading to Todke from Jhin village, which is home to Magar population. Todke is reached after an hour’s uphill walk from Jhin and Purnagaon. Homestay facilities are available in these villages.
From Todke to Malika Dhuri-Thadakhani-Kuinekhani-Jhingkhani-Chowrakhani-Ghansikhark, the base camp of Dhaulagiri Himal and the Thasang Rural Municipality of Mustang through Icefall, the Todke-Dhaulagiri Cultural Panorama Trail has been envisioned, said Bhab Bahadur Bhandari, Chairman of Raghuganga Rural Municipality. He informed that priority has been given to upgrading the road leading to Todke.
There is also Dhaulagiri Century Pathway from Todke to Jhin-Pakhapani-Kotgaon-Raikhor-Mulpani and connecting to Ghyasikhark. Rajesh Shakya, senior vice-president of Myagdi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that while the traditional footpath has been completely displaced by the Beni-Jomsom road connecting Myagdi and Mustang, there is a possibility that Todke Dhaulagiri Panorama Cultural and Dhaulagiri Century Footpath can be established as an important alternative route.
Krishna Prasad Acharya, president of the Taking Business Association (TAN) Gandaki, said that this trail, which includes the base camp of the world’s seventh highest Dhaulagiri mountain, has great potential to be established as a new and promising destination in the Gandaki region, in the context of the old and established footpaths being eroded by the road network.
Nepal Tourism Ward Gandaki Provincial Office Pokhara and Gandaki have helped in the promotion of Todke. Kundan Mishra, a senior officer of Tourism Board Gandaki, said that for the promotion of Todke, a booklet was made and distributed to Pokhara hotels and a documentary was made through social media in the last fiscal year. Residents of Todke and Jhinka formed the Todke Development Fund and organized Guras Festival twice and led to bring in footpaths, road construction and private sector investment.
