Myagdi, 10th February: Sunchhahara, located in Raghuganga Rural Municipality-7 of Myagdi, is waiting for infrastructure and tourists. Despite having abundant potential, Sunchhahara has been neglected due to lack of infrastructure and publicity. Due to the lack of a well-organized hiking trail and suspension bridge, tourists have not been able to reach Sunchhahara.
Lalit Garbuja, a resident of Chimkhola, said that the special features of Sunchhahara are limited to the local level due to lack of publicity. “Despite its religious and tourist potential, Sunchhahara, located in the base camp area of Dhaulagiri Himalayas, has been overlooked,” he said. “There is a need for infrastructure development and promotion in Sunchhahara.”
A team of officials from the Mandali Youth Club, tourism professionals, and media personnel, led by Garbuja, who is serving in the Indian Army, returned from Sunchhahara, located at an altitude of 3,950 meters above sea level, last week.
According to legend, in ancient times, a musician who had gone to the waterfall to meditate was pleased by God and requested him to ask for a boon. The musician asked for a gold boon. Although God blessed him to take as much gold as he could from the cave of the waterfall, the elders say that when the man tried to take out more, a flood washed it away and later it was named Sunchhahara.
The walls of the cave inside the waterfall are yellow, which is why it is called Sunchhahara, said Thak Bahadur Paija (Rim), ward chair of Chimkhola, Raghuganga Rural Municipality-7. The cave inside the waterfall, which features figures of various deities and animals, is called Sunchhahara and the sound of a musical instrument can be heard when you tap on it.
Ward Chairman Paija said that the construction of a trekking route to Dhaulagiri Base Camp has begun and initiatives have been taken to build a trekking route to Sunchhahara and a suspension bridge over the Raghuganga River on the way. Another special feature of Sunchhahara is that you can see the water of the waterfall freeze and turn into ice during the winter. The waterfall is about 15 meters high and there is a cave about five meters long inside. It is believed that if you visit Sunchhahara and worship it, your wishes will be fulfilled.
Sugurthala can be reached after a four-hour vehicle journey from Beni via Chimkhola. Sunchhahara, which can be reached after an additional day’s journey from Sugurthala, is where locals who collect Yarsa stay during the months of Baisakh and Jestha. There are hotel and restaurant facilities only up to Sugurthala. Above Sugurthala, you have to carry your own belongings to the Bando Basti.
Pokhara tourism entrepreneur Tara Garbuja said that it would be easier for tourists if a well-organized hiking trail and a suspension bridge were built to reach Sunchhahara. In the absence of a suspension bridge, one has to cross the jungle to cross the Rahughat. During the rainy season, it is not possible to cross the river.
In the absence of a trekking route, one has to take risks on the mountain. Suren Gurung, who was part of the study team that had to make a map and place signs, said. One can also go to Rikhar, Dhaulagiri Base Camp’s Australian Camp, Kalibarah and Mustang via Sunchhahara. There is a risk of getting lost when traveling with anyone other than shepherds who know the way.
