Galkot (Baglung), 19 February: ‘Blue Hill’ located in Baglung Municipality-9 is the pride project of the municipality. Infrastructure construction has been started with the aim of developing Blue Hill as a religious and tourist destination with two dozen mountain ranges visible before the eyes and Baglung Bazaar.
The construction of infrastructure worth Rs. 32 million, including Rs. 7 million in the first phase and Rs. 25 million in the second phase, began last year. The project aims to build infrastructure at a cost of around Rs. 340 million.
The municipal office has stated that infrastructure worth Rs. 7 million was built last year alone to transform the hill into Blue Hill, and this year, a contract has been called for the construction of a Shiva statue along with infrastructure worth Rs. 25 million.
The municipality had prepared a detailed project report (DPR) worth Rs 245.622 crore to develop infrastructure by renaming Doyko Hill as Blue Hill as a pride plan to make it a tourist destination.
Baglung-9 Ward Chairman Raju Thapa said that the municipality has named Doyko Danda, which has picturesque natural beauty, ‘Blue Hill’. “Infrastructure construction has been started with a huge investment from the city. We have set the objective of attracting religious and nature-loving tourists by erecting a Shiva idol on the hill. Road upgrading is necessary here,” he said. “Once it becomes a tourist destination, other infrastructure will get priority.”
Ward Chairman Thapa informed that Baglung Municipality, which completed the land acquisition and foundation construction last year, has invited bids this year with a plan to construct a giant Shiva statue on the building. According to him, additional infrastructure including a forest picnic area, meditation center, scenic observation point, toilets, gym hall, temple, parking lot, etc. will be constructed in the Blue Hill area.
Mayor Basanta Kumar Shrestha said that the municipality is investing a large budget to bring domestic tourists to Blue Hill for sightseeing. The municipality allocated a budget of Rs. 7 million last year to make this area a tourist destination and has already completed the work of fencing and land conservation from that budget. Mayor Shrestha mentioned that preparations have begun this year to construct a multi-purpose building and award a contract to make a statue.
“The Doy, which has tourism potential within the municipality, is environmentally green. The Himalayas and Baglung Bazaar are visible right in front of the eyes. Infrastructure worth Rs. 25 million will be built this year at the place where the foundation stone was laid last year to bring in tourists by combining nature and religion,” said Mayor Shrestha. “We have named it Blue Hill to attract domestic and foreign tourists. When the weather is clear, two dozen mountains including Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Nilgiri and Annapurna can be seen from here through the green hills.”
Construction of tourism infrastructure has begun at an altitude of about 2,200 meters above sea level. According to the DPR, the plan will take eight years to complete. From Blue Hill, dozens of mountains including Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Nilgiri, Annapurna can be seen.
