Construction of a mausoleum at Salmedanda

Construction of Gorkha Memorial Park and Museum under construction in Fedikhola Rural Municipality-1, Salmedada is delayed.

The plan put forward to commemorate the contribution of brave Nepalis for generations has not been completed even after a decade. A memorial is being built here in memory of 60,000 Nepalis who were killed and lost in the First and Second World Wars and other wars.

The foundation stone of the monument was laid nine years ago under the leadership of Gorkha Ex-Servicemen’s Association (GESO). GESO has ambitious plan to build a mausoleum for those killed during the war, weapons used and other materials, a museum, a cultural village, a Gorkha tower, religious and cultural centres for 19 castes, a garden, a tribute hall and a train.

GESO had started the construction of the monument after selecting Salmedanda for the site. It is a place full of natural beauty that can be seen in the surrounding green and hilly settlements, Machhapuchhre and other Himalayan ranges.

The park under construction, at the border of Kaski and Syangja districts lying about 17 km southeast of Pokhara, will expand in 300 ropanis and is estimated to cost Rs. 2 billion.

Chairman of Fedikhola Ghanshyam Subedi said that the project could not be implemented due to lack of resources and frequent change of leadership.

He said that work was being carried out with Rs. 50 million support from the federal government last year as per the multi-year plan at the initiative of the municipality.

Although Subedi maintained that the construction of the park should be carried on, locals said that it could not be carried out in the last few years.

He said that there were concerns that whether the Gorkha Monument would be left unattended as it could not be continued even though the work was started as a project of pride for Nepalis.

Thousands of Nepalis lost their lives while fighting for the British Empire so the construction of the park should be in the priority of GESO and government, said the locals.

After the construction of the monument, it is expected to be a center of attraction for tourists.