Pathibhara road to be blacktopped

The road leading to the famous Pathibhara temple in Taplejung is going to be blacktopped. The roads will be blacktopped in the rainy season and in the winter.

The 10 km road from Suketar to Kaflepati of Pathibhara road section is about to be tarred. According to the North-South (Mulghat, Dobhan Olangchungola) Road Planning Office, a contract agreement had been signed with Kontek Construction Company in mid-January.

According to Joshua Limbu, sub-engineer of the planning office, a contract agreement has been signed with the construction company for Rs 407.6 million.

Sub-engineer Limbu said that an agreement has been reached with the construction company to complete the construction of the road section from Suketar to Kaflepati in Pathibhara area within two years. The distance of eight kilometers from the district headquarters Phungling to Suketar Airport under the road leading to Pathibhara has been blacktopped in the past.

Manmani Kafle, executive director of the Pavibhara Area Development Committee, said that the number of pilgrims coming to worship at Pathibhara will increase after the road to Pathibhara becomes black. According to Kafle, around 300,000 pilgrims visit Pathibhara every year and perform worship. The Pathibhara Area Development Committee expects that the number of pilgrims will increase by about 35 percent if the road from Suketar to Kaflepati is blacktopped.

Due to the unpaved roads at present, the pilgrimage of pilgrims has been very difficult. Since the pilgrims' vehicles do not go on the unpaved road, the locals have to go by powerful vehicle from Suketar and the pilgrims have been suffering a lot. Executive Director Kafle says that if the Pathibhara road becomes blacktopped now, the vehicles brought by the pilgrims will reach the Pathibhara area, which will be a great relief to the pilgrims from home and abroad.

Hoteliers expect that the number of internal and external tourists and pilgrims will increase in the district after the blacktop of Pathibhara area road and this will also increase the income of the entire district.