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FAM Update Article by Bijaya Pradhan of Dream Nepal Travels & Tours Pvt. Ltd.
- http://www.dreamnepal.com.np - http://www.discovernepal.org.np

FAM Trip Organized for the Students of Silver Mountain School of Hospitality Management, Lainchaur, Kathmandu.

A FAM Trip to Meghauli, Chitwan was organised from 4th to 7th March 2006 to the students of Silver Mountain School of Hospitality Management (SMSHM), Lainchaur, Kathmandu. This FAM Trip was organized to make the students familiar with the tourist destination, which can further help develop the capabilities of the students and human resources in the country in the future. These students are the backbone of Nepalese tourism industry. This kind of FAM Trip will not only support the tourism entrepreneurs, but also helps the local community.

When talking about the Nepalese tourism there is one place that should not be missed and that is Chitwan. Why did it become such a popular tourist destination? The answer is simple: because of the Nepal's biggest wildlife reserve, Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP). Its special feature is the rare one horned Rhinos. The wildlife safari and elephant ride at RCNP is considered unforgettable and is as popular as any mountain activity in Nepal. But for the last few years, the flow of tourists to this jungle land has remarkably reduced and the reason has mainly been the country's political unrest.

However, there are other potential tourist destinations within Chitwan as ideal as Sauraha, but which tend to be overlooked such as Meghauli. Being only 25 km south-west from Narayanghat bazaar and closest to the RCNP, many of the activities that Sauraha provides are available from Meghauli and even better due to its unspoiled vicinity and environment. Meghauli is a remarkable mid terrain land situated in the lap of two important rivers of Nepal, Narayani and Rapti. Housing about 16,200 people, Meghauli has been settled by the ethnic groups Tharus for hundreds of years, beholding rich culture, nature and adventure at its best. The other inhabitants include Brahmins, Chetris, Kumals. Newars, Gunmgs, Tamang, Musahar, Magar, Damais, Sarkis, Kamis.

To achieve well-planned tourism with full effective strategy, people of Meghauli have stepped forward to develop the village as an ideal tourist destination with a difference. When it comes to developing any new destination its infrastructures and facilities in the area play a big role in its potential. Rhino Resort, Meghauli is outside the bufferzone of RCNP built for the tourists with all modem facilities. The resort is spread in 160 ropanies of land with an absolute jungle environment where human and wild can live without disturbing one another.

"We are very aware that Meghauli can be developed as the next Sauraha, but we don't want to be called an alternative destination to Sauraha. Meghauli should be made a different destination. This place is still intact from the modern encroachment and that is the best we can offer to the tourists. I also support the idea that any resort or hotel should be out of the national park not inside it. It should also be made vehicle free zone to stop deterioration and to preserve the actual essence of jungle environment," says Amar Mali, the managing director of Rhino Resort, Meghauli.

To develop Meghauli as a tourist destination, Meghauli Mahotsav has been organized every two years since 1994. But how has it benefited the village? "Meghauli Mahotsav was organized in full participation of locals and that's why it was a success. At the local level, it has encouraged people of Meghauli to unite and participate in the overall development and has made them aware of the potentials of Meghauli to develop it as a tourist destination. I should say that it is a milestone for the Meghauli. We have also opened a forum as Meghauli Tourism Development Committee to actively promote tourism in Meghauli," says lndra Bahadur K.C, President of Meghauli Tourism Development Committee. K.C again added that he has a thought of beginning the concept of village tourism with home stay facilities in Meghauli so that the jungle lives will not be disturbed. He strongly believes in community based tourism without destroying the pristine environment.

Other possibility of Meghauli is to develop it as an ideal bird watching destination. The survey shows that RCNP has almost 500 species of birds. "I am planning to link Meghauli with Koshi Tappu for bird watching after seeing a huge activity of birds in this region. To have a proper bird watching a peaceful environment is required which Meghauli has so that makes it even perfect" says Bijay Pradhan, an STN member and managing director of Dream Nepal Travels & Tours Pvt. Ltd.

The history of RCNP as a tourist destination is over 10 years, which is a long time but people of Chitwan doesn't seem to have benefited much from tourism as a whole. Meghauli, which is next to the buffer zone, is still in an underdeveloped state lacking minimum infrastructure in the region, including limited/no electricity. The major occupation of inhabitants has been farming, but due to lack of irrigation no paddy can be grown. The farmers are merely depending on rainwater for maize and mustard farming.

Other than tourism there is also possibility of farming herbal crops in Meghauli. Meghauli has all that needs to develop it as a tourist destination. Awareness among the locals is also satisfactory who have clearly understood that if promoted well, Meghauli could allure as many tourists as Sauraha but are desperately waiting for the peace in the country to prevail. At the same time, they believe that until and unless Nepal has a satisfactory growth in tourist arrival, Meghauli cannot be exposed internationally despite all its integrity and potentials in terms of tourism.