The Tal in the Hattimale Community Forest, situated in Mechinagar Municipality-13, has been developed into a tourist attraction by organizing and managing the surrounding area. The natural Tal, dammed from all four sides, has been named ‘Fewatal’ and transformed into a tourist area amidst the community forest. Within the three hundred and ninety-hectare forest area, thirty-two bighas of land have been developed into a tourist area, with a Tal covering more than twenty bighas.
To entertain tourists, boat rides are conducted in the Tal area. According to Chandrasingh Sigdel, Chairman of the Forest Committee, the income from the community forest has increased with the arrival of more tourists who enjoy boating in the Tal. The natural beauty of the Tal environment is enhanced by the surrounding jungle.
There is an increasing number of domestic and foreign tourists visiting the area, with 52,000 tourists arriving in the month of Magh this year. Various structures have been constructed according to the development plan to develop this area into a model tourist destination. After the arrival of domestic tourists, the number of small shops and restaurants has also increased, which has helped the local economy.
To increase income from tourism, this year alone, one hundred thousand fish have been released into the Tal, as informed by Chandrasingh Sigdel. Tourists can now buy fish caught and cooked in the Tal area, providing them with additional amenities. This initiative has also increased the attraction of tourists to this plan. “Most of the tourists who come here to enjoy boating expressed their desire for fishing. After realizing this demand, we have made arrangements for it,” said Chairman Sigdel. “Indian tourists also come here for fishing from Darjeeling and Siliguri in India.”
On Saturdays and holidays, tourists are crowded here. To further organize the area and invest in additional infrastructure construction, Mechinagar-13 Ward Office has allocated a budget of NPR 2.7 million, and Mechinagar Municipality has allocated NPR 1.5 million for the construction of the Falame Bridge. Other investments have also been made from the internal resources of the community forest.
According to Rishi Parajuli, Officer of the Forest Division, Jhapa, out of the 59 community forests in Jhapa, 35 have been working on the planned development of the tourist area. He informed that efforts are being made to systematically develop the Simser area, which is suitable for ecotourism, within the community forest area.
Local Arjun Thapa was immediately appointed as the coordinator for the formation of the committee in the forest. Afterward, under the chairmanship of local Jay Prasad Thapa, the working committee was formed, and it has developed Simser into a tourist area. In this area, the Rajvanshi community has established statues of Durga and Kali and has been carrying out religious worship according to tradition. Other communities and religions have also been demanding the construction of religious sites in coordination with the Forest Committee.
