A museum operating in Karbakeli, located in Myagdi’s Annapurna Rural Municipality-8, has become the center of attraction for religious tourists.
For tourists who come to visit Karbakeli for trekking, the “Pun Community Museum” alongside natural beauty is the main attraction. Ravi Garbuja, the secretary of the Karbakeli Baba Conservation Committee, revealed that the museum, constructed under their supervision, aims to showcase the identity associated with the Karbakeli region, which attracts tourists who visit daily to explore with interest.
“After the operation of the museum, additional attractions have been created for tourists, as they can explore dozens of Himalayan peaks, including Dhaulagiri and Annapurna, from the same place,” he said.
Built at a cost of around NPR 8.5 million, the museum was funded with NPR 700,000 from the rural municipality and NPR 500,000 from the provincial government, with the rest of the budget gathered through various contributions. The museum on two floors has collected materials reflecting the community’s art, culture, traditions, lifestyle, identity, etc.
Chandrabahadur Pun, an employee at Karbakeli, stated that all tourists visiting the museum pay an entrance fee of NPR 150, while locals pay NPR 50. However, arrangements have been made for students, children, seniors, and journalists to visit for free.
The museum displays traditional items like pottery, baskets, traditional clothing, hand tools, utensils, jewelry, etc., which attract tourists. Ramesh Sharma, who visited Karbakeli for the first time, mentioned that the materials displayed in the museum provide glimpses of the traditional society’s art, culture, traditions, lifestyle, and livelihood, serving as a study site.
The attractive museum building has been constructed using materials like stone, soil, gravel, cement, bricks, and wood. Khambahadur Garbuja, the chairman of Ward 8 in Annapurna-8, mentioned that the museum’s construction on the Karbakeli premises has contributed to the conservation of materials associated with tradition and those at risk of being lost.
