E-Kantipur

TAPLEJUNG, NOV 16 -

It has been snowing in Pathibhara area of Tapethok VDC, Taplejung, since Saturday, luring hundreds of tourists to the area.

According to locals, the land is covered with three feet of snow now. Priests at the Pathibhara Temple have had to clear the snow piled in the temple so that visiting devotees can offer puja.  The land above Phedi is totally covered with snow.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Peace Minister Rakam Chemjong and their team went to the area to visit Pathibhara Temple. However, they were compelled to return unsuccessfully as the chopper they were travelling in could not land due to the snowfall.

A team of Nepal Army and Nepal Police reached Pathibhara from the district headquarters and cleared the snow from the helipad. Security sources said that the prime ministerial team could not land there due to the continuous snowfall.

Generally, it starts snowing in the area after mid-December. However, this year Pathibhara has witnessed snowfall since the second week of November.

“Scores of people daily visit the temple and its vicinity mainly to enjoy the snowfall. The flow of domestic tourists is higher this year as it did not snow last year,” said a hotel owner at Phedi. He said that the tourist inflow is also due to the well managed hotels and lodges.

Sandip Mukhiya of Birtamod, Jhapa, said that he came to Pathibhara along with his friends on motorcycles after hearing of the snowfall there. “We spent a couple of hours playing in the snow. Now, I feel like a true Nepali,” said an elated Mukhiya.

Pathibhara Temple, 3,794 metres above sea level, is a popular pilgrimage destination for Hindus and Buddhists. It is some 19 km away from Taplejung district headquarters Phungling.

 

Posted on: 2010-11-16 08:52

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