Works on developing Bhaktapur as religious tourism site begun: Minister Pokharel

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ananda Prasad Pokharel on Saturday said the government has initiated works to develop Bhaktapur district as a religious tourism destination. Inaugurating the 7th Annual General Assembly (AGM) of Doleshwor Mahadev Temple Conservation and Development Committee at Sipadol, Minister Pokharel added the government was preparing to develop Doleshwor, Ananta Lingeshwor, Ashapuri and Changunarayan temple areas as the major religious tourism destinations. Stating that the government had allocated Rs 20 million – Rs 10 million each for Doleshwor Mahadev temple and Ananta Lingeshwor Mahadev temple, the Minister pledged for additional budget next year. On the occasion, the Committee Treasurer Bishworam Thapa said disclosed an estimated budget of Rs 550 million necessary for constructing all the structures of the temple as per the master plan. Thapa added that the Committee has collected Rs 15 million from donors and Rs 9.82 million from devotees, and that Rs 10 million allocated by the government was in course of dispatch. RSS