Investors making buzz along Narayani River banks

NAVALPARASI, APR 20 -

As Sauraha is becoming quite densely populated, investors are now moving off the well-trodden safari circuits to the Narayani River banks. This has resulted in the development of new resorts, with over a dozen of them already coming into operation in Rajhar and Amarapuri VDCs of Nawalparasi.

Narayani Resort, built at the cost of Rs 150 million over eight bigas of land in Amarapuri, will start its operation soon. Featuring 20 rooms, a swimming pool and a 100-foot view tower, it is to become the biggest resort in the district.

“We are planning to add 10 more rooms within a year,” said proprieter Bishnu Bahadur Chettri. It will be providing jungle safari among other tourist packages. “Our resort will come into operation by next month.”

Another property, Park View Resort has started its operation in Rajhar. Owned by Palat Chaudhary, the resort spreading over four bigas of land offers packages that include boating, jungle safari, sightseeing and trekking. The resort remains packed with travellers.

To the west of Park View lies another resort, Marcopolo. Established a decade ago by tourism entrepreneur Karna Shakya, the resort is now operated by a new management with an additional facilities to the eight-room property.

Apart from big resorts, around three dozen more small resorts and hotels have come up in the area, offering a lot of choice to visitors. With room charges ranging between Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 a night, domestic travellers are the target clients of these small resorts and hotels.  Despite 22 village development committees and 15 buffer zones of Nawalparasi are located inside the Chitwan National Park (CNP), Nawalparasi has always remained isolated due to inadequate promotion.

The resorts and hotels dotting the river banks have become a major draw for bird watchers. About 114 species of birds can be seen on the banks of the Narayani River. According to travel entrepreneurs, bird watching is more interesting in the winter season when Siberian birds migrate to the Narayani River and its surroundings.

Elephant safari is conducted from the Pujauli entry point in the Piprahar village, the western access point of the CNP. Besides, boating on the Narayani River is also gradually gaining popularity among visitors.

Source: The Kathmandu Post