Rasuwa, Mar. 5: Rasuwa district has many scenic spots that can be exploited from touristic point of view, but due to lack of infrastructural development, many people there remain out of jobs.
The local villagers who are jobless and so facing sustenance problem pin their hope on help from outside in the development of its tourism potential.
A remote himalayan region located 118 km north of Kathmandu, Rasuwa can be reached after about 12 hours’ bus ride from Kathmandu’s gwongabu bus park.
In Rasuwa is located Gosaikunda, the famous Hindu pilgrimage site, where thousand of pilgrims visit every year to venerate Lord Shanker. Besides, it is also a tourist attraction centre.
That is not all, Ganesh Himal, lead mines, 20 megawatt Chilime Hydel Project and its mineral waters, deposits of various minerals, many site of exquisite ponds and cataracts and other natural beauties are associated with Rasuwa.
The tourists who once visit Rasuwa return with indelible of stamp of its natural and cultural heritage.
Its ethnic mosaic consists of Tamangs in the northern part and Brahmins, Kshatris, Tamangs, Gurungs and Newars in the south.
Its waterfalls echoes on the lush green forest and hills in the north-west and the expanse of surpentine Trisuli river. The reverberation reaches its climax as one experiences levitation by the amazing sight of the Langtang range.
The mist that vanish and reapear off and on plays a hide-and-seek game here.
Rasuwa, old-timers say, ranks among the four Dhams, religious pilgrimate sites. Gosaikunda and Uttar Gaya Betrawati are of as much importance. Not only Nepalese, Indians, too, frequent these places. The pilgrims who cannot make it to Gosaikunda may divert their course from Dhunche to Gatlang in the north by motor and visit Parbati Kunda (pond) with much befit.
Dhunche, perched on 6,400 feet altitude, is a northern trading post, an important seat of Tamang culture. Here, one can survey some dipalidated remains of the Durbar of Ghale Raja on the way.
The mythical Gosaikunda (14,100 feet altitude) is about 14 miles’ steep walk from Dhunche. The Hindu mytohology has it that when Lord Shanker swallowed the lethal poison spewing out during the churning of oceans he could not bear the intense heat generated by it. He went to himal and struck in the ground with his trident and there spurted a jet of icy cold water which cooled down his heated body. The waters of Gosaikunda which did just that is regarded as much sacred to this day.
Devotees in large number throng Gosaikunda fair that takes palce during Jestha Shukla Ekadashi and Ganga Dashahara in the month of Jestha (May-June).
The pilgrims may show symptoms of altitude sickness after the they reach Lauri Binayak and so, medicines for altitude sickness are used when one is on the journey further afair from lauribinayak, says Dr. Vijaya Khanal.
The journey may be through foggy condition, which sometimes reduces the visitbility to a few feet.
Lamas and Jhakris (witch healers) add spice to the journey with their regular drum beat and dances along the way.
The waters from Gosaikunda feed Bhairav Kunda that lies on the way. Bhairav Kunda is an interesting pond that has a typical legend behind it.
Once a Jhakri, as the legend goes, resolved to wage a battle against Naga (divine serpent). He counselled his wife to remain on the bank of the pond and keep beating the drum until he reappear. He also advised her not to forget to hurl a handful of grains over him whevener he re-emerge from the pond. But as the duel between the man and the Naga raged on the former appeared above the water with his body entwined with the serpent. This scared off the woman, who ran away in panic, leaving the drum and grains behind. Unfortunately, the man overpowerd by the serpent, met his watery grave. The pond is a forbidden place to this day.
The waters from the ponds and Rauchuli phed mingles into the confluence of Phalak which is known as Uttar Gaya.
During the thulo Ekadashi every year and Ausi (new moon day) people come here to offer annual memorial service to their deceased parents.