Ruru-Resunga Tourism Sector is one of the tourism zone among 18 tourism zones of Nepal consisting of 3 districts namely, Gulmi, Palpa, and Arghakhanchi Districts. Adjoining tourism zones are Pokhara Tourism Sector in east, Sisne-Jaljala-Dhorpatan Tourism Sector, and Bheri-Kankrebihar Tourism Sector in the west, Sisne-Jaljala-Dhorpatan Tourism area in the north and Lumbini Tourism Area in the south. This tourism sector is rich in its natural beauty and religious sites with cultural importance. Gulmi Airport is the new airport in this tourism sector. This region is connected by Siddhartha Highway from Kathmandu and Pokhara and connects with the Terai Region too. You can find the information about the tourist destination of this tourism sector.
Gulmi District lies in Province No. 5 covering an area of 1,149 sq. km. Tamghas is its administrative headquarters at a distance of 375 kilometers from Kathmandu. Adjoining districts are Syangja and Parbat in the east, Pyuthan in west, Baglung in the north, and Palpa and Argakhachi in south. It is ranges from the elevation of 465 m (Ridi) from the sea level to 2690 m (Thaple ko lek). Gulmi District is renowned for coffee and orange farming.
Tourism in Gulmi
Gulmi is one of the less explored tourist destinations of Nepal especially renowned for coffee production. Tamghas is a beautiful city on the lap of two hills Resunga and Arjun which enchants the visitors. Gulmi is rich in its natural environment attracts tourists. Ruru, now known as Ridi, is not only a commercial center but also a religious and cultural center as it is inundated with Hindu temples and is usually crowded during Maghe Sankranti. Resunga is another famous holy place in the district. Its rich biodiversity and its historic value are some of the attractions of Gulmi District. Landmarks include Bichitra Cave in Dhurkot, Resunga, with its rich biodiversity and historic value, and the religious and historical sites Gyawa Kshetra, Charpala, Musikot, Isma, Wami Taksar and Purtighat, Rudrabeni, etc. Gulmi has many lakes like Resunga Lake, Thaple Lake, and Raniban Lake for water activities lovers. Musikot Durbar, Charpala Durbar are the historical sites.
Places to visit in Gulmi
Resunga and Madane Forests
Resunga and Madane are the protected forests of Gulmi which are popular for Bird Watching. According to conservationists, more than 25 percent of the total 886 bird species found in the country are spotted in Resunga and Madane forests. Resunga forest lies near Tamghas and covers 3,100 hectares of land. Additionally, Resunga is an important habitat for vultures. Eight different vulture species including red-headed and Egyptian vultures are found homing in tall trees in Resunga. Similarly, Madane is around 50 kilometers west from Tamghas and covers 13,761 hectares of land.
Resunga Hill
Resunga Hill is elevated at an altitude of 2,347 meters above sea level. It takes about 3-4 hours trek from Tamghas. There is also a rough road -for small 4-wheelers- almost up to the top. One can have a spectacular 180-degree views of the peaks of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, and the Himalayas and to the south, the plains of the Terai. A religiously popular Yagyashala (fireplace), old temples, ponds, and a view tower are the attractions of the place. Region’s holy festivals Harisayani Ekadashi (June-end), Saune Aunsi (mid-August), and Haribodhani Ekadashi (mid-October) take place in Resunga annually.
Ruru Kshetra
Ruru Kshetra is one of the four religious centers of Hindus in Nepal. Ruru, commonly known as Ridi, was named after a mythological girl named Ruru. There are two separate temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Ruru Kanya. A four-armed stone- image is seen inside the Hrishikeshav Temple. The Rishikesh complex is a combination of numerous styles of architecture, from the medieval period and San period. The site is still well preserved and in use today as a sacred Hindu site where important Vedic rituals are performed. Ruru is known as Banaras of Nepal because all the Hindu rituals which are performed on the bank of the Ganges in Banaras are also performed here. The most important festival at Ridi is Maghesankranti, the first day of the Nepali month Magh (mid-January). Thousands of Hindu devotees have a holy dip in the water of the Kali Gandaki River.
Dhurkot’s Bichitra Cave
Bichitra Gupha lies in the Gulmi District which is in the elevation of 1,177 meters. It is about 150 meters long and has the mysterious. It is about 21 km from Tamghas. It is divided into 11 segments. You can see the images of different Hindu Gods and Goddesses. The main shrine of Lord Shiva is worshipped at the core of Cave. It can sustain more than 500 visitors in this cave. It takes about 40 minutes to visit inside the cave.
Palpa District is located in Province No. 5, covering an area of 1,373 sq. km. Tansen is the administrative headquarter and it is 296 km from Kathmandu. Adjoining districts are Nawalpur in the east, Arghakhanchi in the west, Tanahun, Syangja and Gulmi in the north, and Rupandehi and Parasi in the south. The landscape rises from 250m to 2,000m in elevation and is home to diverse flora and fauna.
Tourism in Palpa
Palpa District is not far from Pokhara and easily reached by bus. The ancient hill town of Tansen in this district offers a more tranquil atmosphere where the laid back lifestyle is infectious. Walk down the cobbled streets in the old bazaar to discover a way of life. Explore the Shreenagar Hills or do a day hike to the Rani Mahal, once a vibrant palace on the banks of the Kali Gandaki River. Palpa was the seat of the Sen kingdom that ruled over this region from the 16th century for almost 300 years so the Headquarter of Palpa is called "Tansen". There are some good to moderate hotels and lodges in Tansen to suit everyone's budget and requirements. They are clean and the staff in most hotels is welcoming. Excellent Nepali meals are served in the modern-looking restaurants and some also serve continental cuisine.
Places to visit in Palpa
Tansen Durbar
Tansen Durbar Also Known As Palpa Durbar & Museum was built in 1927 by Pratap Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana. The Durbar is a grand palace in the town of Tansen, Nepal. It was the seat of the Rana governors. It was attacked during the people's war in 2005. Later it was rebuilt and opened for public in 2008.
Rani Mahal
Rani Mahal is a Rana palace located in the banks of the Kali Gandaki River in Palpa district of Nepal. This palace was constructed by General Khadga Samsher Rana JBR in 1893. In 1887 General Khadga Samsher Rana was forced to drop his royal titles and was sent to Palpa-Gauda as the Western Commander in Chief of Nepal. At Palpa-Gauda in 1892 Khadga Shumsher's beloved youngest wife Tej Kumari Devi died and within a year Khadga built a palace and named after his wife as Rani Mahal (Literary translates as Queens Palace). Rani Mahal is considered as the "Taj Mahal of Nepal" due to its relative location in Kaligandaki River over a huge rock.
Siddha Baba Temple
Siddha Baba Temple is a Hindu temple of Shiva located at the border of Palpa and Rupandehi at a distance of 2 km from the Butwal Municipality. It is located on the bank of Tinau River on the Siddhartha Highway. The temple is visited by the people all over Nepal and mostly by the Hindus of neighboring districts. It is believed that the wishes of the devotees who visit the temple comes true. There is a tradition to release a pigeon when a person's wish is fulfilled. This tradition has contributed to a large number of pigeon populations around the temple. Hindu people worship at the temple of Siddha Baba during Saturday, Monday, and various religious festivals directly and indirectly connected to god Shiva. During the festivals of Shivaratri, a large numbers of Hindus go to the temple for worship.
Shreenagar Hill
Shreenagar Hill is situated at the elevation of 1,492 m above from the sea level. It offers a panoramic view of the high Himalaya. From west to east, Kanjiroba, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Mansiri, Ganesh and Langtang ranges are in sight. The trail towards the hill starts near the small Ganesh Mandir (temple) above Tansen and climbs steeply through open woodland to the crest of the hill. When you reach the ridge, turn right: a 35-minute stroll will take you to a modern Buddha statue and a viewpoint with fabulous views over the gorge of the Kali Gandaki River to the Himalaya.
Bhagawati temple – Mark of Victory
Built by Ujir Singh Thapa in 1814 AD to mark the victory over colonial British-India forces, the temple is a small structure but holds immense religious importance. It is said that the original structure was remarkably bigger and more beautiful and it has undergone many physical adjustments, most recently after the great earthquake of 1934. Every year in August, a chariot procession of deities is taken out throughout the town with military honor to observe the historic battle.
Arghakhanchi is located in Province No. 5 covering an area of 1,193 sq. km. in Nepal. Sandhikharka is the administrative headquarter. Adjoining districts are Palpa in the east, Gulmi in the north, Kapilbastu District in the south, and Pyuthan in the west. The altitude of the district ranges from 305 m to 2,515 m above the sea level.
Tourism in Arghakhanchi
Arghakhanchi is rich in its natural beauty and the religious sites. The major attraction are Supa Deurali (Supa Deurali Temple), Argha (Mahakali Temple), and Chhatraganj temple, Narsing Thana at Hanshapur Bamruk etc. The major lakes of this region are Dammaru Lake and Sengleng Lake. Chetramaharaj, Balkot. Arghakot. Kerunga, Kinneri Vir, Mathura Phat, Jabundada, Mathuradada, Maulipokhara are the important places to visit. Arghakhanchi provides a magnificent view of the Himalayan panoramic view to the north. It includes Mt. Machhapuchhre, Mt. Annapurna, Mt. Dhaulagiri, and many other mountain ranges and also wide plains of Terai. Narpani Resort is the high standard resort at the top of the hill from where you can see the view of Himalayan Ranges.
Places to visit in Arghakhanchi
Sandhikharka
Sandhikharka is situated between the two hills Argha and Khanchi. This area was a boarder of two small kingdoms i.e. Argha and Khanchi during Chaubisi Rajya. There was always conflict about the ownership of the land between the two monarchs of this place. Later, in the interest of public welfare, the kings decided to make a treaty between the two little kingdoms. So the whole region is named as Arghakhanchi and the headquarter remains Sandhikharka. Sandhikharka is located around 960 meters above sea level.
Supa Deurali
Located in the Arghakhanchi District, the Supa Deurali is a mountain temple at an elevation of 1,509m above the sea level. It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Devi and one of the famous pilgrimage sites of western Nepal surrounded by magnificent hills. This place is worth a visit for pilgrimage purposes as well as sightseeing a panoramic view. Supa Deurali is connected with a myth story of a Lahure “the soldier in Indian army”. It is believed that when he was going to India he worship in the temple and vowed to the deity that if he returns safely he will offer a golden chain to the temple. He was successful in his mission but while returning home he ignore and pass the way secretly. The miraculous power of Supadeurali brought him in the temple and set the Lahure affixed at the middle of rock to be a statue. The statue of lahure can still be visible in the rock near the temple. The importance of the significance of the devotees that can be seen here is increasing every day.
Argha Dubar
Argha Durbar, established in the 13th Century, is one of the palace belongs to the King Bir Shah during Chaubise Rajya. There is the big fairs and festival during Navadurga Puja in October/November and April. You can find this durbar still preserved in the Argha hill of Arghakhanchi.
Khanchi Durbar
Khanchi Durbar is one of the palace belongs to Chaubise Rajya. According to the mythology, Durga Bhajan Shah was the last king of Khanchi Durbar. It lies at the elevation of 2,236 m from the sea level. Same as the Argha Durbar, there is the big fairs and festival during Navadurga Puja in October/November and April. Saraya dance is performed in this fair. You can find the remaining of Durbar at the Khanchi Hill.
Dammaru Daha
This lake is believed to be formed at Satyayuj after falling Dammaru of Shiva while he was performing Tandap dance. It is in the shape of Dammaru. In the eastern part, there is a temple of Baraha where people worship Lord Shiva. There is the big fairs and festival during the big festival of Hindu, Dashain in October/November.
If you have any queries or need any support, please comment here. If you are planning to make your trip to Nepal, I shall be grateful to help you to organize your trip to Nepal. Please connect me via Whatsapp, +977-9860804860.Moreover, this sector lacks the publicity of the destinations and people visit only to a few places. Thus, the exploration of different tourist destinations of this tourism sector remains. It is necessary to explore the remaining destinations in the national and international tourism market via articles, papers, exhibitions, social media, blogging, and exploration.
