Key Takeaways:

• Bhothnagi in Phulasi transformed from shrubland into lush tea gardens
• Tourism rising as visitors stroll, photograph and share landscapes online
• Farmers diversifying into fruits, vegetables, cardamom and livestock
• Locals urge road upgrades, visitor facilities and promotion for growth

RAMECHHAP, AUGUST 6 What was once a barren, shrub-covered hillside in Ramechhap has been transformed into a lush tea estate that is now drawing a growing number of visitors, with local farmers increasingly combining tea cultivation with tourism to diversify their income. Bhothnagi in Phulasi, of Manthali Municipality-14, is emerging as an agri-tourism destination, where neatly terraced tea gardens, cool weather and mist-covered hills are attracting both domestic and foreign visitors. Farmers, who initially developed tea plantations as a source of income, say tourism has become an additional economic opportunity as visitors arrive to stroll through the gardens, enjoy the landscape and take photographs. According to local growers, the number of tourists has been steadily increasing after photos and videos of the Phulasi tea gardens began circulating widely on social media. The growing interest has created additional income opportunities beyond tea production. Tea cultivation has also encouraged broader agricultural diversification in the area, with farmers expanding into fruit farming, vegetable cultivation, large cardamom and livestock rearing. Locals say the integrated development of agriculture and tourism has begun generating positive economic changes in the village. Residents believe Phulasi has the potential to become one of Ramechhap's leading agri-tourism destinations if local authorities invest in supporting infrastructure, including better road connectivity, visitor facilities and destination promotion alongside continued expansion of tea cultivation.