Rup Narayan Dhakal

Sarangkot (Kaski), February 11

Although the rock garden, situated at Gyarjati of Sarangkot VDC, holds a bright prospect for tourism, it has remained neglected due to lack of proper advertisement and promotion.

The rock garden is an attractive area full of different types of rocks and even the natives of Pokhara are little aware about it. It lies in Gyarjati, north of Methlang in Sarangkot VDC. It is around half a kilometre long in the direction of north to south. Many attractive black stones could be found in the garden, which can surely lure tourists, tourism entrepreneurs opined.

"This area needs proper promotion," said Basudev Parajuli, general secretary of Trekking Agents of Nepal (TAN), western chapter. He added that the trekking route from Jarewer on lakeside to Methlang to Gyarjati was very popular till about two decades back. He reminisced that he used to take many tourists for trekking on that route when he worked as a tour guide. But the route became less used after the route from Sedi in Pokhara opened for Sarangkot and another route from Bindhyabasini temple to Sarangkot also opened. This route, which went through the rock garden, then took a backseat, Parajuli said.

Geologist Dr Krishna KC pointed out that the rock garden also holds future for rock climbing. He believes that the development of this garden would surely help tourism entrepreneurs and locals of the area. The rock garden lies 1,150 metres above the sea level. The Pokhara valley as well as the Phewa lake from east and south could be viewed from the top, whereas the Himalayan range and forests could also be seen.

Dambar KC, chairman, Pokhara Tourism Council, said that despite being very close to the city, the rock garden has been discarded for a long time. He said that proper study of the garden must soon be carried out and made public.