KATHMANDU:

Living in Kathmandu’s central area, many people are often not aware of how naturally and culturally beautiful places in the Valley’s fringes are. One such place, very beautiful yet neglected, is Chapagaun, a Malla-era village in southern Lalitpur.

Having tasted tints of success in their earlier art-for-a-cause to promote some places as tourist destinations, Commercial Artist Association of Nepal (CAAN), jointly with Champapur Jaycees, is now trying to promote Chapagaun and its nearby villages through an art exhibition entitled ‘Champapur Art Festival’. Champapur is Chapagaun’s former name.

The weeklong exhibition will commence on December 8 at the Nepal Art Council, Babermahal and will comprise works of more than 60 artists who had an on-the-spot art workshop recently at Chapagaun and nearby villages.

“Chapagaun is so close to the Valley yet many of us are ignorant of its cultural and natural beauty. We are organising the exhibition hoping to promote the place to some extent as a good tourist destination,” explained I B Malla, president, CAAN.