POKHARA: A botanical garden has been set up in the Panchase area, on the confluence of Kaski, Syangja and Parbat districts.

The garden is situated at an altitude of 2,017 metres and is spread over 20 ropani land at Ahaldanda in Bhadaure of Kaski.

It was developed by Machhapurchhre Development Association with the support of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and IUCN.

According to Panchase Conservation Main Council Chairperson Gopal Gurung, there are 25 species of orchid in the garden.

“We are planning to add 25 more species in future. The garden will have plants of

almost all species found in the Panchase area,” said Gurung.

It will have plants of 14 species, including some of the endangered ones. Arjun Kumar Poudel, Chairperson of Machhapuchhre Development Association, said he hoped that the garden would prove to be a great place for research for students of botany.