News Summary
Presented following editorial review.
- Local residents have become active in developing Sun Cave in Tiklang, Bharatpokhari, Ward 33 of Pokhara Metropolitan City as a new tourist destination.
- An office building was constructed in 2019 (2076 BS) for the conservation and development of Sun Cave, and infrastructure development worth approximately NPR 5 million has been completed.
- Ramchandra Adhikari, Ward Chairperson of Pokhara-33, stated that along with promoting Sun Cave, agricultural tourism is also being prioritized.
March 18, Gandaki – The tourist capital Pokhara is also renowned as a city of caves. Caves like Mahendra, Chamere, and Gupteshwor Mahadev add to the city’s tourist attractions.
The mysterious caves often extend tourists’ stays in Pokhara. In this context, local residents of Tiklang, Bharatpokhari, Ward 33 of Pokhara Metropolitan City have recently become active in developing Sun Cave as a new tourist hotspot.
Locals report that the cave, estimated to be about one and a half kilometers long, stretches from the middle of Tiklang Playground toward Chunepharos near the Seti River.
Although locals have known about the cave for some time, interest in its tourism potential has gradually increased, said Sangit Baniya, Chairperson of the Chunepharos Sun Cave Conservation Committee.
He added that former Tourism Minister Ravindra Adhikari showed keen interest in the cave’s conservation, development, and tourism promotion.
Alongside Minister Adhikari, Member of Parliament Vidya Bhattarai, former Ward Chair Shivprasad Acharya, and the current Ward Chair Ramchandra Adhikari have been supporting the cave’s development and promotion, Baniya said.
In recent years, government attention toward infrastructure development has grown. To date, infrastructure development worth about NPR 5 million from federal and local budgets has been completed, he noted.
For conservation, promotion, and development, an office building for the cave was completed in 2019 (2076 BS). Chairperson Baniya informed that the entrance gate and surrounding area management, as well as stairway construction, have been completed.
The cave area along with surrounding land spans approximately 30 ropanis (about 1.5 hectares). According to Baniya, visitors can observe various naturally formed shapes inside the cave and a large number of bats.
Prioritizing infrastructure development, plans are underway to formally open the cave to tourists with completed infrastructure such as electric lighting and toilet facilities. The cave also holds ancient religious significance, he added.
The cave is accessible within a 10-minute walk from Powerhouse, Ward 30 of Pokhara Metropolitan City, along the Prithvi Highway. It can be easily reached by public transport from Pokhara’s main market, with regular public buses operating up to Tiklang Chowk above the cave.
Tiklang, along with the broader Bagmara area, which is known as the “City of Milk,” has recently become an attractive center for agricultural tourism. Tourists visiting the cave can take local dairy and vegetable products as souvenirs.
Locals say that the broad road built from Dobhilla to Puditaar with World Bank support has transformed the region. Ramchandra Adhikari, Ward Chair of Pokhara-33, emphasized prioritizing the area’s tourism development, including the cave.
“We have aimed to showcase the potential of this area,” he said. “Alongside promoting Sun Cave, we also aim to emphasize agricultural tourism prospects here.”
Youth Padam Thapa, describing Sun Cave as a destination rich in tourism potential, stressed the importance of raising awareness about its sustainable tourism use. He believes promotion and publicity will aid domestic tourism growth and encourage longer stays by international visitors.
“If tourist arrivals increase for cave visits, it will significantly contribute to local employment growth,” he said. “Increasing tourist arrivals will also help develop markets for local products, making cave tourism crucial for economic activity.”
