May 16, Tehrathum — The Limbu civilization, which venerates nature and regards stone as a historical symbol, has established a unique cultural heritage. To preserve the originality, culture, and history of this community for future generations, Laligurans Municipality of Tehrathum has developed ‘Cholung Park,’ which has now become a popular cultural and tourist destination in eastern Nepal. Constructed primarily from stone, the park is no longer just a recreational spot but has evolved into a living museum showcasing the Limbu community’s history, lifestyle, and civilization. Following the viral spread of the park’s photos and videos on social media, hundreds of domestic and international tourists have started visiting daily. Due to the rising number of visitors, the park has become a significant source of revenue for the municipality.
The Limbu are known as nature-worshippers deeply connected with forests, rivers, soil, and stones. In particular, the ‘Lung,’ meaning stone, is regarded as an essential symbol of the Limbu civilization. The tradition of planting stones as part of rituals from birth to death has been practiced in Limbu society since ancient times. Stones are used in ceremonies such as newborn birth rites, marriage, clan worship, judicial proceedings, and funerals. “Cholung Park” was established to preserve this unique cultural heritage and introduce it to younger generations. The word “Cholung” comes from the Limbu language where “Cho” means goal and “Lung” means stone, symbolizing a stone of achievement or target.
Upon entering the park, visitors are welcomed by tall stone pillars of various shapes. These stones are not mere decorative elements but silent narrators of Limbu civilization’s history. The stone pillars embedded throughout the park reveal the social structure, judicial practices, and cultural customs of ancient Limbu society. Local elders have shared that in the past, disputes, social decisions, and agreements in villages were resolved through the tradition of planting stones. According to Arjun Mabohang, the idea to construct the park arose from concerns over the fading Limbu historical identity. He noted, “The traditional practices relating to daily life, judiciary, and social structures expressed through stones have been vanishing. The park was built to preserve these traditions and link them with tourism. It has now become one of the municipality’s prime sources of income.”
The municipality reports that government revenue has commenced from ticket fees paid by tourists visiting the park. This has established the park not only as a cultural center but also as a project linked to the local economy. Recently, tourists from districts such as Tehrathum, Dhankuta, Panchthar, Ilam, Jhapa, Morang, and Sunsari, as well as from Sikkim and Darjeeling in India, have been visiting. Santosh Sharma Limbu, the vice-chairperson visiting from Miklajung Rural Municipality, shared that seeing the park in person was a different experience from only viewing it on social media. He said, “Visiting here made me realize that this is not just a park but a living history. It is an excellent site for anyone interested in understanding Limbu civilization.”
