Promising yet untapped Mid-west

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2016
Promising yet untapped Mid-west

The Mid-western region is home to a plethora of historical, cultural and touristic wonders. The region features the deepest lake in the country, Shey-Phoksundo; the largest lake in the country, Rara; the largest valley in Asia, Dang; the land that produces the Marsi paddy, which is not produced anywhere else in the world, among others.

Although rich in all its cultural and natural glories, the mid-west is beset by the lack of infrastructures and its own remoteness, which places the region at the rear end of Nepal’s development index.  

Sprawling over 42,378 square kilometres, and home to about 3,546,682 people, according to the census of 2010, the mid-west still largely remains an unexplored land. Although districts like Surkhet—the headquarter of the region—are relatively prosperous, the hilly and mountainous parts of the region are very backward, but that’s where the promises lie.

If only the Mid-west was given the attention it deserves, it could well be developed into a veritable hotspot for tourism.  

Featured are vignettes that capture the life and landscapes of the mid-west and are currently on display at Nepal Tourism Board in Bhrikutimandap. The exhibit will continue until Sunday.  

Promising yet untapped Mid-west

A traditional settlement on the Khaptad-Rara trekking trail.    

Promising yet untapped Mid-west

Rara Lake at the break of the dawn.    

Promising yet untapped Mid-west

The ruins of Pancha Deval in Dailekh.  

Promising yet untapped Mid-west

Bahrasinghe deer at Banke mini-zoo.  

Promising yet untapped Mid-west

Tharu women singing in Madhima, Dang.    

Promising yet untapped Mid-west

A panche baaja ensemble in Dailekh.    

Promising yet untapped Mid-west

Locals perform the Khaijadi Dance, a popular culture, in Bajura.    

Promising yet untapped Mid-west

Women weave pakhi, a local fabric, in Limatang, Humla.  

Promising yet untapped Mid-west

Tourist set up a tent near the Reling Gumba, in Humla.  

Promising yet untapped Mid-west

Travelers muse over the vast, unbridled landscape.