Kathmandu— Bhedetar, a hill station in eastern Nepal, has transformed from a pastureland for grazing sheep into one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. Situated at an altitude of about 1,420 meters above sea level, it now welcomes more than 1,000 tourists on holidays and around 300 visitors during weekdays, drawn by its cool climate and breathtaking views.

From Pasture to Tourism Hub

Long before Bhedetar became a tourist destination, it served as a resting place for flocks of sheep traveling from the high hills to the Tarai plains. Traders would drive their sheep through Dhankuta and Sangurigadhi on their way south to trade salt and other goods. The area was known as Bhedetar because sheep (bheda in Nepali) were grazed there until around 1933, after which it gradually became overgrown with forest.

The turning point came in 1977 when the road from Dharan reached Bhedetar. Small huts began appearing to serve snacks and local delicacies like dried meat (sukuti) and tongba, a traditional millet-based beverage. Tourism truly flourished after Prince Charles of the United Kingdom visited during the construction of the Dharan-Dhankuta Highway in 1981.

Investment and Growth

Until around 1993, very few visitors stayed overnight in Bhedetar. Seeing its potential, Bishnu Raj Shrestha, a hotel entrepreneur from Kathmandu, established one of the area’s first lodges with accommodation facilities in 1993. According to Tumraj Limbu, president of the Hotel Association Bhedetar, more than Rs. 2.5 billion has been invested in the local hospitality industry over the past two decades.

The growth has also encouraged investment in nearby destinations such as Namje, Debithan, and Namaste Waterfall.

Emerging Attractions

Bhedetar continues to expand its tourism offerings. A short distance uphill from the market lies Thumki and the picturesque village of Namje, which was included among CNN’s 12 recommended travel destinations a few years ago.

At the top of Thumki stands the Atma Ghar (Soul House), built by architects using stones collected from abandoned graves. Around six kilometers from Bhedetar lies the Okhre View Tower offering panoramic views, and eight kilometers towards Dhankuta is Namaste Waterfall, another popular destination.

Bhedetar has also developed into a hub for adventure tourism with attractions like a skywalk at Sailung Danda near the town center, a zipline, free-fall jump, and giant swing.

(With inputs from Rising Nepal)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.