Kathmandu January 23.

The Visit Nepal Year-2020 has marked its beginning from Siddha cave at Bhimad municipality-9, Dhandhur in Tanahun. Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has enlisted the cave as one of the 100 new tourism destinations. The Siddha Cave Development Committee organized a formal programme to mark the beginning of visit year in Bhimad. On the occasion, Gandaki State Minister for Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment Bikas Lamsal formally welcomed the visit year amidst a programme on Wednesday calling for support from one and all to make the VNY-2020 campaign as success. Likewise, Bhimad municipality mayor Mekh Bahadur Thapa said the municipality has engaged its all-out efforts in promoting tourism sites available in the municipal territory. The visit Nepal year celebration was marked from the cave with a view to bringing in huge number of tourists, shared committee chair Dadhiraj Subedi. Necessary physical infrastructure has been developed around the cave so as to attract tourists, he added. “We have set a target to welcome around ten thousands tourists to cave in the VNY-2020”. Efforts are underway to increase inflow of tourists here by making wider publicity of the cave, he informed. The chairperson also shared that infrastructures such as slate step with rallying, waiting stand, picnic spot and parking space have been constructed on the way to cave. The infrastructures were developed at the cost of Rs 5.2 million including Rs 3.6 million from Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Rs 600,000 from committee and Rs 1 million raised as assistance. The committee had developed a master plan of the cave in 2070 BS. It had laid emphasis on developing physical infrastructure in and around cave in line with the master plan. The Siddha cave carrying historical, archeological and religious importance was discovered centuries ago. The 200-metre-long cave is four-storied. The first floor has the capacity to bear 500 visitors while the second has 60 and third 50. One can reach the cave after 20 minute walk following half\-an-hour drive from trade point Bhimad