Dhorpatan Municipality Constructs Unique Covered Footbridge Over Uttarganga River

Baglung. Dhorpatan Municipality has constructed a footbridge with a roof over the Uttarganga River. The municipality built the footbridge to allow tourists and locals to cross. Due to the rising water levels in the Uttarganga every monsoon season, there was a compulsion to walk to reach areas like the Dhorpatan Baraha Temple area, the other side's Selpakhe, and the Hunting Reserve office area.

Dhorpatan Municipality Deputy Mayor Dhan Bahadur Kayat (Kalyan) informed that the footbridge, built with a unique design at a cost of NPR 950,000 allocated in the current fiscal year, has been constructed. He stated that the footbridge was built with a cement floor, topped with a roof made of wood and stone. Kayat mentioned that the footbridge, reflecting local authenticity, will attract domestic and international tourists.

He said, "In recent times, the arrival of domestic and international tourists in Dhorpatan has been increasing significantly, but due to the lack of a bridge over the Uttarganga, there was a compulsion to risk crossing the river. Now that problem is solved; this will make it easier for locals and tourists."

The footbridge was constructed connecting the Dhorbahar Temple to Selpakhe. Kul Bahadur BK from Dhorpatan Municipality-9 stated that every monsoon season, two to three people used to lose their lives by being swept away by the Uttarganga due to the absence of a bridge. He mentioned that crossing will be easier now that the municipality has built the footbridge. BK added that the footbridge looks like a permanent bridge.

"If such a footbridge had been built a few years earlier, many lives would have been saved. It was built late, but it is built now. No one will have to die by being swept away while crossing the river anymore," he said. "I have never seen such a footbridge before; it is very well built. Since the footbridge also has a roof, tourists can stand here and observe the Dhorpatan Valley."

When the footbridge was not built, tourists going to Dhorbahar Temple, Selpakhe, Pakhather, Chhentung, Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Bukipatan, and Jaljala were compelled to spend hours crossing the suspension bridge located at the Nabi and Morang Dogadi Ghats.