By Rup Narayan Dhakal—Pokhara: Most of the Nepali villages are almost empty as youths from those settlements has gone for foreign employment due to the instable politics and frustrating situation of Nepal in recent years. So, Chitra Bahadur Gurung from Lumle village development committee of Nepal has come up with an idea of stopping such youths by creating the environment of employment in their own village, called Tanchwok of same VDC.
In this connection, Gurung who owns Evergreen Tours in Kathmandu and is the former chairman of Village Tourism Promotion Forum Nepal, has recently started the Kalsee Eco-Lodge in his village Tanchowk. He believes that the job that lodge creates will help to stop village youths in their village instead of going abroad for employment. According to him, there used to live around 70 families in Tanchowk since few years before but only 15 of them are living in the village these days.
Set on a ridge, the Kalsee Eco Lodge now is all set to welcome domestic and foreign guests with an offering of comfort in wilderness setting. The lodge has three cabins with single and double size bed, private bathroom with shower, table and chairs. Mobile service with 3G signals could be enjoyed. Visitors also can enjoy camping with dome tents, mattress and pillow. But lodge suggests bringing sleeping bag in visitors own.
The lodged offers 3 days two nights package includes guided hiking through the forest and neighboring villages, lodge stay and meals. The Bird watching, village tour, hiking into the forest, butterfly viewing, biking, participation in community activities, sunrise and sunset viewing, hot spring trip (needs extra night) are some of the activities that also lodge offers. A domestic visitor should bear 2,500 rupees and foreigner should bear 4,000 rupees for 1 night 2 days package to stay in the lodge. The tariff includes dinner and breakfast.
According to lodge owner Gurung, the lodge follows the concept of ecological conservation since the lodge is situated inside the dense forest. He further adds that the lodge is also sensitive in conservation of local biodiversity and ecological system while minimizing the impact on the environment. To fulfill those responsibility, local resources and manpower are used in the lodge.The lodge covers the area of 1 hector and the investment of 9 million rupees of 10 share-holders.
The Kalsee Eco Lodge is all about living comfortably in harmony with beautiful environment- appreciating the beautiful Himalayas, caring for it. Kalsee means the black beauty in Gurung language. The isolated location of the lodge means no access to common service like electricity, water in the toilet or sewerage system to feel the ancient era living and to accept the challenge of independent living.
However, the lodge uses solar power and solar heated water. Organic food, composting system toilet also are the specialties of that lodge. One should take 1.5 hours of walk from Purano Ghaderi of Lumle situates along the Bhupi Sherchan Highway.
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