Manikadham emerging as a religious-tourist hub with accelerated infrastructure development

Kanchanpur: Manikadham, a religious and tourist site located in Churephedi, Shuklaphanta Municipality-8, is steadily transforming into a major attraction with rapid infrastructure development.

Significant progress has been made in building roads, drinking water facilities, a dharamshala, electricity supply, and retaining walls within the temple premises. According to Puran Hamal, Chairman of the Baijnath Religious Tourism Development Committee, the ancient site had long been neglected due to lack of infrastructure. “We have planted fruit trees to green the temple grounds, leveled the area, repaired drinking water lines, and improved facilities for devotees,” he said.

A modern dharamshala is under construction with a federal government investment of Rs 24.362 million. Committee Secretary Dambar Bahadur Air informed that 98 percent of the work has been completed, including a tap and three toilets.

Devotees had long suffered due to the absence of electricity, but work to extend power lines under the bridge electrification program has begun. “We plan to illuminate the religious site before Tihar, and preparations are underway,” said Shuklaphanta-8 Ward Chairman Ramesh Bahadur Air.

Efforts are also ongoing to register and conserve the surrounding forest as a ‘religious forest’ and repair rain-damaged roads to ease the movement of devotees. Social worker Tek Bahadur Hamal stressed that the local government must allocate funds for such an important destination, noting that no budget had been provided from the local level in the past three years. “Current developments have only been possible with external funding,” he said.

Recalling earlier challenges, Founding Chairman of the Committee, Durga Prasad Bhatta, said that transporting goods was difficult until bushes were cleared and a road was built three decades ago. “We widened the road, organized fairs, and constructed a temple with support from the tourism board, which helped Manikadham gain recognition as a religious tourism site,” he added.

Locally, the Tharu community refers to the site as ‘Mudka’—with ‘mud’ meaning head—because Baijnath Baba is believed to be established at the highest point in the area. Over time, ‘Mudka’ evolved into Manikadham. The lake inside the premises, however, is now filling up, prompting calls for an ‘artisan boring’ system to ensure a permanent water supply. Plans have also been proposed in the master plan to establish a Gurukul to preserve Vedic education.

Responding to devotees’ requests, initiatives are underway to construct a concrete bridge over the Gaundi Nala, as access during the rainy season remains difficult without it. The Manikadham area is home to ancient temples of Siddhanath and Baijnath Baba, a wedding hall, dhunighar, prayer space, and hermit huts. Each year, a large fair is held here on the ninth and tenth days of Falgun.

Surrounded by dense sal forests and with the serene Mudka lake nearby, Manikadham’s natural beauty enhances its religious significance. With improved road access—just a half-hour drive from Kaluwapur or Jhalari along the East-West Highway—the site is increasingly attracting both domestic and foreign visitors. Stakeholders emphasize that efforts must continue to fully develop Manikadham into a modern religious-tourist destination.