Dhakeri draws domestic tourists

Banke / Feb 27: The Dhekeri area of Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality of Banke is becoming a popular tourist spot among domestic tourists lately with the development of infrastructures and maintenance of twin gardens.

The Dhakeri Botanical Garden and Rimna Community Garden are becoming the centers of attraction among visitors especially nature enthusiasts due to the serene environment and aesthetically pleasing landscape the gardens offer.

Hundreds of tourists visit twin gardens here daily, said Bishwaraj Khanal, a local leader. “Visitors mostly flock to the garden on Saturdays and other public holidays.”

Over 450 species of plants are being conserved in the Dhakeri Botanical Garden spanning five hectares. Established in 1996 as the first botanical garden in Banke, the garden has been an attraction for botany researchers and students interested in botany or horticulture.

The major attractions of the Dhakeri Botanical Garden are plants such as Cutch, Black Plum, Ceylon Oak, Kumkum tree forest, sandalwood and Blackboard tree among others.

Visitors coming to visit the botanical gardens get to treat themselves to the local delicacies that the hotels in the Dhakeri market offer. Basic to well-equipped hotels are in operation in the Dhakeri market, added Bharat Khadka who runs a homestay in the locality.

Local tourists from Kohalpur and Nepalgunj throng Dhakeri market usually on Saturdays to savor local delicacy cooked from local chicken, he added. RSS