Fikkal (Ilam), Jan 8: A three-day trek is taking place along the historical Nisan trekking route from today in order to promote tourism.
According to the Ilam-based Nepal Army (NA)’s Ranashardul battalion, the trek spanning 42-km has been organized with the construction of ‘Nisan Trekking Route’ by identifying the trail used to bring back the Nisan (military insignia) hoisted after conquering the eastern border during the unification of Nepal.
Chief of Ranshardul Battalion, Pralhad Ghale informed that the trek will take place from the origin of the Mechi River along the Nepal-India border to the Maisthan Temple in Ilam district headquarters where the insignias were hoisted.
Preparation for the historic Nisan trek has been organized tracing the path where the military insignias planted by the then Shreenath Battalion after conquering eastern territories were retrieved following the Sugauli Treaty.
The trek will formally start from Mechi Bazaar this morning. A team of Nepal Army, local people’s representatives, tourism entrepreneurs and stakeholders are preparing to undertake the trek till January 10, he said.
Locals have made preparations to welcome the trek participants in many places. Chief Ghale informed that reception programmes have been planned at various places of Suryodaya Municipality, Maijogmai Rural Municipality and Ilam Municipality along the route.
Mayor of Suryodaya Municipality, Rana Bahadur Rai said that the trek along the Nisan trekking route is expected to contribute to the promotion of tourism in Ilam. “The trekking route has been constructed exploring the history of the war around 200 years ago and that it is expected to contribute to the overall tourism promotion of the district,” he noted.
Ilam Municipality Mayor Kedar Thapa said that the Nisan trekking route mapping has helped in the identification, conservation and promotion of historical, religious and cultural heritage of Ilam.
“The Nisan trekking route will contribute to the preservation of history and help promote tourism in Ilam as a whole,” he said.
There is a history that Shreenath Singh Battalion, located at Nagarigadhi in Mirik, was taken to Purnedanda at Karfok in Suryodaya Municipality of present-day Ilam after the Sugauli Treaty due to security reasons.
An agreement was reached to vacate the land from Mechi to Tista via Nagarigadhi within 40 days. Implementing the agreement, Subba Jayant Khatri vacated Nagarigadhi and brought it to Karfolk, the district headquarters.
It is believed that Maisthan Temple was constructed in 1880 BS. Currently, Nisan is preserved in the same temple.
