Reality Vs Perception

While I was travelling back home from Birgunj, an old man with empty tokari (vessel) got in the bus in Pathlaiya. The old man sat besides the bunch of students who were in merry mood as they were enjoying the rap music played in bus. Probably they were heading to Shaheed Smarak Park in Hetauda for picnic program. The old man asked one of the students in his local dialect, "Hetauda me tamatar ka vau kitana ba?"(What is the price of tomato in Hetauda?). The student got upset and retorted back, "Hamnika ka malum?" (How could I know?).

Rhino Inside Wood

Laymen see just a piece of wood but artists visualize different images within this piece. Kul Bahadur Ghale, 39, finds rhinos hidden inside a chunk of sissoo wood.

After some 3 hours of constant carving of piece of wood, a beautiful figure of rhino appears. Kul Bahadur of Kumroj VDC has been involving in craftsmanship for 3 years.

Understanding Biodiversity

During 2007-08, the Bird Education Society conducted bird survey for one year in Bis Hazari Tal and Khorsor Area to find the bird diversity with special focus on water birds as this area is renowned for wetlands (lakes, marshes and waterholes), a good habitat for many species of birds, mammals and reptiles.

Bis Hazari Tal

While I was doing the data analysis for the mid-term reporting, I was surprised to find the equal number of bird species that is 110, in both sites. Habitat type and quality are mostly similar in both sites. However, I thought for the previous bird data or report of the areas to compare with the present data but no such reports were available.

Theki: To Make Food Tasty

Local people in villages still store yoghurt, milk and ghee in theki, the traditional wooden vessel, locally made from daar tree (Boehmeria rugulosa). Other similar vessel with wide opening is called faam which is especially designed to keep milk while milking.

Size of the these vessels is varied. Smaller one which store up to 1 pathi (4.57 liters) of liquid is called theki while bigger one which store up to 4 pathi is called theka. These vessels are made by local technicians in the locally designed water mill. The downward flow of water rotates the turbine blades which then rotate the shaft connected to it. The theki is attached to other end of the shaft. It takes some 3 hours to make a theki.

Makawanpur Gadi: Last Resort Of Sen Dynasty

Archaeological sites proclaim the past history of the nation. There are many forts built at the strategic locations of the country by many rulers in various era to defend itself from the enemies.

Makawanpur Fort (alt. 1035 m.), which is about 15 km east from Hetauda, was built by Tula Sen during 17 century.

Chisapani Tar: Bird Hotspot

Hill forests have been rapidly deteriorating due to human settlements and agricultural activities. Slash-and-burn, the common practice of cultivation in hill areas, has not only the deleterious effect on the biodiversity but it also results soil erosion and landslide.

There are few forest patches in the remote hill areas of Chitwan which are still intact. Dense forest around the Chisapani Tar (1695 m.) that stretches from Upardang Gadi (1275 m.) to Siraichuli (1973 m.), the pristine habitat, is especially known for its rich bird diversity.

Gaur Attacked Guide

Homnath Lamichhane, 35, a nature guide, was attacked by Gaur (Bos gaurus) in Chitwan National Park on February 8, 2010. He was attacked by a male Gaur at the grassland of Marchauli area when he was returning from whole day jungle walk from tented camp area following the fireland.