By Rup Narayan Dhakal : Pokhara—Three famous Buddhist monasteries from touristy town Pokhara are reeling under high threat of landslips in mid Nepal. The recent landslips caused by incessant rainfall have been threatening the existence of those monasteries which are popular from religious and touristic point of views.
The Baidam Tamang Monastery at Khahari of Lakeside, the Karma Dubgyud Chhoekhorling Manang Monastery at Matepani and World Peace Pagoda across the Phewa Lake are facing major threat of landslips, informed concern authorities.
The toilet and retaining wall of Tamang Monastery were swept away by the landslides and flood of July 1, 2017. According to construction committee coordinator Jack Tamang, the committee has drawn the attention of Pokhara Lekhnath Metropolitan City Office Mayor Man Bahadur GC including other government officials about the threat of landslides. The monastery was built by Tamang Society for tourist attraction point of view. The 28 ft. high Buddha statue including the whole project was undergoing over the budget of 7 million rupees.
Similarly, the recent rainfall and landslips have left the threat to the Matepani Gumba spoiling the stone steps (way) to the monastery from the base camp. According to Monastery Committee secretary Purna Bhujel, some 120 students have been studying Buddha and lama education in the monastery. The landslips were the cause of newly constructing roads that is being haphazardly built through the monastery gate.
Another popular World Peace Pagoda’s front yard also was crumbled by the landslides happned on August 24, 2014. According to fund collection committee then coordinator Ganesh Bahadur Bhattarai, some of the conservation tasks have been carried out but lots of works are due to complete whole construction drive around the pagoda. The pagoda with 115 feet height and 340 feet circumference was built some 19 years ago with fund collected from Japan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and Burma.
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