Rural tourists visiting Jaljala rolpa are interested not only to observe the natural beauty but also to learn about Rolpa’s public life, language, culture and the villages that were affected during the People’s War. Lately, many rural tourists have been visiting the villages of Rolpa through guerrilla footpaths.
The first choice of a person visiting Rolpa is to reach Thawang village and Jaljala hill. Rolpa is a name in the local language. Rolpa is called the settlement of Uta in the Kham language. Due to the predominance of Kham-speakers, the word Wang is added after the name of the village of Rolpa, and most of the places. In Kham language, Wang means grass. Thawang is also a name in the Magarkham language. Thabang means up or down the hill. Rolpa district is considered to be the settlement area of 18 Magarat. From the Magar Kham language, Jaljala is called Gong. The district headquarters Liwang is also in Kham language. Li means abode and Wang means abode, which means abode.
Thawang is a village inhabited by the historical Kham caste. Thawang has now become a village. Thawang is currently divided into 1 and 2 wards. Traditional style houses with stone roofs 334 houses in the same village It is amazing to see a tourist village reaching Thawang for the first time. The village has been known as a communist fort since 2012.
There is Funtiwanga village near Thawang village. This village also came to prominence during the war. There are many ways to go to Thawang village nowadays. However, after boarding the vehicle from Ghorahi, one reaches Dahan through Holeri. After the Maoists entered the peace process, the Fifth Division of the People’s Liberation Army was stationed there.
You run from Dahawan to Nuwagaon. Nuwagaon is the first meeting place between the Royal Army and the Maoists. From this place the Maoists had started the construction of Martyrs’ Road during the war. After rising from Nuwagaun, you reach Tila Bazaar. A brigade of the Maoist army was also stationed at Tila. There is now an armed police force stationed there. From Tila, Thabang is a 134 km journey via Darbot, Korchawang, Ghartigaun Owang Duikholi, Kharibot of Kureli, Tutubazar of Mirul, and Cherwang.
It is an introduction to the collective decision-making system of Thawang village. Thawang has always been seen as a rebel because of his collective decision-making habits. In the tribal society, the society is considered greater than the individual. It is customary to treat the hero of the society with respect and follow him.
Most of the people of Thawang still implement the decisions made by the political leaders. In a 10-year armed insurgency, 28 people were killed in Thawang alone. Five women were also killed. Thirty-one people became disabled and 14 women became single. One is still missing. More human casualties were reported in the Thabang area.
In Jail Bang alone, 73 people lost their lives. On behalf of the state, 63 people were killed in the jail. Thirty-three people were killed in Mirul, a neighborhood of Thabang. Twenty-two people were killed during the war in Uwa, east of Thabang. The most densely populated villages of the Magar community were Thabang, Jailbang, Uwa and Mirul, which were directly affected by the war. The Magar Kham language, culture, way of life and manners are the same in those villages.
The seeds of communism were sown in Thawang in 2012 BS. The chief (king) named Krishna Jhankri ordered not to leave pigs and pigs in the village. They beat the window and even called Katuwal. However, the villagers did not obey the chief’s orders. The situation in the village has not changed. Then the chief began to beat the pigs, the wild boars with shotguns, khukuri and spears. No one dared to speak out. When the atrocities could not be tolerated, the youths including Berman Budha retaliated. The chief called the police from Pyuthan.
The case went on, Berman went to jail. Burman Budha was taken to Pyuthan Jail. Coincidentally, Burman Budha met Communist leader Mohan Bikram Singh in jail. Mohan Bikram taught him communism. After Berman returned to Thawang, communist politics began in Thawang. Chief Krishna Jhankri, who went to Pyuthan Jail after him, also returned to Thawang as a Communist Dikshit cadre. Mohan Bikram, who was later released from jail, reached Thawang and formed a committee and handed over the post of chief (king) in the name of Burman Budha.
For the rural tourists who reach Thawang, they do all these things with interest. Homestay is now in operation in Thawang. There is no problem for the rural tourists to stay in the village. Jaljala can be reached in a five-hour journey from Thawang via Chalawang and Tiriwang.
What is the height of Jaljala Rolpa?
Jaljala rolpa hill is located at an altitude of 3193 meters above sea level. Endangered white laliguras flowers are found in Jaljala hills. According to the legend, Vahrabhai Varaha was born in Dhaulagiri and it is believed that 22 Vahini Baju came to Jaljala hill from there. Therefore, after worshiping Kailu Varaha, it is customary to worship 22 Vahini Rani Vajyas. Not only Rolpali but also Jaljala is a religious place of Rapti people. There are three temples of Varaha here. They are called Kailu Varaha, Vaju Varaha, and Sahade Varaha. Every year on the day of Baisakh, Jestha and Janaipuni, a fair is held here.
The Jaljala rolpa hills are also home to rare birds and wildlife. Birds like Dafe, Munal, Kalij and Pura found here are welcoming the tourists with their voices. Similarly, wild animals such as squirrels, deer, deer, wolves and bears are also found in the water body. Dozens of herbs like Jatamasi, Padamchalna, Kesharning, which are considered to be rare in Jaljala hill, have increased the importance of the hill.
Jaljala rolpa hill has also been associated with Nepal’s politics in recent times. Nowadays, Jaljala hill is considered as the center of politics and sacrifice. A martyr’s memorial pillar has been erected on the top of Jaljala hill. It is still seen that the flag of Rata Hasiya Hatauda is fluttering on Jaljala rolpa hill. From Jaljala, one can enjoy not only the geography of Rolpa but also the Sisne Himal and innumerable lakes, valleys and natural beauty of Rukum district.
There are Jhankri Magar priests in Jaljala’s Jhankri Tempale i.e. Kailu Brahma temple . Other temples have Roka Magar priests. Radio Janagantantra 95.1 MHz, operated by the then CPN-Maoist in Jaljala, was broadcast underground from Jaljala for two years. Jaljala is a mountain with potential for natural, religious and war tourism.
Jaljala rolpa has become a center of attraction for new tourists as grasslands and swamps freeze water and shake the ground. For the past few years, the local community has been protecting Jaljala by closing the Charicharau. The endangered red panda has also been conserved in the area. Dozens of species of Gurans flowers, which transform into a natural flower garden from April to August, are reddish. Apart from Gurans, Sugandha Hangwa, Rathvirath, Patav, Vinjoriv, Dhaskini and other flowers bloom from Chait to Bhadau.
In Thabang, it is up to the locals and political parties to juggle art and culture. The land of the Magar caste begins in Thabang in the month of July. The Bhumya festival is celebrated by the Magar community to ensure that there is no obstruction, escape from natural calamities and good crops. This festival is celebrated not only in Rolpa’s Jailbang and Thabang but also in all the villages inhabited by the Magar castes.
It is customary to worship nature before the onset of rains. After performing traditional natural worship, the crocodiles dance and eat and drink. Those living abroad also return to the village during Bhumya Puja. Young and old, dressed in crocodile costumes, dance together all day long in various bajagaja, such as Damaha, Tempo, Dhol, Jharra, Sanai and Jhyali. Rolpa also shows dances like Bhumya, Nacharu, Singaru, Mayur and Tappa.
On the way to Jaljala rolpa, flowers, crocodiles, streams, mountains and green forests are different. Conflict relics, communes, guerrilla training camps, bunkers and conflict stories abound. A variety of flowers, birds, vegetation, flowing streams, high mountains and waterfalls delight rural tourists visiting the gorillas used by the guerrillas. From Jaljala, Sisne, Putha, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna mountain ranges can also be seen. Many of the rural tourists go for sightseeing and recreation. Rolpa’s tour includes many routes to observe mountains, forests, rivers, shades, rural settlements, wild animals and birds.
The guerrilla footpath is a newly identified footpath. This footpath covers Rolpa, Rukum, Baglung and Myagdi districts. Beni can be reached through Sulichaur, Jailbang, Okhreni, Dharmapani, Jaljala, Thabang, Gunam, Lukum, Taksera, Nisheldhor, Jaljala, Lamsum, Takam and Dharapani. Similarly, from Thabang, one can reach Dharamsala, Lawang, Rishalchaur, Patihalne Danda, Changchung, Veridada (Chunwang) and from Garigaon to Ghartigaun. Magar culture, biodiversity and natural beauty can be observed in guerrilla trekking. The trek overlooks vast fields, lush green forests, and lush green mountains. This mountain journey is considered not only natural but also culturally and socially interesting. Rolpa Rukum, once the epicenter of the conflict, is now expanding its tourism potential.
Ghorahi of Dang is 56 km to Tila of Nuwagau and Rukum is 177 km from Ghartigaun. The distance from Ghorahi to Ghartigaun Hudau Thawang is 134 km. Thabang can be reached from Liwang via Ghartigaun on a 74 km unpaved road. Another route is Sulichaur-Phuliwan, Ruiniwang and Thawang at a distance of 57 km. However, the road section connecting Ruinibang-Phuliwan to Thawang has not been constructed for 10 kilometers yet. The work of breaking the cliff of Sirkang is underway. If this road is ready, it will be a short distance for people coming from Butwal to reach Thawang and Jaljala rolpa.
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