BHAKTAPUR: Historical Ranikotgadhi, Ghyampedanda located at Suryabinayak Municipality wards 7 and 8 has become a point of attraction for domestic and foreign tourists.

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has also declared the area as a tourism hub. Tourism entrepreneurs are also elated with the emergence of Ranikotgahdi as an important tourism hotspot after popular destinations, Nagarkot and Dhulikhel.

Trend of operating new hotels is on the rise in the area which also indicates booming of tourism service industry in and around the historical site. In this course, ‘The Grand Gundu Resort’, which is under construction at the cost of Rs 370 million at Suryabinayak municipality-7, Ghyampedanda, was inaugurated on Monday. On the occasion, former Industry Minister Mahesh Basnet said tourism entrepreneurs are excited to have Ranikotgadhi enlisted in the government-declared tourism sites.

The construction of two roads, one from Suryabinayak to Gundu and another from Suryabinayak to Ganesh Temple, have been already completed, he said, adding, “We will complete blacktopping of all roads in coming two years”. Basnet also called for entrepreneurs to flow their investment in the area without any hesitation. Chyampedanda, Ranikot, Bokachagadhi and Anantalingeswor, among others have become attraction for tourists as one can enjoy panoramic view of nine Himalayan series and Kathmandu Valley from the site.

The area now has seen the operation of paragliding, bungee jump station and jeep line as well as the construction of trekking route and Shiva route. Bigyan Rai, Chairperson, The Grand Gundu, shared that 18 entrepreneurs are jointly venturing to open a well-equipped hotel at Suryabinayak at the cost of Rs 380 million. He further informed that the construction works of the hotel will be completed in next two years.