KHOTANG: A park featuring a full-length 110-foot-tall statue of King Yalambar, the first Kirat king, has been completed in Buipa, Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality-14.
The Yalambar Park has been constructed on 30 ropanis of government land at Panchadobato in Buipa.
The Koshi Province government funded 70 percent of the project, while the remaining 30 percent was covered by Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality.
Constructed by Uma-Tuwachung-Ansubi JV, the project cost around Rs 140 million. The statue is made of fiber and is one of the main attractions of the park.
According to Ward Chairman Dinesh Rai, the park, which charges an entry fee for both domestic and international visitors, includes various modern amenities.
These include walking trails, iron-framed benches, free Wi-Fi, and coffee and fast food stalls.
“We’ve incorporated all the facilities found in modern recreational parks. The massive Yalambar statue stands at the center, surrounded by a secure fence,” he said.
“Built using modern technology, the park has become a major attraction. We expect it to contribute significantly to the municipality’s internal revenue.”
Located in the area where a weekly ‘hatiya’ (market fair) takes place every Friday, the Yalambar statue is claimed to be the tallest and largest of its kind in the world.
Deputy Mayor Bishan Rai said the park was developed to preserve the historical legacy of the Kirat community and to promote tourism.
“The provincial and municipal governments prioritized the Yalambar Park project. We believe it will boost tourism not only for our municipality but for the entire province,” he added.
According to the agreement, 60 percent of the park’s revenue will go to the municipality and 40 percent to the provincial government.
However, despite the completion of the construction work over a month ago, the contractor has yet to receive the full payment.
Sunil Rai, manager of Tuwachung Construction Pvt. Ltd., said the handover was scheduled for April 10, but the municipality has not paid the outstanding dues.
“We were preparing to officially inaugurate the park on May 17, but about Rs 30 million is still pending. As a result, our preparations were stalled, even after planning to invite Koshi Province Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki for the inauguration,” he said.
In response, Mayor Tirtharaj Bhattarai stated that while the municipality has already paid its share, the provincial government has not released its allocated Rs 39 million.
“There is little hope of receiving the budget within this fiscal year. Once the funds are disbursed, we will immediately settle the remaining payments and open the park for public use,” he said.
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