NAWALPARASI: The Tharu Museum, located in Kawasoti-15, Nawalparasi (east of Bardaghat Susta) in Nawalpur, is becoming a prominent tourist attraction.
Inar Prasad Mahato, Chairman of the Museum Management Committee, shared that both domestic and international visitors come to explore the traditional materials and attire used by the indigenous Tharu and other local communities.
Situated near the Amaltari residence, the museum showcases a variety of items and costumes used by the Tharu, Bote, Majhi, and Musahar communities over the centuries.
Some of these traditional materials, which have since disappeared, are now preserved in the museum.
The collection includes costumes, jewelry, agricultural tools, and other items that reflect the unique art and culture of the Tharu people.
Among the displays are silver jewelry, money, wooden sandals, earthenware, dhakiya, gundri, and farming tools used for plowing and digging.
As the museum is located within the buffer zone of Chitwan National Park, it attracts tourists who visit the area for wildlife observation.
Chairman Mahato noted that the museum serves as a valuable resource for understanding the culture and traditions of the Tharu, Majhi, Musahar, and Bote communities.
The museum, which was established in 2066 BS through public donations, had long been neglected.
However, following the development of facilities in the area, increased tourist activity has brought new attention to the Tharu Museum.
While entry was free initially, a fee system was introduced six months ago—25 rupees for domestic visitors and 100 rupees for foreigners—to support the museum’s management.
This has also made it easier to track visitor numbers. Since the fee was implemented, approximately 4,000 tourists, both domestic and international, have visited the museum.
The museum’s collection was built with contributions from villagers, who were encouraged to donate unused items rather than discard them.
Some materials were also purchased, and others were crafted in-house, according to Mahato.
Comment