MYAGDI: Road upgrading has commenced to connect three significant religious sites—Galeshwor, Pulashram (Pachai), and Jagannath—in Beni Municipality of Myagdi district.
Galeshwor serves as the gateway to Muktinath, a revered pilgrimage destination for both Hindus and Buddhists. Pulashram, also known as Pachai, is believed to be the birthplace of Ravana from the Hindu epic Ramayana, and a place where sages once meditated and gained spiritual knowledge. Jagannath is home to a Shikhar-style (peak-style) temple built by the former King of Parbat, Dilip Bam Malla.
According to Chakra KC, Chairperson of Beni-9, the road is being upgraded by the Gandaki Provincial Government to facilitate pilgrims traveling to Mustang via Myagdi and to encourage longer stays while also benefiting local residents.
“There are plans to widen the Beni–Jomsom–Korala section at Galeshwor, improve its gradient and curvature, and construct retaining walls, drainage, and slopes,” he said. “Currently, work is focused on the Galeshwor–Kaulegauda section, and we are lobbying the provincial government to allocate funds for the remaining stretch.”
The Gandaki Province government has allocated a budget of Rs 35.998 million for the project. The construction contract, worth Rs 22.346 million, has been awarded to BBPL BS DS Dhaulagiri.
Bishnu Poudel, head of the Infrastructure Development Office, stated that the project includes upgrading 300 meters of slopes and laying 1,700 meters of gravel along the road in Beni-9.
Work began last month, with dozers already deployed in the Kaulegauda–Kosepani section to widen the road. Upon completion, residents of Beni-9 and 10, and wards 5, 6, and 8 of Raghuganga Rural Municipality, are expected to benefit directly from improved access.
Previously, Beni Municipality upgraded around two kilometers of road in the Galeshwor–Kaulegauda area. Late Gandaki Provincial Assembly member Bimala Gauchan had originally proposed connecting Galeshwor, Pulashram, and Jagannath through a multi-year project contract.
Meanwhile, various stretches of the Beni–Pakhapani road—from Neptechaur to Kaulegauda and from Kirakhor to Tinmane—have already been widened with support from the provincial government.
Additionally, a four-kilometer road linking Kirakhor (Beni-9) to Toripani via Neptechaur is being upgraded under the same Beni–Pakhapani road project. This effort is funded by a Rs 200 million budget secured last year.
During Resham Bahadur Jugjali’s tenure as Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development and Transport Management in Gandaki Province, the government committed Rs 40 million and arranged resources worth Rs 200 million for upgrading the Beni–Pakhapani road.
Furthermore, Beni Municipality has upgraded the Beni–Kirakhor section and launched a new road project connecting Jhin of Raghuganga via Githini–Patlekhet through the Ward No. 9 office under the broader Beni–Pakhapani road initiative.
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