RAMPUR: Preparations are in full swing to operate a school dedicated to senior citizens in Ramghat, a scenic and religiously significant area on the banks of the Kaligandaki River in Rampur Municipality-5.
The school, targeted at individuals over 60 years of age, will be managed by the Laxminarayan Guthi Operation Committee with the support of Rampur Municipality.
According to the committee’s chairman, Buddhi Prakash Regmi, all necessary infrastructure has already been developed, and classes are expected to begin in the upcoming fiscal year.
“Ramghatdham is a religious and tourist destination, and many senior citizens are eager to spend time here. The municipality has already arranged transportation. This school won’t just help pass time—it will engage participants in religious and cultural activities throughout the day, promoting happiness and mental well-being,” said Regmi.
Mayor Raman Bahadur Thapa affirmed the municipality’s full support, noting that senior citizens from all 10 wards will be provided with transportation, meals, and accommodation during their time at the school.
“Elderly participants will be brought in at 10 a.m. and returned home after the evening aarti. The municipality will oversee all arrangements. Our goal is to create a joyful, enriching daily experience for them,” he said.
Classes at the senior citizen school will include religious education, psychosocial counseling, entertainment, and regular health check-ups.
Seven rooms have already been prepared to host classes, and a religious shelter has been arranged for those wishing to stay overnight.
As part of Rampur Municipality’s policy program for the upcoming fiscal year 2025/26, additional features will include a library with religious texts, intergenerational skill transfer activities, music classes, senior citizen recognition programs, midday meals, and daily health services to make the school more organized and effective.
Ramghatdham holds historical and religious significance as the site of Lord Ram’s Tapobhumi, where he is believed to have bathed during his travels.
Following the development of the Kaligandaki Corridor, the site has seen a growing influx of pilgrims and tourists from across the country.
The area has undergone significant upgrades in recent years, including road improvements and infrastructure development, guided by a ten-year tourism master plan.
The site hosts major religious festivals, such as Ram Nawami and Krishna Janmashtami, and is supported by two full-time priests who maintain daily worship at the temple.
Recent developments include the reconstruction of the historic Laxminarayan Temple, a 30-person dharamshala, a 300-person assembly hall, priest and Mahant residences, toilets, drinking water facilities, electricity, internet, a restaurant, a wedding and fasting pavilion, an entrance gate, gardens, and fruit orchards.
On the west side of the temple lies the Mahadev Garden, where Shaligram stones are enshrined on four decorative pillars. Construction of a Tridev Temple is also underway.
It will house 30 statues of sages and ancestors on the first floor, 30 deities on the second floor, and idols of Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwar, Ram, Laxman, Sita, and Radha Krishna on the third.
Future plans under the master plan include the construction of a forest banquet hall, Gurukul, wedding pavilion, Kotihome site, and an additional hall to further enhance Ramghat’s religious and cultural offerings.
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