‘Sokla Rock Climbing Festival -2080′ has been completed in Sokla village of Bhimeshwar municipality-2 of Dalekha. It was organized for the first time in the district on 18th and 19th of May 2023 in Sokla village, which is 8 km away from the headquarter Charikot, with the slogan ‘Search for media, promote adventure sports tourism’. Soklashwari Tourism Development Society organize rock climbing feasibility study, initial route construction and rock climbing trials. Under the leadership and technical support of the MoGAN, Nepali Mountain Guides Mogan president Sanjib Gurung, vice president Pasang Bhote and general secretary Ramkaji Tiwari’s team cleared and fixed the 3 climbing route. MoGAN constructed the climbing route (single pitch) from 11th to 14th May. Currently, 3 routes of 25 meters climbing have been constructed on Sokla’s Bhir.
Inaugurating the festival, Vice President of Nepal Tourism Board, Chandra Prasad Rijal said that since rock climbing is a part of adventure sports tourism, domestic and foreign tourists. Chief District Officer Komal Prasad Dhamala while giving a speech in the program said that Dolakha district is a major religious and tourism destination. He also believed that Bhimeshwar municipality itself has a religious tourist destination and rock climbing will become a new tourist destination.
Brifed by the festival, Ramkaji Tiwari ‘Prayas’, leader of technical team and general secretary of MOGAN, gave brief information about the history of rock climbing and this sport. According to him, rock climbing is a challenging and fun sport, which involves climbing rock formations or artificial climbing walls using hands, feet and special equipment. It requires strength, endurance, balance and mental concentration.
Deputy Chief of Bhimeshwar Municipality Kamala Basnet said that the rock climbing festival has added a new destination to this municipality and has expressed the commitment that the municipality will allocate the budget for further infrastructural development. Taralal Dharel, the first vice president of Rural Tourism Development Society (Vitof), said that one can enjoy rock climbing in Sokla Bhir and stay in Sokla village.
Arjun Pakhrin, president of Shoklashwari Tourism Development Society, said that rock climbing activities will be developed as an attractive adventure tourist destination for domestic and foreign tourists in Sokla region.