Bajhang. Now Khaptad is known as ‘Earth Heaven’. To know the spread of ‘Roop’ of Khaptad, we have to go back 77 years from today.

Khaptad Baba, who left the medical profession and entered Nepal for spiritual practice in 1986, reached ‘Bhu-Swarg’ in 2003 after spending 16 years in Kalinchok, Musikot and Chandannath.

On not getting any laborers to build the ashram, he returned to Lokhada (Khaptadchanna Rural Municipality-3 in Khaptad’s Bajhang’s Fedi) and with the help of the local people started doing penance by building a hut.

In the year 2006, Khaptad Baba met the then Bajhangi Raja Ramjung Bahadur Singh on the way when he was going to excavate the Abrakha mine in Khaptad.

According to Vishnu Bhakta Shastri, the knower of history, being influenced by Baba in the first meeting itself, King Ramjung promised to build an ashram in Khaptad. In the same year, an ashram was built at Khopatad and Khapatad Baba moved to Khopatad for spiritual practice.

Khaptad Baba spent 50 years doing spiritual practice in the Khaptad area, six months at Khaptad Lake and six months at Khaptadchanna. Khopatad Baba, who spent a long time in Khopatad, did not reveal his name.

Many called him ‘Shri 1008 Swami Paramhansa Parivrajakacharya Yogiraj Shrotriya Brahmanishtha Eastern Knowledge and Western Science, Expert Life-liberated Mahatma Satchidananda Saraswati’. The local people kept the short name of Khaptad Baba, ‘Khaptad Swami’ and came to be known everywhere by this name. Even today, Khopatad is gaining fame because of him.

Closeness of royal family to Khaptad Baba

In the month of Baisakh in the year 2038, the then king Birendra had set out on a helicopter journey to the far west. Khaptad Baba first welcomed the king who reached Khaptad via the Karnali river from Bajura’s Akash Marg. King Virendra, who reached Khaptad along with Queen Aishwarya, had a long discussion with Baba.

As described in the Shri Khaptad Baba epic written by Professor Shivgopal Risal, who is knowledgeable about Khaptad Baba, King Virendra used to visit Khaptad with his family and friends every year to meet Baba. When he was under some stress, when there was a serious situation in the country, then he used to come to Raja Virendra Khaptad Baba for advice.

After doing research on herbs in Khaptad and writing about one and a half dozen books including ‘Dharma Vigyan’, ‘Vichar Vigyan’, Khaptad became close to Baba and Raja Virendra, he also started going to Kathmandu.

According to Professor Risal, Raja Birendra had also built an ashram for Khaptad Baba at Budhanilkanth. Experts say that he was in Budanilkanth even a week before his death.

Historian Shastri says that on 27 Baisakh 2053, after falling ill in the ashram of Baba who had been doing sadhana for a long time in Khaptad, he died in the sky above the Kaligand river.

According to him, after Baba’s death and the destruction of Virendra’s dynasty, members of the royal family stopped coming to Khopatad. “When he was alive, the former king Virendra Khaptad used to come to Gangadshahr every year”, he said.

Before entering Swami Khaptad, that area was just a lake. Due to the dense forest, even the residents of the intermediate region did not visit Patan much. After Khaptad was married to Swami, Khaptad gained publicity for her beauty.

Tourists thronged after seeing the ‘high dignitary’

In June 2073, a team including former Crown Prince Paras Shah and former Chief Secretary Leelamani Paudyal visited Khopatad. Prior to that, when Madhav Kumar was the Prime Minister of Nepal, even then the jumbo team along with ministers and secretaries had reached Khopatad in Gangashahar fair by helicopter.

A team of 15-20 people, including Shitashma Shah, daughter of Dhirendra Shah himself, Prawanjung Singh (spiritual name: Yogi Vyaghra Vedanath), son of former police chief Hem Bahadur Singh, reached Khopatad along with former crown prince Paras Shah.

Vedanath reached Khaptad to do spiritual practice because of becoming ‘father’. At that time, due to inconvenience in Khopatad, he went to Khopatad by tying the necessary goods along with porters. Paras’ team spent a week at a guest house built by former King Birendra for high officials, while Podyal’s team returned within two days.

On 23 November 2007, the then Prime Minister (also the current Prime Minister) Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ visited Khopatad. Prime Minister Dahal, who had gone to monitor the Chamelia hydroelectric project in Darchula, reached Khopatad in a helicopter of the Nepalese Army. He returned after spending some time in Khaptad.

Therefore, after the arrival of high-ranking people, the number of tourists is increasing in Khopatad. According to Bhim Bahadur Khadka, executive director of the Khopatad Region Tourism Development and Management Committee, hundreds of domestic and 10-15 foreign tourists are joining every year after the visits of high-ranking people.

Heavy attendance at yoga camps

Last year when the yoga camp was organized for the first time in the Khopat area, the number of participants was huge. The camp named ‘Sundar Sudurpaschim Khaptad Yoga Meditation Camp 2079’ for Yoga Jagran lasted for three days. In which more than 150 yoga seekers participated.

A team comprising Nepal Army’s Shri No. 5 Bahini Adda Rajpur Barrack Dipayal, Khaptad Area Tourism Development and Management Committee and Doti Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chintamaninath Yogi and Yoga Guru Pushparaj Purush stayed in Khapatad for a week.

In Khaptad, Baba Vyaghra Vedanath used to come to Khaptad again and again for meditation. According to the Nepali Army in Khaptad, after Khaptad Baba, Vedanath is one of those people who came to Khaptad many times to do spiritual practice.

It is understood from the pilgrims that Baba who comes to Gangashahar fair stays for two or three days in Dharamshala.

Khaptad is considered the center of spirituality

Swami Ramdev is a world famous Indian yoga guru. Ramdev, who revolutionized yoga by teaching easy methods of Yogasana and Pranayama, is going to come to Khapotad after two weeks. The International Spiritual Conference to be held in Khapotad will continue for three days from June 23.

A program to give international recognition to Khaptad is to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Prachanda, which will be organized by Sudurpaschim Province and Khaptad Region Tourism Development and Management Committee.

Khadka informed that around 500 people will participate in the conference, including former prime ministers, government ministers, chief ministers of all provinces, ministers, top leaders of major political parties, Jagatguru Kripacharya, Acharya Balakrishna and others.

“After the inauguration of the conference, Yogi Ramdev will meditate and deliver lectures,” Khadka said.

Shivsin Oli, a member of the Sudurpaschim Provincial Assembly, said that through the conference, the spirituality and culture of Khaptad would be helped in spreading to the world including the neighboring country India. He said, ‘Even if it is only Indian tourists, if we can bring Khaptad, we hope to help the development of the Far West through tourism.’

According to the statistics of the Khopatad Region Tourism Development and Management Committee, 63 foreign tourists visited Khopatad in the current financial year, which is the highest in the last five years. Provincial Assembly member Oli said that an international spiritual conference is also necessary to increase this number.

Formation of the original organizing committee with the coordination of the Chief Minister

For the spiritual conference to be held from June 23-25, a 401-member core organizing committee has been formed under the coordination of Sudurpaschim Province Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah. The organizing committee includes federal parliamentarians representing the Far West, provincial government ministers, provincial assembly members, former provincial assembly members, security agencies, heads of all 88 local levels, representatives of the media, tourism, culture, arts and literature, and other prominent figures. organizations are included. Private Sector.

Under the provincial government, a preparation and management committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Khaptad Tourism Development and Management Committee, Harak Bahadur Singh, and 15 different sub-committees have been formed to make the conference a success.

Khaptad’s historicity

In ancient times, the sages who performed penance have described this area as ‘Khecharadi’ mountain. Legend has it that the name of Khechradi mountain gradually got corrupted and became Khaptad.

According to mythology, the Pandavas spent 14 years in the forest and spent some time in Khaptad. It is said that when Pandu’s son Bhima plowed the soil in Khaptad and made a thumka (jhoti) out of the soil.

According to mythology, the Pandavas spent 14 years in the forest and spent some time in Khaptad. It is said that when Pandu’s son Bhima plowed the soil in Khaptad and made a thumka (jhoti) out of the soil.

According to Gyan Bahadur Khadka, cultural expert of Khaptadchanna Rural Municipality-6, the Kedar stone in Khaptad is also said to have been brought by Bhima from Kedarnath in India in a gado (front part of a garment worn on the body). It is said that after the Kedar stone was placed at Triveni Patan, the source of water at that place burst.

According to Ghayalal, famous places in Khaptad like Sitapaila, Chintedhunga, Jethi Bahurani Dhunga, Nagdhunga, Sahastralinga, Khaptad Dah, Triveni, Damfekot, Balmela, Macthan, Suki Dah etc. have a different legend and the local people have been worshiping Shiva there.

Form of Khaptad Religious and tourism area, Khopatad is a naturally beautiful area. Tourists describe Khaptad as a unique gift of nature. The vast plains that are out of sight, the plains covered with white flowers in winter and the colorful flowers in spring give a partial introduction to Khaptad.

Those who feel the lush greenery in the rainy season and the white thick snow in winters remark that the Khotad described in the scriptures is no less than Amaravati. Different places of Khaptad have their own importance and mythology. Khaptad is also known as the confluence of ’22 Patans, 25 Maidanis and 52 Thumaks (Jhotis)’.

Situated at an altitude of 24-37 hundred meters above sea level, Khaptad is spread over an area of ​​225 square kilometers. The Nepal Army barracks were established in 2047, five years after the establishment of the national park (2042) to protect over 200 species of flowers and precious herbs as well as musk deer, wild boar, wildlife, and hundreds of . of birds.

What can be found in Khaptad?

Confluence of Bajhang, Bajura, Acham and Doti, Khaptad National Park represents the mid-mountain environment, flora and fauna.

Rare animals like green lizard, red frog, falcon, bear, wild boar, musk, leopard etc. are found in abundance in Khaptad. Looking at the figures, the forest area in Khopatad is 199.73 sq km, grassland 13.47 sq km, agricultural land 9 sq km and shrubland 2.8 sq km.

Trees and plants like Julesallo, Khasru, Pomel, Nigla, Bhojpatra, Guran, Ranisalo, Thigesallo, Louthsalla etc. are found in this area, while hundreds of herbs like Kalakoot, Panchaule, Neeramsi, Satuva, Vayujadi, Hatwajadi, Gandalano, etc. are found in this region. Are. Wild onions are found.

Rare animals like green lizard, red frog, falcon, bear, wild boar, musk, leopard etc. are found in abundance in Khaptad. Looking at the figures, the forest area in Khopatad is 199.73 sq km, grassland 13.47 sq km, agricultural land 9 sq km and shrubland 2.8 sq km.

Statistics show that there are 382 types of plants and herbs in Khaptad. These include 57 species of trees, 78 species of butane, 203 species of grasses, eight species of weeds and nineteen species of weeds. According to statistics, 287 species of birds, 23 species of mammals, 17 species of reptiles and 6 species of amphibians are found in the Khaptad area with 12 caves.

Gangashahar from Monday

Thousands of pilgrims visit Khaptad every year during the Gangadshahar fair which falls on Jyestha Shulakpaksha Dashami date. The number of pilgrims is expected to increase this year.

The Gangadashera fair has become the main attraction of Khaptad because it is a deep belief that bathing in Triveni on the day of Gangadashhar washes away sins, offering prayers to the ancestors leads to salvation and they go to heaven, and the wishes of the mind are fulfilled. it occurs.

Although the fair lasts for two days, in recent times Dussehra has been extended for a week as cultural programs and sports competitions take place in different districts. On the first day of Dussehra, the Deodale fair site remains buzzing.

Deepak Bahadur Khadka, general secretary of Doti Industry and Commerce Association, said that the men’s volleyball competition will be held from June 13 to 16, while the horse racing competition will be held on June 15 in the Khopat area. According to him, the Deuda competition will be held on the night of 16th.

The next day after taking a bath in the Triveni river, the pilgrims are mesmerized by the famous Hudke dance, Ranputla dance and other dances from the Far West.

Dussehra fair will be held in Khopatad on Tuesday where various programs will be held from Friday. Mohan Kalel, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Doti, said that this year the second edition of the high altitude marathon competition from Khaptad to the famous religious place Shaileshwari Temple will start from 6 am on 17th.

According to him, a distance of 42.5 kilometers (Khaptad-Doti Shaileshwari) has been fixed for the men’s marathon competition, while the women’s half marathon competition will be held from Jhigrana to Siliguri’s Shaileshwari temple on the same day.

Deepak Bahadur Khadka, general secretary of Doti Industry and Commerce Association, said that the men’s volleyball competition will be held from June 13 to 16, while the horse racing competition will be held on June 15 in the Khopat area. According to him, the Deuda competition will be held on the night of 16th.

Organized by Doti Industry and Commerce Association, Sudurpaschim Sports Council, the overall management of the competition will be done by Mr. No. 5 Bahini Adda, Mr. Bhairav ​​Prasad Gana Silagadi and Singh Shardul Gulam Khaptad Barrack.