Monday, November 15, 2010

Gupteswor cave, major attraction of Kusma.

The old name of this cave is 'BhaluDulo'. Around 1940, a few local men saw a very strange place, covered by debris and grasses near the Kaligandaki river. Many people were curious about it, and they cleared the outermost part of debris and grasses, and then entered into the cave. They found an unbelievable (to them), strange dark area full of various statues and portraits of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. A very strange sound of a waterfall inside the cave, the statue of Pandava in rocks, Mahadev and Parvati, Saraswati, Nageswor and other goddess statues are interesting to see. It is considered to be one of the longest caves in Nepal.

Most of the inside the cave is made up of deposition of calcium carbonate dissolved from surrounding limestone, with ground water which is a general concept of forming most of the cave. All statues and all portraits which can be seen inside the cave are natural. "Chaite Dashain" and "Mahashivaratri" are the most important days to visit the Gupteswar Cave for the Hindu prayers. Many species of bats inside the cave are also an attraction for visitors. It is located 15 minutes walking distance from the Kusma city, about 55 kilometres from the Pokhara city and 17 kilometres from the Baglung city.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

About Kusma

Kusma is the headquarter of Parbat District, one of a district among 75 districts in Nepal, which lies in the western part of Nepal just about 57 Km away from one of a famous city of Nepal, Pokhara.Kusma falls under Western Development Region and Dhawalagiri Zone of Nepal.It is located at 28°13'60N 83°40'60E at an altitude of 1294 meters.Kusma belongs to Shiwalaya Village Development Committee (VDC) while being in under consideration of the proposal to be recognized as Municipality. Kusma Bazaar is the main attraction of Kusma which seats in the inclined narrow strip on the top of two river's banks, Kaligandaki and Modi.



It begins from the base of Durlung hill from where it stretches to Chamarke toward Baglung in the North West and to Chuwa VDC towards Pokhara in the Eastern North. Kusma bazaar's long narrow strip ends towards the South where two rivers Kaligandaki from Northwestern side and Modi from North Eastern side meet each other.
From the time of horse and mule transportation Kusma has been an en route between Pokhara and Baglung. Settlers and shoppers had started to exist in this area from that time while the local farm owners were settling there long before. The ancient time of the area seems been spent in agriculture and local trade. As the new settlers and local tardies arrived to use this en route spot for their business slowly the township has been grown to a rural urbanization. After it's been declared the headquarter of Parbat district the business and settlements in this tiny land has been increased to huge numbers. Recently constructed the highest suspension bridge in the country has been a pride of every Kushmely people which links Pipaltari VDC and the Western side of Kushma Bazaar. Kushma is also known in the country as the home of mysterious Gupteswor cave.

Transportation Kushma Bazaar is linked with the national road network by Pokhara Baglung Highway. Buses are the main way of transportation in Kushma. Some small size automobiles and jeeps are used as of cab services within Kushma Bazar area and some nearby locations. Motorbikes are popular among young Kushmely roadies. Number of private cars in Kushma has bloomed in recent years. The Balewa airport at Balewa of Baglung district which is just next to Kushma across the Kaligandaki river was closed as the road transportation became popular and cheap. Now re-opening of the airport is under consideration.

The Tallest Suspension Bridge joining many VDC's of Parbat to Kusma.