FAM Trip Organised for the Students of Silver Mountain School of Hospitality Management, Lainchaur, Kathmandu.

A FAM Trip to Meghauli, Chitwan was organised from 4th to 7th March 2006 to the students of Silver Mountain School of Hospitality Management (SMSHM), Lainchaur, Kathmandu. This FAM Trip was organised to make the students familiar with the tourist destination, which can further help develop the capabilities of the students and human resources in the country in the future. These students are the backbone of Nepalese tourism industry. This kind of FAM Trip will not support the tourism entrepreneurs but also help the local community.

When talked about the Nepalese tourism there is one place never missed out and that is Chitwan. Why it became such a popular tourist destination? The answer is simple, because of the Nepal's biggest wildlife reserve, Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP) and its special feature the rare one horned Rhinos. The wildlife safari and elephant ride at RCNP is considered unforgettable for the dwellers as popular as any mountain activity in Nepal. But for last lew years, the flow of tourists to this jungle land has remarkably reduced and the reason has mainly been the country's political unrest and the low number of tourists in the country.

However, there are other potential tourist destinations within Chitwan as ideal as Sauraha but overlooked and one of such is Meghauli. Being only 25 km south-west from Narayanghat bazaar and closest to the RCNP all the activities that Sauraha provides to their guests can be received from Meghauli and even better due to its unspoilt vicinity and environment. Meghauli is a remarkable mid terai land situated in the lap of two important rivers of Nepal, Narayani and Rapti. Housing about 16200 populace, Meghauli has been settled by the ethnic groups Tharus for hundreds of years, beholding rich culture, nature and adventure at its best. The other inhabitants include Brahmins, Chetris, Kumals. Newars, Gunmgs, Tamang, Musahar, Magar, Damais, Sarkis, Kamis.

To achieve well-planned tourism with full effective strategy, people of Meghauli have stepped forward to develop the village as an ideal tourist destination with difference. When it comes to developing any new destination. Infrastructures and facilities in the area play a big role for its possibility. Rhino Resort. Meghauli is outside the bufferzone of RCNP built for the tourists with all modem facilities. The resort is spread in 160 ropanies of land with an absolute jungle environment where human and wild can live without disturbing one another.

"We are very aware that Meghauli can be developed as the next Sauraha but we don't want to be called an alternative destination to Sauraha. Meghauli should be made a different destination. This place is still intact from the modern encroachment and that is the best we can offer to the tourists. I also support the idea that any resort or hotel should be out of the national park not inside it. It should also be made vehicle free zone to stop deterioration and to preserve the actual essence of jungle environment," says Amar Mali, the managing director of Rhino Resort, Meghauli.

Other possibility of Meghauli is to develop it as an ideal bird watching destination. The survey shows that RCNP has almost 500 species of birds. "I am planning to link Meghauli with Koshi Tappu for bird watching after seeing a huge activity of birds in this region. To have a proper bird watching a peaceful environment is required which Meghauli has so that makes it even perfect" says Bijay Pradhan, an STN member and managing director of Dream Nepal Travels & Tours Pvt. Ltd.

The history of RCNP as a tourist destination is over 10 years, which is a long time but people of Chitwan doesn't seem to have benefited much from tourism as a whole. Meghauli, which is next to the buffer zone, is still in underdeveloped state lacking minimum infrastructure in the region including electricity. The major occupation of inhabitants has been farming but due to lack of irrigation no paddy can be grown. The farmers are merely depending on rainwater for maize and mustard farming.

Other than tourism there is also possibility of farming herbal crops in Meghauli. It is for sure that Meghauli has all that needs to develop it as a tourist destination. Awareness in locals is also satisfactory who have clearly understood that if promoted well, Meghauli could allure as many tourists as Sauraha but are desperately waiting for the peace in the country to prevail. At the same time they believe that until and unless Nepal has a satisfactory growth in tourist arrival, Meghauli cannot be exposed internationally despite all its integrity and potentials in terms of tourism.