Kathmandu, 18 August 2024. For the first time, electricity from the national transmission grid has reached Gosaikunda, a famous pilgrimage site in Rasuwa. The Nepal Electricity Authority has delivered electricity from the grid to Gosaikunda, which is 4,380 meters above sea level, on Friday. Gosaikund area has become shimmering after reaching light.
On the eve of the Janaipurnima fair, the electricity of the national transmission line was delivered to Gosaikund, a religious and tourist destination. Until now, the tourism businessmen of Gosaikund area and some places on the footpath leading to it were using electricity from solar energy.
Kulman Ghising, managing director of the authority, said that electricity from the national transmission line was brought to Gosaikunda as part of the campaign to light up the religious and tourist areas. Managing Director Ghising said, ‘When I started working in the authority, I had brought electricity to Swargadhari, a religious and tourist place in Pyuthan, now in the final journey of complete electrification under the campaign to fully illuminate the country, Susta, Gosaikund, Annapurna base camp, Upper Mustang, monasteries, mosques, temples in various places. We are delivering electricity from the national grid to religious, touristic and historical areas.’
The national grid had already reached Chandanbari on the road from Rasuwa’s headquarter to Gosaikund. About 8 km from Chandanbari, 11 KV line has been taken to Gosaikund through Langtang National Park area. For this, 200 poles have been placed in coordination with the park. Poles, transformers and other equipment were transported by men and carts.
A distribution transformer of 15 kVA capacity has been installed for power supply in Gosaikunda. As soon as the weather improves after the rainy season, a 50 kV transformer will be installed. Sanjiv Bhattarai, head of Dhunche distribution center, said that power supply was provided by keeping transformers of 15-15 KVA capacity in Buddha Mandir and Gusaikund as they could not transport large capacity transformers due to rain.
Bhattarai said that 50-50 kVA distribution transformers will be installed at Jolangpati, Lauribina and Buddha Mandir on the way to Gosaikund. Some hotels are operating in Jolangpati and Lauribina. Camps are being built in that area targeting the passengers of the fair.
A contract was signed in October last year to supply electricity to Gosaikund. The estimated cost of the work is around Rs 3 crore.
