Road Upgraded to Connect Todke Tourist Destination After 16 Years

Myagdi, Nepal – The road connecting Todke, one of Myagdi's major tourist destinations, via Wakhet of Beni Municipality-10, has been upgraded and paved. Located at an altitude of 2,430 meters above sea level on the border of Raghuganga Rural Municipality, Mangala Rural Municipality, and Beni Municipality, Todke has developed into a popular tourist destination known for its spectacular sunrise views, panoramic Himalayan scenery, rhododendron forests, and picturesque hill landscapes.

According to local officials, the section of the Patlekhet–Wakhet–Todke Road from Gahatechok through Wakhet to Ramjali Temple has been concreted and upgraded under a project implemented through the Local Infrastructure Development Program in Pokhara.

"After the road was paved, the travel time on the Gahatechok–Ramjali Temple section has been reduced from 20 minutes to just five minutes. It has made travel much easier for local residents and tourists visiting Todke."

Efforts are underway to secure funding from municipal, provincial, and federal governments to continue upgrading the road section from Ramjali Temple via Barahthan to Todke.

The contract for the Wakhet–Todke Road Upgrade Project was awarded on January 23, 2025 for NPR 23.62 million. The project involved upgrading 1.7 kilometers of roadway. Although the contract deadline extended until July 14, 2025, the construction company completed the work approximately two months ahead of schedule despite rising fuel and construction material costs. Technical inspections and final payment procedures are still pending.

The upgraded road, measuring 3.5 to 4 meters in width, has been fully concreted. Local officials noted that the road, which was originally opened in 2009 (2066 B.S.), has finally been paved after 16 years.

Local residents have welcomed the improvement. "Traveling on the narrow and unpaved road used to be difficult. Now the journey is shorter, safer, and much more comfortable," said a Wakhet resident.

Routes to Reach Todke

Todke can be reached through multiple routes, including:

• Wakhet (Beni Municipality-10)
• Jhin (Raghuganga Rural Municipality-5)
• Daduwa (Beni Municipality-5)
• Purnagaun and Kuhu-Bhirkatera (Mangala Rural Municipality-1)

Why Todke Is Special

One of Todke's greatest attractions is its panoramic view of numerous Himalayan peaks from a single location, including:

Visitors can enjoy yoga and meditation while facing the Himalayan range, explore rhododendron forests, and sample local dishes made from fresh radish, potatoes, and beans grown in the area.

Todke also holds religious significance. It is believed that many saints, including Swargadwari Mahaprabhu, performed meditation and spiritual practices there. The hilltop is home to Tapovan Shivalaya, a branch of the Swargadwari Ashram in Pyuthan, as well as Siddhathan. Historical artifacts at the site include sacred Shiva lingams, wooden sandals used by Mahaprabhu, and statues of Swargadwari saints and spiritual leaders.

Kathmandu–Terai/Madhesh Fast Track Progress: 47.56% Completed

Makwanpur, Nepal – The Kathmandu–Terai/Madhesh Expressway (Fast Track), Nepal's most ambitious and strategically significant infrastructure project, has achieved only 47.56% physical progress and 48.45% financial progress so far.

According to official sources, the project has already spent NPR 86.86 billion out of its revised budget of NPR 211.93 billion. The expressway stretches 70.977 kilometers and is being built according to Asian Highway Primary Class-A standards.

Tunnel Construction

The project includes tunnels at seven locations with total tunnel length of 10.979 km (combined two-way length: 21.958 km). Tunnel construction is underway at Devichaur, Sisautar, Chandrambhir, Mahadevdanda, and Mauribhir. Breakthroughs have already been completed at Dhedre and Lendanda.

• 6.4 km of tunnel excavation completed
• 4 km of tunnel lining work finished
• The longest tunnel, the 3.4-km Mahadevdanda Tunnel, is expected to achieve breakthrough within the current fiscal year
• Emergency cross-passages are being constructed every 300 meters

Bridge Construction

The expressway includes 89 bridge sites. Bridge construction is underway at 85 locations, with total two-way bridge length of 25.77 km. Substructures have been completed at 38 locations, and superstructures at 16 locations. Construction of four bridges in the Khokana section remains delayed because of land acquisition issues.

Road Construction & Expected Benefits

47.113 km of roadway has been completed, and 7 km of service lanes have been blacktopped. The project also includes three interchanges at Khokana, Budune, and Nijgadh; three toll plazas; and two service areas.

Once completed, the expressway is expected to reduce Kathmandu–Nijgadh travel time to about 1 hour and Hetauda–Kathmandu travel time to about 30 minutes. Although the original target was to complete the project by the end of the current fiscal year, unresolved disputes in the Khokana section have delayed work at the starting point of the expressway. Construction in other sections is expected to be largely completed by the time Khokana issues are resolved.

Global Post Headline — Nepal's trusted source for national news, infrastructure, and economy. globalpostheadline.com