Former President Dr Ram Baran Yadav on Wednesday called for developing Manahunkot at Byas municipality -5 in Tanahu district as a tourist destination given its historical significance.

Visiting this place which has dominance of Magar community, former President Yadav said, "The future of Manahunkot is bright. The local government ought to develop and promote this place more actively so as to attract as many as domestic and external tourists." Stating that the Visit Nepal 2020 campaign would be successful through preservation of cultures and religions, and promotion of touristic spots, the former President underscored the need to bring the backward communities into the mainstream.

On a different note, Yadav asserted that only mutual cooperation and collective efforts would further strengthen the nation and nationality.

On the occasion, Byas municipality-5’s ward chair Mohan Kumar Shrestha said his municipality was effortful to make the Visit Nepal 2020 campaign a success by attracting more and more tourists to Manahukot.

Mahanukot is dubbed as a natural view tower, for it offers a clear vista of Damauli market and verdant forests, lush green hills and other natural heritages in the surrounding.

Byas municipality has built a railing leading up to the Mahanukot hill in view of safety of the visitors. Former President Yadav also visited Byas-Parashar areas today itself.

It is believed that great sage Vedvyas, the writer of ‘Veda’, a consummate Hindu doctrine, and Parashar, father of Vedvyas, had meditated here in the Vedic ages.