UNITY JOURNAL Volume II, February 2021

Unifi cation Trails and Heritage Tourism Potential in Nepal

Dr Keshav Bashyal Dr Ishwari Bhattarai

Abstract development, basis for serving the daily livelihood and increase of income for the By the end of the eighteenth and early medium and small size entrepreneurs, twentieth century, Shah Kings of Nepal workers, and other disadvantaged groups succeeded in bringing together several located along these trails. small kingdoms under the Gorkha rule. King Prithvi Narayan Shah and his successors– Keywords: Unifi cation trail, heritage led Gorkhali troops fought wars and tourism, Nepal Army, tourism development, travelled through several routes and trails war memory across the Trans–Himalayas to expand the vast geography from Gorkha to Tista River Introduction in the east and Kangra fort in the west. In In recent years, there is a growing interest this background, this paper examines the in preserving, revitalizing and maintaining importance of the unifi cation trails, the routes historical trails and routes in many countries. used by Gorkhali troops, to unify neighboring Historical trails are valued due to their principalities that eventually developed into contributions to the establishment and modern Nepal. The unifi cation trails are less development of modern nation-states and explored issues in Nepal. In recent years, their integration. They are often considered they have become popular historical sites for the symbols of bravery with their unique trekkers, visitors, researchers and historians identities as sovereign people and independent to explore how Gorkhali soldiers skillfully nations. Historical trails are also important expanded the territory. This is a descriptive aspects in terms of natural and cultural and exploratory study based on historical landscape of any country. Throughout the facts and secondary resources. This paper history, trails have been important aspects concludes that the unifi cation trails have that have shaped human mobility patterns. In historical and contemporary relevance for the past, new trails were either constructed research as well as tourism potential. As one or the rulers used existing trails for strategic of the crucial forces to revitalize these trails, purpose to expand, protect and defend Nepali Army has constantly engaged with territories and unite people. Trails are also local people, and thus, promoting tourism used by people for a number of purposes, such activities. It off ers the local communities as sports activities, self-renewal, relaxation, the pathways of connection, avenues for wildlife observation, cultural artifacts, and

97 UNITY JOURNAL Volume II, February 2021 scenic purposes (Godtman, Fredman and along those trails and uplifting their living Wall-Reinius, 2017, p. 489). In contemporary standard. societies trails and ancient pathways have often been viewed as important sites for Heritage Trails and Public Memory research and educational purposes too. Making Trails are often classifi ed and managed Public engagement with the wars has been according to the type of activity as used or expressed through a strong ‘memory culture’ by their geographical location. Moore and which has burgeoned since the late 1980s and Ross (1998, p. 23) identifi ed fi ve categories has been intensifi ed by the passing of the ‘war of trails, traditional backcountry trails, generation’ in the late 2000s (Miles, 2017, recreational greenways (particularly located p. 441). The disappearance of ‘true’ living in urban areas), multiple-use recreation trails, memory – as in folk cultures – a constructed rails-trails and water trails. Timothy and form of memory exists in ‘sites of memory’ Boyd (2015, p. 18) have identifi ed trails in such as places (archives, museums and memorials), concepts (commemorations multiple settings, national parks, rainforest and rituals) and objects (property, tests walks, wilderness tracks and desert trails. and symbols) (Nora, 1989, pp. 77-84). The extend idea of natural trail that include Countries have built cemeteries, memorials wilderness tracks, ski and snowmobile trails, and fortifi cations that triggers for memory forest canopy walks, geology trails and long and it provide emotional focus through distance, multi-day trails. All trails in some commemorative rituals. These sites in recent way or the other refl ect a cultural expression years have been important for tourism and of some kind (Godtman, Fredman and Wall- pilgrimage and continue providing dynamic Reinius, 2017, p. 489). focus for ‘memory making’ (Iles, 2008, pp. In Nepal, most of the historical trails spread 162-163, Winter, 2009, p. 609). Heritage across vast geography along the hills and routes and trails in contemporary period are mountains and plains. These trails have quite useful in the development of tourism. been built and maintained manually since It stimulates local economy, helps diverse generations. In recent years, these trails visitors to spend money, which can contribute have received attention due to its historical to the economic opportunities in the rural importance as well as for promotion of tourist areas. In recent years there has been an activities. The unifi cation trails, particular enormous increase in the number of tourists focus of this study, utilizes secondary literature in diff erent routes catering for many diff erent and published sources, media accounts, along modes of travel, cars, bicycles and on foot. with existing conceptual literature in Asian In the European context, Germany has been and European context to understand the active in commemorating the Centenary and importance of historical trails. It then deals with time people’s attitudes to the wars are with the wars and heritage trails in Nepal and changing. There are anecdotal evidences the case of unifi cation trail and its importance that highlight that increasing numbers of in tourism in Nepal. It also highlights the role Germans have started to travel to the Western of Nepali Army in constructing, revitalizing Front. This is refl ected in the construction and maintaining those trails in promoting of’ Remembrance Trails’ tailored to the tourism, involvement of local communities German war narrative. The key aspect that

98 UNITY JOURNAL Volume II, February 2021 distinguishes Remembrance Trails from In Vietnam, the North Vietnamese in their others is that they have been devised with defeat of the Americans has often portrayed a tightly defi ned purpose, to stimulate the Ho Chi Minh Trail as one of the keys memory and foster a deeper appreciation of to success during the Vietnam War (Prados, the events of war. The Remembrance Trails 1998, p. 32). North Vietnamese soldiers stand out from other types of trails as they built and expanded the network of paths that encourage interaction with sites and people made up the trail and worked hard to gain that carry profound meaning and a narrative the support of the local population along the of suff ering and morality. In contrast this is way. A large number of sympathetic lowland not found in other types of routes such as Vietnamese peasant households were moved wine routes, or industrial and literary trails. to farm around the strategic entry points to People travel there not for the scenery but the trail (McElwee, 2005, p. 43). for the memory. These routes are utilized to further understanding and to elicit a deep Heritage Trails and Tourism Potential sense of respect for the past generations and In recent years, a growing body of literature the suff erings of those who fought (Miles, 2017, p. 448). deals with the importance of ancient trail and its role in tourism development potential and Trails guide the user between sites with a their role in heritage interpretation and the plurality of diff erent identities and meanings, environmental impacts of trail recreationists which include not only cemeteries and (Marschall, 2012, pp. 722-723). The ancient memorials but also constitutes important trails provide visitors and tourists a purposeful past ‘heritage’. For instance, the Canadian route with natural landscape and scenery. National Memorial at Vimy, France, is one of Some have indicated that trail visitors have the key sites on the Front trail with a vital diff erent characteristics from other tourists commemorative function (Ibid, 2017, p. who travel for leisurely activities. Compared 443). Nevertheless, it is visited in tandem to other tourism activities, most trail visitors with the preserved ‘battle-scape’ of shell pursue destination for natural environment craters, trenches and tunnels and the adjacent and landscape that would also support for Memorial Park where heritage is also nature conservation (Kollins and Kliot, 2000, presented as commemoration. Remembrance p. 55). Trails are thus ‘heritage trails’ with a deeper and more far-reaching function. Timothy and Similarly, scholars have also engaged with Boyd (2015, p. 422) categorized ‘heritage the issue of space/place in attachments not trails’ between organically evolved and only to physical tourist landscapes but also positive routes, a model that has been to the imaginary and symbolic spaces that adapted to the Western Front. Few modern frame tourism experiences Ancient trails are Remembrance Trails follow routes originally explored not only from the natural scenery used by the armies or supply columns of the point of view but also from humanistic war and most have been designed for an active perspective. This has multi-dimensional ‘remembrance tourism’ industry. Examples importance that ancient trails can off er visitors of organic routes that owe their existence to historical and ecological knowledge about wars are the Joff re and Ridge routes in Alsace the trail, as well as environmental education used to supply French forces in the Vosges purposes (Macleod, 2004, pp. 61-63). mountain region.

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One of the most prominent examples of of the Kingdom was shifted to Kathmandu heritage trail that attract a large number of in 1769 after it was successfully conquered visitors from all over the world is the Great by the Gorkhali troops in 1768. Although Wall of China. It consists of a series of walls primary credit for laying foundation of Nepal and fortifi cations of more than 13,000 miles as a modern nation state, is primarily given to in length located in Northern China. The the King Prithvi Narayan Shah, the Gorkhali emperors to prevent incursions from enemies troops supporting the unifi cation drive were a built the wall. Although Emperor Qin Shi diverse set of people from diff erent linguistic Huang conceived the Great Wall long ago in and ethnic background living around the third century B.C. most recent popular diff erent regions and strategic locations section of the Wall was built from 14th to along these unifi cation trails. Without their 17th centuries AD during Ming dynasty. In support the unifi cation drive would not have contemporary period the Great Wall is taken been possible. From a small and politically as a powerful symbol of Chinese civilization weak Gorkha Kingdom Prithvi Narayan Shah and its strength.1 created a history in the memory and minds of Nepali people to form modern Nepal. Unifi cation Trails in Nepal and Historical Events Associated with it The Key Locations of the Unifi cation Battles During the reign King Prithvi Narayan Shah who ascended to the throne of Gorkha There are several key locations where Kingdom on April 3, 1743, Nepal was divided Gorkhali troops traveled on foot in their into several principalities popularly known unifi cation drive across the eastern and as Baisi and Chaubisi rajyas in the east and western part of Nepal. In the early years of the west along with three powerful kingdoms unifi cation drive; Nuwakot was one of the key in the Kathmandu valley. Prithvi Narayan strategic locations located in the northwest of Shah initiated his unifi cation campaign with Kathmandu valley. Before Prithvi Narayan the Gorkha Army’s attack over Nuwakot, a Shah, his father king Narabhupal Shah had region between Kathmandu and Gorkha. also led a failed attempt to annex Nuwakot. After the successful takeover of Nuwakot, the Troops led by Prithvi Narayan also failed Gorkha troops led by Prithvi Narayan Shah to seize Nuwakot a couple of times. After fortifi ed positions around various key entry multiple unsuccessful attempts, the Gorkhali points surrounding the Kathmandu Valley. forces launched an attack from a strategic March towards Kathmandu Valley began by point at Mahamandal of Nuwakot. Another successful capture of Kirtipur. Thereafter, on group from Dharampani eventually capturing the day of Indra Jatra in the year 1768, when the the area also supported the Gorkhali troops. people of Kathmandu Valley were celebrating The third group of Gorkhali troops led the festival, Gorkhali troops marched towards by Prithvi Narayan Shah himself from Kathmandu and successfully annexed it to the Nuwakot Gadhi area marched further the Gorkha Kingdom. Within a few weeks, eventually capturing Nuwakot. This marks Gorkhali troops moved further and took the fi rst attempt of Prithvi Narayan Shah’s control of Patan and Bhaktapur. The capital drive to unify several small kingdoms in the erstwhile Kingdom of Gorkha. 1 https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-china/ great-wall-of-china

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Similarly, the success of annexing Nuwakot of the Shah dynasty. As stated above, the encouraged the Gorkhali troops towards Gorkhali troops marched several regions to annexing other kingdoms of Kathmandu annex neighboring principalities of Nuwakot, valley. Over the next few years, Gorkhali troops Dhading, Tanahun, Kirtipur and eventually occupied key strategic positions surrounding Kathmandu Valley. Prithvi Narayan Shah the Kathmandu Valley. The Gorkhali troops himself led Gorkhali troops and traveled from failed to capture the Kathmandu Valley twice. places including Dharampani, Barbandi, Gorkhali troops secured positions in Kirtipur Dhaturale and Kakani in his march to expand after their continuous eff orts for more than Gorkha kingdom. The main route starts from six months. They adopted strategies of seizes Gorkha Palace to Kathmandu that has been and blockades surrounding the Kathmandu envisioned to develop to promote heritage Valley. Gorkhali troops also marched to trail to attract tourists in the last couple of the southern region towards Makwanpur. years. Encircling the entire region, Gorkhali troops eventually captured Makwanpur fort (Gadhi). Successive generations of Shah Kings led After the successful capture of Makwanpur Gorkhali troops to many other routes to Gadhi, the Gorkhali troops marched towards unify Nepal. These routes also constitute Hariharpur Gadhi, a strategic fort located at important part of heritage trails in recent a mountain range, controlling access route, years, which have been largely neglected towards the south of Kathmandu. since many years. Nepal Army seems to be playing key role in developing these trails. Prithvi Narayan Shah led the unifi cation With the key initiatives from Nepal Army, campaign until his death in 1975. His many other historical routes and unifi cation descendants, the Shah Kings, continued the trails are in the process of development. One unifi cation force and succeeded extending of these trails is a 75 kilometers long trekking the Kingdom of Gorkha till Kangra fort in route from Makwanpur to Sindhuli, which the western region currently in the Himachal is being upgraded recently. The Sindhuli Pradesh of India. In the next few years fi erce fort marks important place in Nepali history battle occurred with the Sikh soldiers of where Gorkhali soldiers had successfully Punjab led by Ranjit Singh at Kangra fort, defeated the British troops marching Ganesh Valley, and the Gorkhali troops had further toward Kathmandu. According to an to retreat with a loss. In the year 1809, August offi cial of the Nepal Army, the Nepal Army 24, with a signing of peace treaty, Gorkhali has been playing a key role in upgrading, troops had to fall back to Sutluj River. The branding and popularizing these historical battle of Kangra was one of the last eff orts trails as “Unifi cation Trails” that connects of the unifi cation except for the annexation various other trail routes used during the of Palpa. time of King Prithvi Narayan Shah.2 The recent inauguration of the Unifi cation Trail Development and Promotion of Heritage Program by Nepal Army marks an important Trail Tourism and The Nepal Army 2 Anil Bhandari, https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork. Nepal Army carries an important legacy of com/news/75-km-trail-connecting-two-historic- the Gorkha soldiers who contributed to the forts-ready/#:~:text=The%20Hariharpur%20fort%20 unifi cation of Nepal under the leadership was%20built,time%20of%20Prithvi%20Narayan%20 Shah.

101 UNITY JOURNAL Volume II, February 2021 starting point in promoting historical tourism marched to the East and West of Gorkha potential in Nepal. Similarly, the “Military annexing diverse territories and regions. Civilian Landmark Project” of Nepal Army These sites and routes constitute interesting appears to be an important initiative for historical and cultural spaces with a potential the development of the unifi cation trails tourism activity. It can also constitute an connecting the Mahabharat ranges linking adventure tourism activity in the Nepali the stories of local communities along the Himalayas. It can also successfully integrate trails who contributed in unifi cation drive led with diff erent forms of other tourism activities by the Shah Kings. such as cultural tourism, heritage tourism, religious or pilgrimage purpose, rural or Involvement of Nepal Tourism Board village tourism, ecotourism, and promotion (NTB) in promotion of touristic activities of homestays. It can successfully integrate in these heritage trails will be important. with nature-based tourism and local culture. NTB in coordination with various other As Novelli (2005, p. 53) suggests contributes private sectors can play an important role to the development of niche products to a in taking ownership and promotion of these wider structural process of diversifi cation that historical trails. The initiative taken by the tourism industry seeks to explore and capture NTB for a feasibility study, trail development new markets. It can successfully integrate and promotional plans is an important active and passive visitors, experiential and beginning. The promotional drives organized adventurous, creative and intellectuals etc. by the Nepal Army in diff erent historical locations in places Panauti, Gorakhnath, Another important aspect of heritage trail Sharadakot, Kavrekot and Dhulikhel can tourism is to involve local communities, become important means to connect with which potentially contribute in uplifting local communities and outsiders. In recent their life and living standard by increasing years, Nepal Army has been organizing disposable income. Studies have indicated various programs and activities organized by that there is a signifi cant economic benefi t of Nepal Army for trekkers and visitors. These heritage trails in uplifting the lives of the local programs aim to inform about ancient forts, people. For instance, the Tamang Heritage display of warfare equipment and uniforms Trail is one such project in the Himalayan used by Gorkhali Army, its warfare methods. region in Rasuwa, near to the Langtang It will help to promote unifi cation trail trekking destination (Kunwar and Pandey, tourism and inform visitors about the memory 2016, p. 2). Heritage trail concept is therefore of of place and people and contribute in the not new to Nepal as it has been introduced development and promotion of the heritage in several other touristic destinations. It is trail tourism in Nepal. important to recognize interdependence in tangible and intangible heritages in Involving Local Communities, Boosting which people attach their memory, cultural Local Economy knowledge and performances. The memory, Gorkhali troops in the battles and events cultural knowledge and performances are associated with the unifi cation drive were grounded and embedded in both tangible composed of and were supported by various and intangible heritages. While intangible diverse communities. The Gorkhali troops heritages are related to evoking the spiritual and symbolic aspects of sites or places, on the

102 UNITY JOURNAL Volume II, February 2021 other hand tangible heritages are linked with in nation building. Gorkhali troops utilized the symbolic foundations in which intangible diverse resources, strategic locations, qualities exist (Park, 2014, p. 17). and forts crisscrossing diverse geography encountering social groups across the current Heritage trails can be also successfully territory of Nepal and beyond which can integrated with nature-based adventure constitute the unifi cation trail. The recent tourism. Adventure tourism is often viewed idea of discovering the unifi cation trails and as a commercial activity “categorized by promotion of tourism activities by Nepal the deliberate seeking of risk and danger” Army by developing historical routes, trails (Hall, 1992, p. 142). Adventure tourism is “a and forts used by Gorkha troops is potential broad spectrum of outdoor touristic activities, to open new opportunities and avenues for often commercialized and involving an unifi cation trails tourism in Nepal. These interaction with natural environment away trails and routes although closely related with from the participant’s home range containing wars and battles in the late 18th and early element of risk, in which the outcome is decade of 19th century, are also rich mix of infl uenced by the participant, setting, and social, cultural and environmental resources. management of the touristic experience” These trails and routes can cater and meet (Hall 1992, p. 143). Tourism generally the diverse interest of historians, potential involves three sets of actors, the tourists, tourists and learners. the locals, and the intermediaries including government institutions, travel agents and Apart from limited historical accounts, there tourism promotion boards. Developing appears a dearth of literature and need for tourism sectors in new areas with the lack a greater level of engagement and research of established fl ows is likely to be diffi cult to unearth, wide range of memories to and needs some strategies in marketing and contribute to the understanding of historical popularizing it to the outer world. This is trails, routes and its tourism potential. Nepal especially important in Nepal where Nepal’s Army has carried out the history and legacy of geography has limited touristic patterns, and the Gorkha troops can potentially contribute less income from adventure tourism. Once in the systematic investigation and research touristic activities are popularized in new by adopting qualitative and quantitative routes with the development and promotion methods to understand the experiences of of trails, it benefi ts local communities in wide range of local people, stakeholders terms of increasing income and promotion as much as possible. The tourism potential and utilization of local resources. these unifi cation trails provide would not only be limited on the ground but also in the Conclusion national memory, which has greater tangible The unifi cation trails in Nepal have great and intangible value in contributing and historical and contemporary importance for real unity in Nepal. It also off ers the local research as well as tourism potential. Until communities the pathways of connection, recently, it appears that these trails were avenues for development, basis for serving largely neglected. Diverse communities the daily livelihood and increase of income and local people along the unifi cation trails for the medium and small size entrepreneurs, constitute important cultural mosaic that workers, and other disadvantaged groups supported the Gorkhali troops and contributed located along these trails.

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