Koshi-Bengal Tourism Festival 2082: Strengthening Nepal-India Ties in Birtamod
The upcoming Koshi-Bengal Cultural and Tourism Festival 2082 is set to become a major platform for cross-border cooperation between Nepal and India.
The event will take place in City Center Birtamod on Chaitra 24 and 25 (March 7 & 8, 2026) with the theme “Celebration of Cross-Border Culture, Heritage, and Tourism.”
The festival is promoted by the Tourism Office Kakarbhitta. Organizers say the event is designed to connect Eastern Nepal with West Bengal, India, through culture and trade.
Indira Shrestha, the coordinator of the organizing committee, stated that the festival aims to increase private sector involvement and put Koshi Province on the global tourism map.
Strengthening Regional Ties
The event will feature 30 stalls, including 18 from Nepal and 12 from West Bengal. These stalls will display local food, handmade crafts, and various tourism services.
Chhabi Khatiwada, head of the Kakarbhitta Tourism Office, noted that cultural dances and art exhibitions would be organized to make the event more engaging for visitors.
Tourism experts believe the festival will directly benefit districts like Jhapa, Ilam, and Panchthar. By using the Kakarbhitta-Siliguri border point, the festival aims to:
- Increase the number of tourists visiting the border region.
- Boost the local economy for hotels, homestays, and transport workers.
- Strengthen the cultural ties between the two neighboring regions.
- Develop long-term “Nepal-Bengal” joint tour packages.
A Strategic Investment
The program is part of the Koshi Province Tourism Year 2082 and has an estimated budget of 10 lakh rupees. Experts view this as a low-cost initiative that could provide high returns by branding the region and attracting private investment.
However, leaders in the tourism sector say one event is not enough. Binod Pandey, President of the Tourism Journalists Forum Jhapa, suggested that the government needs to improve infrastructure and make this an annual event to see a lasting impact.
If managed well, the Koshi-Bengal Cultural and Tourism Festival could serve as a successful model for tourism cooperation between Nepal and India, helping Eastern Nepal reach its full potential as a travel destination.
