For those looking to swap the city buzz for a quick dose of adventure in nature, here is something to look forward to. A zip line is coming up at Lamperi Park in Punakha. The Green Bhutan Corporation Limited, a state-owned enterprise, has partnered with Nola Zipline, a private firm, to develop the new recreational facility. They plan to open it to the public in April.
A zip line is a strong cable stretched from a higher point to a lower one, allowing a person to glide down safely using a harness and pulley.
With only a few zip lines currently available in the country, the corporation says the new installation at Lamperi Recreational Park will promote sustainable ecotourism while offering locals a nature-based adventure experience.
The upcoming 300-metre zip line at Lamperi Park will start from above the Lamperi Boating Pond and run down toward the children’s playground and camping ground.
Groundwork for the tree canopy platform has already started, and works are expected to be completed in the next three weeks.
The upcoming zipline also aims to provide tourists with a scenic stopover experience in nature.
“Lamperi is a good place between Thimphu and Punakha, where tourists always travel from Thimphu to Punakha. So, on the way, there is a good opportunity for them to stop and experience the zip line in nature, unlike other places,” said Karma Jigme Temphel, the CEO of the Green Bhutan Corporation Limited.
The CEO added that the project follows a public-private partnership model, aimed at encouraging more collaboration between state-owned enterprises and private companies.
“This is mainly to encourage private companies to come up and collaborate with the state-owned enterprise. Because they will have the skill, and they will also be promoting this innovation further. And in the long run, I think the private sector should take up this type of facility. So, this will be more sustainable, and they can also provide better facilities to the public.”
He also said that users will be charged a fee, as the activity involves risk and requires trained professionals to operate safely.
Meanwhile, the corporation is also exploring plans to replicate a similar facility at Isuna Recreational Park in Paro, particularly designed for children.
Devika Pradhan
