Mugling, a town in Chitwan, Bagmati Province, is located at the meeting place of the Marshyangdi and Trishuli rivers, and it provides as a vivid representation of the vibrancy of Nepal's past and present. Mugling was initially a peaceful fishing community, and its transformation is a tale linked with themes of determination, adaptability, and the people's undying spirit.
A Village Transformed
Before the 1970s, Mugling was little more than a quiet riverside village. Days passed in time with the water's natural flow as fishermen threw their nets into the rivers and kids played along the banks. But things were about to change. After the Prithvi Highway and the Madan Ashrit Highway, also called the Mugling-Narayanghat Highway, were built, Mugling was placed at the intersection of two important highways that connected Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, to the lowlands and beyond.
The village was revitalized by the roads, which turned it into a vibrant commercial center and a must-stop location for tired travellers. Bus loads of people arrived at all hours, the sound of their laughing and voices blending with the roar of motorbikes and trucks. The quantity and renown of Mugling's eateries, tea shops, and inns increased as they provided a warm meal, a place to relax, and a brief break. It quickly earned the nickname "the town that never slept," its vitality sending shockwaves down the highways and into the lives of hundreds of people.
The Shadows of War
The story of Mugling took an unexpected turn in 2005, during the height of Nepal’s Civil War. The conflict brought a cloud of fear and instability, and Mugling, once a symbol of vitality became a ghost town almost overnight. As violence escalated, crime surged, and the once-busy town saw empty streets and shuttered shops. Travellers avoided the area, and the river’s banks, once lively, fell silent.
To reestablish a semblance of peace, the government set up an army checkpoint within the marketplace, a visible reminder of the country’s unrest. Memories of the once-thriving town vanished during this time, leaving an enduring impression on Mugling.
Revival and Resilience
Today, Mugling is once again buzzing with life, a shining example of resilience within hardships. The town's stores, restaurants, and lodgings have reopened in instead of the checkpoints. Passengers still pause here for steamy bowls of dal bhat, glasses of spiced tea, and the return of pleasing street conversation. Market place humming, rivers running persistent, life going on, bringing with it the spirit of a community that has experienced wealth, peace, upheaval, and rebirth.
To the thousands who pass through every year, Mugling is a symbol, a place where resilience thrives at the crossroads of transformation. Its rivers flow steadily on, just as the people of Mugling do, adapting to every twist and turn of history. Today, the town stands as a proud intersection, not just of highways, but of heritage and hope, a reminder that, even in the face of adversity, life will find a way.
Picture Credit: English. Makalukhabar, The Kathmandu Post, Street Nepal
Compiled by: Anupa Chaudhary
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