Lhakpa Quendren

Gelephu—Within just one year of its opening, YD Aqua Park in Samtenling, Sarpang, has rapidly established itself as a popular destination for locals looking to enjoy water-based leisure activities on weekends and during vacations.

At least 150 visitors frequent YD Aqua Park every weekend, with some travelling from neighbouring dzongkhags and as far as Thimphu.

The park generates average monthly revenue of Nu 326,000, with last weekend alone bringing in Nu 116,000, plus an additional Nu 50,000 on Blessed Rainy Day.

Yeshi Dorji, a former army officer and the park’s developer, noted that the number of visitors fluctuates based on public holidays within the month.

He anticipates an increase in visitors during the winter vacation.

However, he mentioned challenges in accommodating families with two or three children on weekdays due to high power costs: “I have to pay over Nu 5,000 in monthly electricity bills.”

Entry fees at YD Aqua Park range from Nu 200 to Nu 400 per person, based on age and height, providing access for the entire day from 9am to 5pm, with an extension until 6pm during the summer months.

The park commenced operations in November 2023.

Despite its increasing popularity, Yeshi Dorji believes that it has not yet reached its full potential. Tourists from nearby Indian towns are unable to visit the park due to restrictions beyond the Aipoli stream along the Gelephu-Sarpang highway.

Starting in March of next year, he faces equated monthly installments of Nu 450,000, raising concerns about whether his monthly income can support these repayments. “I even receive phone calls from Indian enthusiasts in neighbouring towns asking if they can visit the park,” he said.

As he prioritises customer satisfaction and sustainable operations, Yeshi Dorji is determined to avoid any complaints: “I can’t afford to lose my customers.”

Customers express satisfaction with the park, and there have been no complaints thus far. The water park maintains a strict cleaning regimen to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

Each night around 9pm, Yeshi Dorji adds chlorine and an algaecide to the water, which help eliminate impurities and bring dirt to the surface by the following morning. He also employs a water vacuum to efficiently remove any remaining debris.

The Water Park

Located about five kilometres from Gelephu town, YD Aqua Park spans two acres and 50 decimals of land, with a total investment of Nu 50 million, which includes a loan of Nu 40 million. An additional Nu 8 million worth of construction work is still in progress.

The park offers a variety of attractions suitable for all ages, including an adult swimming pool, a children’s pool with slides, a tower slide pool, a mini pool with fiberglass slides, and a tourist-standard restaurant.

The kids’ pool, specifically designed for children aged five and under, includes three slides and is filled with shallow water for safety. The mini pool, which has six slides standing 12 feet tall, holds 56,000 litres of water and measures 83 feet by 100 feet, making it an enjoyable space for visitors of all ages.

Adjacent to the mini pool, YD Aqua Park features an adult swimming pool that measures 25 feet in length and 19 feet in width, with a depth of 6.5 metres.

Tower slides pool for adults

The park also has a five-storey tower slide for adults, which includes two slides, each 65 feet long, emptying into a spacious pool measuring 65 by 85 feet. This pool has a capacity of 48,000 litres, with a depth of 2.5 metres at the slide entry and 1.5 metres at the opposite end.

Plans are underway to add three additional slides, including two snake slides.

To ensure water safety and clarity, the park employs a filtration system that continuously recycles and cleans the water through a network of tanks and pumps.

Visitors can also enjoy a rain dance canopy with music setups and an open-air theatre for live performances. The park features five canopies, each equipped with four sun lounge chairs.

The two-storey restaurant, designed to meet tourist standards, includes an open-air top floor and is equipped with modern amenities such as air conditioning and fans. It is scheduled to open today.

A wall topped with barbed wire and covered with CGI sheets minimises dust. The area is fully tiled, with plans to install water-resistant rubber mats along the paths and metal railings for safety on the tower slides.

Additional facilities include a medical room for first aid services, a ticketing area, and changing rooms with attached washrooms for both males and females.

A dedicated children’s play area will feature giraffe and elephant slides, as well as a rotating play structure. Streetlights and a lighting system will also be installed to allow visitors to enjoy the park during evenings and nighttime.

“At a time when we are running short of spaces to relax and enjoy, such developments are welcome,” a parent said.