Tourists always search and research for pleasant tourist destinations. The selection of good and interesting area is the primary work of tourists. How to decide for spending holidays in a particular country or village is a plan for visitation. For mountain and country loving people, visitors of the world have to visit once Alleghany County for its beautiful mountains, nature and people. After passing through the mountains, visitor's next step is to visit from mountain to Giant Mountain and Himalaya - Mt. Everest - the top of the world, Nepal and enjoy the uniqueness of Nepal's Tourism Village.

Clifton Forge chartered in 1906 is a micro town located at Alleghany County, Virginia. The town held the 1700's history of land grant to a Robert Gallaspy by Lord Botetourt; the Governor of Virginia is a peaceful and green destination. In 1826 Mr. William Lyle Alexander owned a forge that was named as Clifton Forge in honor of his father. It is a Municipal Corporation as well as a Political Subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Historically, the ownership of the town land changed from person to person. Later human settlement increased along with the riverside beauty of Jackson River from Slaughter Pen hollow to Smith Creek. The establishment of iron industry commercially focused in Alleghany County and road construction served by three major highways Interstate 64, U. S. 60 and U. S. 220 highlight Clifton Forge and opened the door to domestic and international visitors.

The Clifton Forge town has a good railway heritage history carried the first passenger train event in 1857. It gradually developed the railway industry and center for maintenance facility for steam locomotives of C&O Railroad. Employment was created to about 2,000 people because of the development of railway. The local people are facilitated by passenger train twice a week for east and west passenger service by reservation system in advance.

The town along with Covington and Alleghany County follows Alleghany Highlands - Virginia's Western gateway. Nestled at the southern tip of the Shenandoah Valley, the Alleghany Mountains attract tourists.

Clifton Forge town consists of different attractions such as Douthat State Park, Lake Moomaw and the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Douthat State Park is about 7 miles far distance from downtown Clifton Forge, which is the place for recreational activities like camping, canoeing, boating and fishing. The visitor who come to enjoy the park are adventure headed and multi faceted purposes in recreation. The fish hooked by fishing recreation will be a delicious dish for visitors.

The cabins managed at green forest environment are enjoyable to visitors on the way of Douthat State Park. The visitors can halt night if they want to stay at the forest environment.

Besides, the Alleghany Highlands Arts and Crafts Center located in downtown Clifton Forge exhibits local arts and artful skills of the people. There are colleges like Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, Washington & Lee University, Southern colleges and Roanoke College.

Comparatively speaking, the general outlook of Clifton Forge is naturally experienced as Suryabinayak of Bhaktapur, Nepal.

Geographically, Clifton Forge having a total area of 3.1 square miles is a low populated land. As per the U.S. census of 2000; there are 4,289 people, 1,146 families and 1,841 households in the town. The density of population was 1,387.5 people per square mile.

The major population by race was categorized into White (82.96%), Black or African American (14.62%), Native American (0.09%), Asian (0.05%) and other (0.49%).

The average household size and average family size were 2.22 and 2.80 respectively. The elder age, 65 or retiree was recorded by 19.6%. The per capita income of the town was U.S. $15,182. The people of the Clifton Forge greet with hello and how are you? - perhaps the common or special greeting with everybody's happiness. They are ready for help if needed. So the people from other states or New York gradually are being resided to Clifton Forge.

For safety measures, there is actually no need of police nor any regular patrolling in the town. Generally, almost all people are good for all. It is said that gold need not have any cover. After all, gold is gold. In the same way, people are good and precious as gold. Neighborhood himself would watch one another's family member and property and they have been trained to suspicious activity or persons in the neighborhood to Clifton Forge. For older age people, a cultural program with music and dance is organized once a month in downtown Clifton Forge, which is more effective for retirees.

There is a memorial pillar with a small yard in the center of downtown Clifton Forge. In memory of Sergeant Roland Albert Williams Co. I, Corporal Rayburn Edison Williams and Victoria R. Good and several other persons who were killed as "Heroic dead" in the World War during 1914-1918. The "Heroic dead" shows the picture modeled for patriotism to Virginia, U.S.A.

The banking service is good for people. For example, the First Citizens Bank experienced as good for customers. Walking Clifton Forge town is as interesting as trekking to a peaceful and nature based town up and down shaped destination to visitors to seeing. We experience as 'fresh men with fresh yard and fresh growth with home grown vegetables and fruits".

The local transportation, Express Service provides public service to the people of Clifton Forge for a specific time shceduled for office-going persons. At the forest way land resort type houses built with more open space are attractive and healthy in living and playing.

For tourists coming to Alleghany Mountain region, Holiday Inn is good for stay for accommodation. There are more motels and hotels managed for tourists in this area.

We can not forget the charm of The Homestead and Greenbrier Resort. A short drive North is The Homestead, a five-star rated world famous resort facilitating sports tourism such as golf, tennis, snow, skiing, horse riding, fishing and so on. The landscape of The Homestead wonderfully sketched by nature remembers Nepal and Nepal's Village Tourism. The Creator of Nepal's Village Tourism Concept is Dr. Pradhanang of Nepal.

Source: http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/printFriendly/71044