Three Chinese mountaineers rescued

Three Chinese mountaineers who were taken ill at the base camp of Mt. Kanchanjanga (28, 208 feet) have been rescued and sent to the capital by helicopter for treatment, state-owned news agency RSS reports.

Those rescued mountaineers are Yangzechngul, Uangzhang and Dengluo (woman), according to Chief District Officer of Taplejung, Kiran Thapa.

They fell sick on May 20 at the fourth base camp at an altitude of 7,400 meters in course of coming down following its successful ascent. The mountain is the third highest peak in the world and lies in Taplejung, a district in eastern Nepal.

Meanwhile, bodies of the mountaineers who died on Mt. Kanchanjanga five days ago are yet to be retrieved.

According to the police, they are facing challenges in retrieving the bodies due to adverse weather and geographical difficulty, but efforts were underway to that end.

Five mountaineers including two Nepalis had gone missing after slipping on the face of the mountain last Monday. They were found dead on Thursday. The incident took place at an altitude of 7,500 meters while they were descending after climbing the mountain.

2557th Buddha Jayati today

The 2557th Buddha Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha, the apostle of peace, is being observed Saturday by organising various programmes with the message of peace and harmony among people.

As the birth, enlightenment and Nirvana of Lord Buddha falls on the same day of the full moon of the fourth lunar month (month of Baisakh), Buddhists around the world, including Nepal, observe Buddha Jayanti with respect and devotion to Buddha.
A special function is being organised in Lumbini, the birth-place of Buddha, today to mark the Buddha Jayanti. Interim Government Chairman Khil Raj Regmi is scheduled to take part in the event.
Gautam Buddha's philosophy of Buddhism does not entail any theistic world-view. The teachings of the Buddha are solely to liberate human beings from the misery and sufferings of life.

With the realisation that there was more to life than the lavish and luxurious life he was leading, Prince Siddharth Gautam, who was born in the southern Terai region of Nepal in about 543 BC, left his palace in search for enlightenment and the true meaning of life.

After much wandering and searching, Gautam finally attained enlightenment while meditating under a pipal tree. Henceforth, known as the "Buddha" or "the enlightened one" he began to preach "The Four Noble Truths" to all who would listen. According to this doctrine, people suffer because of their desires and the root cause of all misery is desire. These desires and consequently all problems can be totally eliminated by following the "eightfold path"- right conduct, right motive, right speech, right effort, right resolve, right livelihood, right attention and right meditation to gain mastery over suffering. Gautama Buddha lived and taught in northern India in the 6th Century B.C.

Buddha traveled far and wide teaching hundreds of followers. Even after death his disciples continued to spread his teachings.

The United Nations has been observing the Anniversary of Lord Buddha as a public holiday since 2002.

The books on teachings and messages of Lord Buddha are said to be the largest publication throughout the world.

Buddha Jayanti is celebrated in all the Buddhist nations rejoicing the victory of Prince Siddhartha of Lumbini over pain, suffering and self.

Buddha, during his 80 year life, carried out a total of 84 thousand discourses which are compiled in various books including 'Binaya', Sutta, Abhidhamma and Tripitak.

Five climbers perish in avalanche while returning from Kanchenjunga expedition

Belated news reports say five mountaineers, who were returning from the peak of Mt Kanchenguna, were killed in avalanche on Monday.

Two Hungarian, one South Korean and two Nepali climbers were struck by an avalanche while returning after a successful ascent to the Mt Kanchenguna (8,586 m), which the 3rd tallest peak in the world.

The full identity of the deceased and other details were not immediately available.

Four of a Sherpa family scale Mt Everest

Four Sherpa siblings from Solukhumbu district have successfully climbed Mt Everest together.

The four brothers - Lakpa Dorji Sherpa, Tendi Sherpa, Lakpa Tenji Sherpa and Ang Phurba Sherpa - reached the top of the world's tallest peak Monday morning, RSS said.

They were part of a expedition team managed by Adventure Consultant Company, Kathmandu.

Meanwhile, in a similar feat, three persons of another family from the same district have scaled Mt Everest. Pemba Wangchhu Sherpa, Pemba Chhongwa Sherpa and Pemba Gyaljen Sherpa reached the summit on Sunday. They, too, are siblings.

South Korean, Bangladeshi climber die on Mt Everest

A climber from South Korea and another from Bangladesh have died while descending from Mt Everest after an ascent.

Sung Ho-Seo, 34, of South Korea, was attempting the climb without supplementary oxygen and died on his way down the mountain while Mohammed Hossain, 35, from Bangladesh, died in his tent a few hours after successfully climbing the summit, AFP reported.

"The exact cause of death is unknown, but altitude played a part," tourism official Gyanendra Shrestha told the news agency, adding that the bodies would not be recovered until after the summit season ended so as not to interrupt other climbers.

Both men perished in the "death zone" - above 8,000 metres - a difficult terrain with thin air.

Five other climbers - three Sherpas, one Taiwanese and a Russian - have died on the 8,848-metre (29,029-foot) mountain this season.

Actress Nisha Adhikari completes Everest ascent

Nepali film actress Nisha Adhikari has completed her ascent on Everest on Tuesday morning.

Adhikari, who has now become the first Nepali actress to climb Everest, achieved the fete at around 8 am this morning, said Nepal Tourism Board.

Adhikari, who embarked on an expedition to Everest on April 7, arrived at base camp on April 10.

Film actor Arjun Karki climbs Mt. Everest

Nepali film actor Arjun Karki has successfully scaled Mt. Everest.

Karki along with national marathon runner Sanjya Pandey reached the top of the peak at 7:30 on Monday morning, RSS said quoting their team´s liaison officer Ongchhu Sherpa. Karki had embarked on Everest expedition along with actress Nisha Adhikari, who is yet to reach the summit.

They have already returned to the camp- 4 now. Actor Karki was dragged into controversy for climbing the peak on permission for expedition´s high altitude worker.

Chinese climber dies of altitude sickness on Mt Lhotse

A Chinese climber died early Monday while attempting to climb Lhotse mountain in the Everest region.

Xiaoshi Li, 58, who had developed altitude sickness on Saturday, died at the height of 8,000 meters. "Li died due to sickness on his way to Lhotse peak," Xinhua quoted Nivesh Karki, manager of Seven Summit Treks Pvt. Ltd., the expedition organiser, as saying. Li had fallen sick two days ago.

According to the report, there were six Chinese nationals in the expedition team led by Wei Zhang, 38. Lhotse, the fourth highest mountain on earth, is connected to the Everest via South Col. It is the least climbed 8,000-meter peak in Nepal.

Swiss mountaineers Fritz Luchsinger and Ernest Reiss were the first to climb the pick on May 18, 1956.

Rafting Fest on May 25

The 25th Annual Rafting Festival 2013 is going to held on May 25 in Trishuli river.

The Nepal Association of Rafting Agents (NARA) is organising the event with an aim to promote adventure tourism.

The rafting competition will be held on in Trishuli from the stretch between Belkhu Bridge to Malekhu, the organisiers said.

The organisers said they expects around 700 visitors during the event.

BBC broadcast from Everest: Govt seeks clarification from trekking agent

The Ministry of Tourism has sought clarification from a trekking agency that organised an expedition on Everest under which a British explorer made the first ever video call from the highest mountain in the world.

Purna Chandra Bhattarai, head of mountaineering division at the ministry, said that a letter has been sent to Summit Nepal Trekking Private Limited seeking clarification on the legality of the video call.

The news comes a day after British explorer Daniel Thomas Hughes made the video via smartphone to the BBC. The video was 'illegally' broadcast live on the BBC, a Nepali daily had reported on its Monday edition.

Hughes had briefly panned around his camera showing the BBC audience the view from the peak, as he spoke live with a BBC anchor.

"The agency has received the letter. We expect it to submit an explanation within 2-3 days," added Bhattarai.

Meanwhile, an official at the Ministry of Communications confirmed that the expedition had not been issued a permit to film a video on top of Everest. Sailaja Bhattarai, head of the ministry's Audio Visual division, said that the expedition should have taken permission from the government agencies concerned before going ahead with the broadcast.

Istanbul-Kathmandu direct flights from September

Turkish Airlines, one of the leading European airlines, is set to start direct flights to Kathmandu from Istanbul from September 1.

According to the airlines, it will operate four flights a week – Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in Istanbul-Kathmandu route. The airlines will use A330-200 aircraft for the service in the route.

Nepal and Turkey has signed an air service agreement (ASA) in September 2010 allowing the two nations to operate 14 flights per week between Kathmandu and Istanbul.

The airlines has also appointed Zenith Travels as its General Sales Agent in Nepal.

Mid, Far-West tourism fair from May 24 in capital

Mid and Far-Western Regions Tourism and Cultural Festival is going to be held at City Hall, Bhrikutimandap in capital from May 24 to 26.

West Women Aware Group (WWAG) is organising a tourism fair with an aim to boost domestic tourism.

Organising a press conference in the capital on Saturday, the group also informed that the event will promote the potential tourist destinations, different local foods, cultures among others of the regions during the three-day event.

Nepal organises Sales Mission in South East Asia

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) in association with Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) and the Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO) organised a Sales Mission in four major cities of South East Asia, namely Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Yangon from 14th to 17th May, 2013.

The Sales Mission to South East Asia started on 14th May, in Bangkok, Thailand and travelled to Hanoi and Ho Cho Minh in Vietnam, on 15th May and 16th May, and finally concluded in Yangon, Myanmar on 17 May, 2013, said NTB in a press statement.

It further states that the business session (B2B) was organised for the direct interaction among the potential travel and tour operators from Nepal and the South East Asian countries. It received positive response on Nepali tourism packages with significant interest in Lumbini – the birth place of Lord Buddha to be included as a starting point of Buddhist Circuit in Nepal.

Nepal received overwhelming response with almost 300 local Tour Operators and media persons in total attending the “Naturally Nepal presentation” in different venues of respective cities, said NTB.

Indo-Nepal military team scales Everest

Members of an Indo-Nepal army team who were taking part in an Everest cleanup campaign successfully made it to the summit on Sunday morning.

The expedition included Nepal Army officers Major Samir Basnet, Captain Kishor Adhikari, Sergeant Gyanendra Loudari, and Corporal Dhiren Shahi.

Similarly, Indian Army officials Major Ranbir Singh Jamwal, Subedar Mingma Gurung , Havaldar Chatar Singh, and Lance Naik Sukbir were also part of the team.

According to the NA's Directorate of Public Relations, team collected picked waste from the base camp area, and above during thirty-day long campaign.

Saudi woman climber scales Mt. Everest

A Saudi woman climber has successfully scaled the Mt. Everest on Saturday.

Raha Moharrak, 25, not only became the first Saudi woman to attempt the climb but is also the youngest Arab to make it to the top of Everest.

She is part of a four-person expedition that also includes the first Qatari man and the first Palestinian man attempting to reach the summit, a BBC report said. They are trying to raise $1 million (Dh3.67 million) for education projects in Nepal.

TAAN completes Humla exploration

Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) has completed exploration of Humla region.

A seven-member team, led by Rana Bahadur Khadka, 1st vice president of TAAN, had left Kathmandu on April 2 to explore new trekking routes in Humla district.

According to Khadka, the team flew to Simikot from Nepalgunj and trekked toward Hilsa – the bordering village along Nepal-China border – and ended the trek at Talcha airstrip of Mugu.

“We have explored some side trails for the Great Great Himalaya Trail. We will recommend a new trekking itinerary for the Humla-Mugu region,” Khadka said. “We will also prepare map of the area plus a documentary to promote the area.”

The team had initially planned to unveil the trek on May 29, which is observed as International Sagarmatha Day. “Now we will unveil the trail and the promotional materials during our annual general meeting,” added Khadka.

TAAN has been organizing a series of exploration trips in recent years. Last year, it explored Lumba-Sumba area in the Kanchanjunga region, Lower Manaslu in the Manaslu region and Dolpo in the mid-western region.

Massive fire in Thamel, no casualties reported

A massive fire broke out in tourist hub of Thamel in Kathmandu on Thursday night.

Latest television images show that the blaze which started at around 10 pm from a building near Kathmandu Guest House in Thamel and immediately spread to five houses has been fully brought under control only after 10 hours.

Shisha Terrace Café and Bar, the famous Pilgrims Book House including adjoining jewelry and curio shops have been fully destroyed in the fire. According to preliminary police estimates, the leaping blaze has fully or partially destroyed more than 20 houses, shops and restaurants as there are tight clusters of buildings in the narrow alleys of Thamel.

There has been no report of casualties, but police said that one person suffered minor injuries in the blaze.

Firefighters from Kathmandu Metropolitan City, police and the Army are still trying to put out the smoke while attempting to gauze the full extent of the damage caused by the fire.

Five fire engines had been sent to the spot to bring the fire under control late night. More than two hundred fire fighters, policemen and locals were involved in efforts to douse the fire and prevent it from spreading to adjoining houses.

The reason of the fire was yet to be confirmed, but it is learnt that the building from where the blaze started was made of wood and was thus prone to catching fire.

Although no casualties has taken place, but the loss in terms of property in the incident will run to millions of rupees, police said. Pilgrims Book House which has been in Thamel for many years was completely destroyed. Partially burnt books as well as various others artifacts from the book store were seen strewn across the narrow street.

Over the last few years, Kathmandu has seen few major fires breaking out at crowded places.

Nepal Airlines plane crashes in Jomsom; six including crew hurt

A Nepal Airlines plane crashed near Jomsom airport in Mustang while landing Thursday morning. Some passengers were injured, but there was no fatality.

The plane flying to Jomsom from Pokhara crashed on the banks of Kaligandaki river near the airport after it skidded off the runway while making a turn, according to the local police. There were 21 people on board including three crew members and nine Japanese nationals.

Six persons – plane’s Captain Deependra Pradhan, co-pilot Suresh K.C, air hostess Santa Maya Tamang and passengers Govinda Pahadi and Japanese nationals S. Okawa and K. Chiyo received serious injuries. They have been flown to Pokhara for further treatment.

All those on board were rescued immediately by the security personnel.

The cause of the crash was not immediately clear.

Pushkar Shah to embark on cycling along Great Himalaya trail to promote tourism

World cyclist Pushkar Shah is embarking on cycling along the Great Himalaya Trail in order to promote responsible tourism in Nepal’s Himalayas.

The ambitious cycling expedition is part of the WWF Nepal’s ‘Green Hiker Campaign’. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ram Kumar Shrestha handed over a bicycle to Shah amidst a ceremony organised in the capital on Wednesday.

Shah, who had traveled across the world on his bicycle spreading the message of world peace, is also a leader of World Cyclist Foundation.

“I will in the best possible way help spread the message of the Green Hiker Campaign and responsible tourism wherever I go,” he said.

Nepal Tourism Board in partnership with WWF Nepal had launched the Green Hiker campaign in May 2011 on the occasion of the 4th International Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) Day. The campaign is part of an agreement between the two organisations to promote responsible tourism in Nepal.

Glaciers in Everest region shrunk by 13 pc in 50 years: Research

Glaciers in the Everest region have shrunk by 13 per cent and the snow-line receded 180 meters higher during the past half century, says a study that is to be presented at a conference of the American Geophysical Union.

The study, led by Sudeep Thakuri of the University of Milan, is based on satellite imagery and topographic maps.

“Thakuri and colleagues reconstructed the glacial history of the region and concluded that ice retreat on Everest and the neighbouring Sagarmatha National Park is accelerating due to warming temperatures (a 0.6 degree Celsius rise) and declining snowfall (a 100 millimeter decrease) since the early 1990s,” reported Mongabay.com citing the research report.

It said that as per the findings of the study, glaciers have retreated by an average of 400 meters since 1962 while glaciers smaller than one square kilometer have experienced a 43 percent decrease in surface area.

The researchers speculate that rising carbon dioxide levels are driving the changes, but are yet to established a direct connection, said the environmental science news web portal.

5th National Tourism Fair concludes

The 5th National Tourism Fair concluded at Bhrikuti Mandap Exhibition Hall on May 12. Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has been organizing the fair every year to promote domestic tourism and disseminate information regarding Nepali tourism industry to general public. Representatives of 50 districts and other stakeholders of Nepali tourism industry participated in the three-day event.

Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) actively participated in the event. It promoted newly promoted trekking routes – Lumbasumba in Kanchanjunga Region, Lower Solu in Solukhumbu, Panchpokhari in Sindhupalchowk, Lower Manaslu in Gorkha, Ruby Valley Treks in Dhading and Dolpo in Dolpa among others. It also distributed posters and brochures of those routes.

TAAN has been participating in the fair ever since its inception. The associations stall drew students, trekking workers and general visitors. TAAN representatives at the stall informed the visitors about the activities of TAAN and the newly opened trails. The fair featured a total of 110 stalls from different districts. The exhibitors included tourism colleges and hospitality institutions, travel trade associations, government agencies and tourism publications, among others. Most of the visitors were interested toward adventure tourism products and home-stay tourism.

5th Nat’l Tourism Fair from Friday

The 5th National Tourism Fair 2013 is scheduled to be held at Bhrikutimandap Exhibition Hall, Kathmandu from May 10 to 12, 2013.

The fair is being organised by Nepal Tourism Baord (NTB) with an aim to promote tourism destinations and products.

Tourism entrepreneurs from around the country and representatives of tourism development committees, various associations, tourism colleges, home stays and other concerned organisations will participate in the three-day event, NTB said.

Aviation safety workshop kicks off

A five-day long training workshop kicked off on Wednesday in Kathmandu as a part of “Aviation Safety Awareness Campaign” organised by the Airline Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN).

Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ram Kumar Shrestha inaugurated the workshop at Gokarna Safari Resort. Speaking on the occasion, he cited that that STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) operation and the extreme topographical adversities as main causes of air accidents in Nepal. PATA Nepal Chapter is the industry partner of the event.

160 participants from 17 different airlines including pilots, engineers, managers and ground crew are attending the workshop that is aimed at enhancing the level of air safety and also educating concerned user groups including reinsurance companies.

Speaking at the inaugural function, Capt. Rameshwor Thapa, President of AoAN called for commitment from the side of Nepali aviation industry to practice ‘Safe Flying’ and invited everyone concerned to join hands with the industry in this mission.

The air safety workshop is being held at a time when the Nepali sky is troubled by the highest rate of accident in last five years, becoming a matter of concern to everyone including foreign tourists and the insurance companies.

Three cycling enthusiasts brave tough mountainous roads to travel from Lhasa to Kathmandu

Three cycling enthusiasts recently arrived to Nepal after daring the tough mountainous roads from Lhasa to Nepal.

During their journey, the cyclists crossed the Himalayan Range starting from 3600 meters high Lhasa and through the highest pass in Tibet Gyamtso La (5200 meters) to the Everest North Base Camp (5175 meters).

The Cycle Marathon that started on the 23 of April 2013 took about two weeks to reach Kathmandu from Lhasa. The Team of Abraham Cohen, Daniel Moores and Valentina Nelin were extremely delighted upon their arrival in Kathmandu on Monday and their successful endeavour. This cycle marathon aims to promote awareness for equality between people.

Abraham Cohen, cycling expert and the mastermind behind the marathon said, "the extreme conditions will attract attention and awareness on the problem of equity in the world… It’s such a wonderful feeling to know that we can travel and explore any part of the world just using a bike." They were welcomed at the Tevel b’Tzedek house in Kathmandu upon their arrival.

Living the spirit of the cyclists and to promote equality and clean environment, Ambassador of Israel to Nepal Hanan Goder joined the team in their adventure in bicycle from Dhulikhel to Kathmandu on Tuesday. Speaking before leaving for the marathon, Ambassador Goder said, "This is an incredibly important campaign to promote solidarity and equality between humans. I am proud to be a part of this campaign."

Over eight tonnes of waste collected from Everest

Members of a campaign dedicated to cleaning up Mt Everest said on Saturday that they have collected over 8 tonnes of waste from the mountain over a period of one year.

Ang Dorje Sherpa, a campaigner with 'Saving Everest' said that the drive was launched in 2011 to clean up the highest mountain in the world and raise awareness about keeping the area clean.

He said that the campaign will segregate the waste, which has been brought to Namche, before bringing it to Kathmandu. Some of the waste will be incinerated in Namche itself, he added.

Meanwhile, an exhibition of photos taken by Swede Photographer Martin Edstom during the cleanup campaign has begun at the Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu. Similar exhibitions will also be organised in Namche Bazaar and Pokhara, said the campaigners.

Foreign visitors up by 8 pc in April

The tourist arrivals in the month of April has increased by 8.9 percent to 54,119 compared to the same month last year.

However, aggregate visitor arrivals decreased by 5.3 percent to 197,014 for the period between January-April compared to the same period last year.

According to figures released by Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the visitor arrivals from the SAARC segment showed 21.6 percent decline compared to the same month last year. Indian market, considered as a major market, also declined by 25.3 percent. Similarly, arrivals from Pakistan and Sri Lanka have witnessed negative growth of 10.9 percent and 3 percent, respectively. However, only Bangladesh has registered a positive growth of 16.6 percent.

However, arrivals from Asia (other than South Asia) have recorded positive growth of 18.1 percent in aggregate. Visitor arrivals from China, one of the fastest growing tourist markets for Nepal, have recorded the growth of 26.6 percent, compared to the figures in same period. Similarly, Malaysia (158.3 percent) and Thailand (15.3 percent) have maintained the upward trend. However, arrivals from Japan (9.6 percent), South Korea (5.8 percent), and Singapore (4.5 percent) have witnessed negative growth.

European markets have posted weaker arrivals figures and have registered overall negative growth by 14.3 percent. Visitor arrivals from France, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland and Sweden have registered positive growth of 0.4 percent, 9.9 percent, 7.6 percent, 1.1 percent, and 20.7 percent respectively. However, arrivals from the UK, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain and Russia have declined by 14.8 percent, 23.1 percent, 49.2 percent, 22.8 percent, 29.5 percent and 8 percent, respectively compared to the same month last year.

Likewise, arrivals from Australia, New Zealand and USA also posted positive growth of 6.7 percent, 5.2 percent and 2.3 percent respectively. Canada showed decrease in arrival figure by 35 percent.

A total of 66,107 foreign tourists departed from TIA in April 2013. The number of Nepalis arrivals stood at 62,488 while 75,323 Nepalis departed from TIA in April 2013.

Clean-up drive in Everest Base Camp

Mt. Everest Base Camp has become clean lately although until recently it was highly polluted with randomly thrown empty oxygen cylinders, bottles and human excreta, state-owned news agency RSS reports.

The camp has changed its face after the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) took initiation to clean the base camp area.

More than 4,000 people travel to the base camp daily. So, the open defecation by mountaineers, tourists, and tourist guides and the trash thrown away by them is difficult to manage. But, the SPCC has successfully managed to clean the area and have kept the base camp clean, Chhiring Tenjing Sherpa, manger at SPSS told RSS.

Not only the trash but also human excreta collected from and brought from the Base Camp are disposed off at Namche bazaar, he added.

Tiji Festival

The Tiji festival is a three-day ritual known as "The chasing of the Demons" and it is centered on the Tiji myth. Tiji tells the story of a deity named Dorje Jono who must battle against his demon father to save the Kingdom of Mustang from destruction. The demon father wreaks havoc on Mustang by creating a water shortage which, in this extremely arid land, is the most precious life-sustaining resource. Dorje Jono eventually defeats the demon and banishes him from the land. 06 May 2013:  Lo-Manthang Day hiking (3730m) (Start Tiji Festival)  07 May 2013:  Lo-Manthang (3730m) - Tiji Festival 08 May 2013:  Lo- Manthang (3730m) - Tiji Festival Ends

Tourists increases by 17 pc to Annapurna trekking route

The number of foreign tourists visiting Annapurna trekking area has increased by 17 percent this year as compared to the last year. The route is one of the 10 most famous trekking routes in the world.

Some 6,011 foreigners have visited the areas in March, 2013 while the number was 4,500 in the same period last year, RSS reports quoting Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP).

Similarly, 3,353 tourists visited the area in February, 2013 while the number was registered 2,876 in the last year, Tirtharaj Dhungana, an Official at the Tourist Check Point, Birethanti as saying told RSS.

A total of 44,531 tourists had visited the area in 2012 and 38,054 in 2011.

The trekking route begins from Nayapul of Kaski district and ends at Upper Mustang through Ghandruk, Chhomrung and Annapurna Base Camp.

Govt earns Rs. 254 m from Mt. Everest climbing permits this season

The government has collected Rs. 254 million in revenue from Mt. Everest climbing permits this season.

Twenty nine expeditions (as of April 19) from different countries are attempting Mt. Everest (8848m), the tallest peak on earth, this spring.

According to Tourism Industry Division of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, 315 foreign mountaineers have received permission to climb Mt. Everest.

Last year, the government had permitted 335 foreign mountaineers of 30 teams. Of them, 181 made it to the summit of Mt. Everest.

The spring climbing season starts from mid-March and runs through May. Officials of the division said members of most of the expedition teams have already left for Khumbu Region for acclimatization.

According to them, royalty fee to climb Mt. Everest ranges from US$15,000 to US$70,000 per expedition. The permit fee depends on the size of the team and route.

An expedition with 15 members is required to pay US$10,000 per person as permit fee.

Int'l indigenous film festival kicks off

The Seventh Nepal International Indigenous Film Festival -2013 has kicked off in the capital on Thursday, RSS reports.

The Festival organized by the Indigenous Film Archive (IFA) would last for three days. It is organized under the slogan: Equal Access and Participation of Indigenous People in Media.

Senior journalist Lal Deusa Rai, Malla K Sundar, Khildhwoj Thapamagar and Binita Chaudhari jointly inaugurated the Festival. The organizing body honoured them with the ´Pride of Indigenous´ award.

As many as 23 films and music videos on Gurung, Newar, Rai, Limbu, Chepang, Dhimal, Magar, and Tharu languages would be screened during the Festival.

Similarly, 27 foreign films and music videos produced in Australia, Germany, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Russian, Ethiopia, Spain, Taiwan, US and Guatemala will be screened on the occasion.

Under ´Nepal Panorama, the best films produced by the indigenous film makers of Nepal would be provided cash prizes and award in the Festival.

Also, seminar and interactions would be held on the common problems of indigenous community and the films.

Festival Director Sanjog Laphamagar told RSS the Festival would set a stage to discuss on the situation of indigenous community, films on them, and to exchange the experiences.

Highest and lowest pt on earth make a symbolic meet as stones from Dead Sea is placed on Mt Everest

Two poles never meet. But they always attract.

However, the marvelous feat of making two opposites meet -- at least symbolically-- was achieved on Tuesday as a joint Nepali-Israeli team placed a monument brought from the Dead Sea -- the lowest point on Earth -- at the base of Mt. Everest, the highest point on Earth.

The ceremony to unveil the monument, which has stones from the Dead Sea embedded on it, was held on Tuesday at Namche Bazaar, Solukhumbu.


A joint Nepali-Israeli team placed a monument brought from the Dead Sea -- the lowest point...
The joint team was led by Embassy of Israel in Kathmandu, Mayor of Tamar Regional Council-Dead Sea Israel Dov Litvinoff, Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nepal, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation in Nepal and the Nepal Tourism Board.

Mayor Litvinoff along with Israeli artist Jojo Ohayon, who created the monument, brought the Dead Sea stones to Nepal for the ceremony.

Speaking at a press conference held in the capital on Thursday, Israeli Ambassador to Nepal Hanan Goder said, "We are very happy and excited to announce that there is now on top of the world, a monument brought from the lowest point on Earth, the Dead Sea."

He said stones from Mt Everest are already on a journey to Israel, and a similar monument will be placed on the banks of the Dead Sea.

Ambassador Goder said that the main objective of these projects is not only to promote natural beauty and cultural heritages of the two countries but also to mark the long standing and friendly relations between the two countries.

"The idea is to further strengthen existing friendly ties between Nepal and Israel and bring it to the people-to-people level," he said.

Also speaking at the function, Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation Sushil Ghimire expressed his happiness and excitement to announce the placing of monument brought from the Dead Sea at the base of Mt. Everest.

"Now we can enjoy the feelings of the Dead Sea at the highest point on Earth," Secretary Ghimire said, adding that a matching monument will also be placed near the Dead Sea next month, which will have a stone embedded on it from Mt Everest.

He also hoped that this will encourage more tourists to visit the two regions.

Mayor Litvinoff said that the successful completion of this project has brought Tamar Regional Council and Namche Bazaar "very close" and that the "two places are now friends", hinting that there will be increased cooperation between the two regions in the days to come.

This project is a follow up of a joint activity in September 2012 -- issuance of Nepal-Israel joint postage stamps featuring the Dead Sea and Mt. Everest.

Nepali ethnic architecture to be showcased in China horticultural expo

An example of Nepal's ethnic architecture will be one of the exhibits at the International Horticultural Expo in Qingdao in 2014.

Many nationally and globally renowned gardening experts have been invited as consultants for the report, Xinhua reported.

"The expo will showcase not only plants but also cultures," Li Fengli, secretary-general of the expo's executive committee, told Xinhua.

The organisers have invited international guests from all continents, representing cities, regions and nations that feature distinctive gardening characters to the expo, said the report. More than 30 international exhibitors in the International Garden will present various elements.

There will be an example of ethinc Nepali architecture, French-style village, a German beer garden, and a maze built using plants from Central and South America, among others, said the organisers.

Construction work on 13 national gardens has already begun, and 70 per cent of the construction has been completed, they said.

Food fest in Jumla

A food festival has begun in Jumla Wednesday on the occasion of the Seventh Democracy Day, state-owned news agency RSS reported. Called the 'Food Festival - 2070', this is the first such event to be organised in Karnali zone.

Different food items prepared from local crops including bean, soybean, millet and buck wheat will be put on display for protection, promotion and marketization of local and indigenous crops of Karnali, its production, availability and to ease local farmers' access to them.

Similarly, other local food items—cake and momo prepared from millet, potato chips, herbal tea, rice prepared from Jumli Marshy rice species, jam and jelly prepared from apple, Newari food items, chicken sausage, pizza, homeopathic jeevan jal and among others, are put on display.

Coordinator of the Festival Organizing Committee, Senior Agriculture Development Officer Kamalesh Tiwar told RSS that the Festival is organised with an objective of increasing income through business of different food items by protecting and promoting different food crops and encouraging local farmers to involve in production of local crops.

There are 60 stalls and 14 cultural groups registered for the festival.

A total of Rs. 316,500 has been collected for the three-day Festival, according to the Finance Collection Sub-Committee.

Nepali cultural event held in Paris

The embassy of Nepal in Paris organised a cultural event to commemorate the 64th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and France on Friday.

Ambassador Mohan Krishna Shrestha and Valerie Namihas, Adjoint Mairie of the 17th Arrondissement jointly inaugurated the event by alighting a lamp.

Guests at the cultural event included representative of the French Foreign Ministry, former ambassadors, honorary Nepalese Consul in Toulouse, diplomatic officials from embassies based in Paris, academics, representatives of NRN, France, Everest Nepali Association, Nepali Ekata Samaj, Tamu Samaj, Pakofam and Nepal Culture as well as long-term Nepali residents.

Speaking on the occasion, ambassador Shrestha expressed hope that the bilateral relations between Nepal and France would grow much stronger in the days to come and the relations will be based on mutual understanding and mutual benefit.

Similarly, Jean Romnicianu, representative of the French Foreign Ministry, maintained that bilateral relations between the two countries must have started much earlier with seminal visits and during recent times and that the bilateral relations have been developing up to "mutual satisfaction".

29 teams attempting Everest this season

Twenty-nine expedition teams (as of April 19) from different countries are attempting Mt Everest (8848m) -- the tallest peak on earth -- this spring.

According to Tourism Industry Division under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, 315 foreign mountaineers have received permission to climb Mt Everest.

Last year, the government had permitted 335 foreign mountaineers of 30 teams. Of them 181 had reached the summit of Mt Everest.

The spring climbing season starts from mid-March and runs through May.

Officials of the division said members of most of the expedition teams have already left for Khumbu Region for acclimatization.

The government has mobilized Rs 254 million in revenue from Everest climbing permits this season. Last year, it had mobilized Rs 270 million from climbing permits.

According to officials, royalty fee to climb Mt Everest ranges from $15,000 to $70,000 per expedition. The permit fee depends on the size of the team and route. An expedition having 15 members, for example, has to pay $10,000 per person as permit fee. Twenty-nine expedition teams from different countries are attempting Mt Everest (8848m) -- the tallest peak on earth -- this spring.

According to Tourism Industry Division under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, 315 foreign mountaineers have received permission to climb Mt Everest.

Last year, the government had permitted 335 foreign mountaineers of 30 teams. Of them 181 had reached the summit of Mt Everest.

The spring climbing season starts from mid-March and runs through May.

Officials of the division said members of most of the expedition teams have already left for Khumbu Region for acclimatization.

The government has mobilized Rs 254 million in revenue from Everest climbing permits this season. Last year, it had mobilized Rs 270 million from climbing permits.

According to officials, royalty fee to climb Mt Everest ranges from $15,000 to $70,000 per expedition. The permit fee depends on the size of the team and route. An expedition having 15 members, for example, has to pay $10,000 per person as permit fee.

EPF to provide Rs. 13 b to NAC for aircraft purchase

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has agreed to provide Rs. 13.5 billion loan to the national flag carrier, the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), for the purchase of two aircraft for international operation.

A board meeting of EPF approved such assistance amount to the national flag carrier after rounds to discussion. As per the decision, the will provide loan to the corporation for which the Ministry of Finance will be guarantor.

Even as the EPF had agreed to provide the loan of Rs. 10 billion to the corporation three years ago, the Fund was reluctant to lend loan to the corporation seeking government’s guarantee.

The NAC and European aircraft manufacturer had signed a revised memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the purchase of two A320-200 aircraft on April 5. The agreement was signed between NAC managing director Madan Kharel and Airbus senior sales director Sheel Sukla at NAC.

As per the deal, the air manufacturer will provide both aircraft in March 2015. However, the actual price of the jets has not been revealed. As per the previous agreement, the price of a jet is US$41.28 million.
In October 26, 2009 the national flag carrier had decided to purchase two aircraft- one narrow body and another wide body from the Airbus.

However, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the then Legislative Parliament had on December 28, 2009 recommended the government authorities including the Finance Ministry and the NAC to cancel the process for purchasing new aircraft due to controversy.

The committee had also recommended improvement in the management in the state-owned airliner before purchasing new aircrafts.

The committee had also asked the NAC to start the purchasing process from the beginning.

Nepal participates in MICE Travel Mart

Nepal participated in the MICE Travel Mart (MTM) organised by OptiMICE Events Pvt. Ltd in The Leela, Mumbai, India on April 12, 2013.

“The event is considered as a unique platform that brings together corporate purchasers and travel-service providers on a single platform wherein the corporate purchasers interact with a number of travel-service providers and get to know more about what the travel supplier has in his repertoire. It is a platform for Buyers and Sellers to exchange knowledge, build alliances and generate business opportunities,” according to Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).

The Mart was attended by almost 60 sellers, targeting the growing Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Exhibition (MICE) segment in India and included airlines, international hotel chains, outbound tour operators, travel agents, international tourism boards and the Destination Management Companies (DMCs). The buyer profile included senior management from the corporate houses, tour operators and the travel agents.

Nepal Tourism Board along with private trade partners: Yeti Travels & Icefall Adventures participated in the event.

Earth Day being observed today

Earth Day is observed across the world today with the aim of creating awareness among the masses to protect the environment.

The event is commemorated worldwide to outreach to society and raise the issue on the occasion. Like every year, the world is celebrating the 43rd anniversary of Earth Day on Monday, April 22.

The idea to observe Earth Day in the United States was propelled in 1970 by Denis Hayes who popularised it to the global level. Today, Earth Day is observed in more than 192 countries -- with the UN endorsing the day in 2009.

Chait Dashain being observed today

Devotees are thronging to temples and shrines across the country to offer prayers to Goddess Durga and celebrate Chaite Dashain, one of the important festivals of Hindus, Tuesday.

Regarded as the second Dashain, after the biggest Hindu festival of Bada Dashain, Chaite Dashain epitomises the victory of divine forces over evil
and truth over falsehood. The festival is celebrated on Chatashtami.

In Kathmandu valley, large number of devotees go to at Guheshwari, Dakshinkali, Shova Bhagawati, Raktakali, Naxal Bhagawati, Kalikasthan and Maitidevi temples.

Machhindranath Jatra begins

The exciting chariot procession of Seto Machhindranath, the god of rain, started from Jamal, Kathmandu, Thursday evening.

The chariot was followed by a platoon of soldiers dressed in ancient uniforms and muskets.

Gunshots were fired at the start of the procession and also when the chariot stopped for the night at specified locations.

The 3-day chariot procession goes through a designated route of Ason, Indrachowk and surrounding areas to Lagan in Basantapur.

A new bird 'Muse Lekchari' discovered in Chitwan

Bird experts have claimed that a new bird 'Muse Lekchari' has been discovered in Jyandala of Kaule in Chitwan district.
According to Central Regional Coordinator of the Bird Expert Association, Basu Bindari, the bird is mostly found in the Himalayan region.

It was found in the district while local Ramesh Chaudhary was taking two foreigners Stena Nelson and John Peterson in a bird observation trip.

A few days ago, a new species of bird was found in Chitwan. Of late, arrival of new birds in the district has been reported.
The bird experts said the Muse Lekchari is found in Pakistan, Burma, Bhutan, Tibet, India, and Afghanistan. With this, as many as 569 bird species are found in Chitwan as against 800 across the country

Nepal celebrating New Year 2070 B.S. Today

Nepal is celebrating New Year 2070 today. Various programs has been  organized in Kathmandu valley as a new year celebration. New Year Eve has also been supported  by different tv channels  with live programs.

Welcoming the new year 2070 various political parties including president Ram baran yadav and chairman of interim election council Khilraj Regmi has wished happiness and prosperity for all Nepali people.

Likewise U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry have extended greetings to the Nepali people on the occasion of Nepali New Year 2070 (Bikram Sambat).

Nepal needs to put more effort to attract Chinese tourists: Ambassador Wu

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Wu Chuntai has suggested the Nepali authorities and tourism entrepreneurs to tap the immense tourism potentiality Nepal has, projecting an influx of Chinese tourists here.

Speaking at an interaction organised by PATA Nepal Chapter in the capital, Wu said so many Chinese travel all over the world Nepal could also attract more tourists by putting some extra efforts in tourism promotion. He mentioned that Chinese tourists are attracted by the friendly behaviour of Nepalis, pleasant weather and birthplace of Gautam Buddha.

Nepal earned around US$ 800 million from the Chinese tourist last year, Wu said.

On the occasion, Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO) president Ashok Pokharel said that Chinese tourists will increase gradually with the construction of Pokhara International Airport.

Acting CEO of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) Subash Niraula acquainted that the board has been continuously organising promotional programmes to attract tourists including the Chinese. He also urged the government and the private sector for the cooperation and support.

Garden of Dreams makes it to Time magazine

Internationally acclaimed and famed weekly magazine Time (March 25, 2013 issue) has rated Nepal’s Garden of Dreams as one of the favorite places to visit in Soul section of its Travel Special.

Its reporter Karen Leigh writes, “If you find yourself in the frenetic Thamel tourist district of Kathmandu and overcome with a need for tranquility, leave the Nepalese capital’s snarling traffic and persistent hawkers behind you and make for this lush greensward across the street from the former Royal Palace.”

“Coverage of Garden of Dreams in Time magazine has put Nepal once again in the international tourism map, and image of Nepal as a happening destination has been redeemed,” says Mr. Aditya Baral, Director and Spokesperson at Nepal Tourism Board.

Karen Leigh further writes,” Designed in the 1920s as a private garden, its wide lawns, surrounded by bamboo, fountains and exotic tree, are the perfect place to revive after a grueling climbing(or shopping) adventure. Walk its immaculately kept perimeter paths before find a spot to lie on the grass and read a book, the sounds of the city drifting overhead.”

Built by late Field Marshal Kaiser Sumsher Rana as his private garden representing six seasons, Garden of Dreams, a neo classical historical garden was renovated and restored from 2000 to 2007, and opened for public in 2008.

Experts from Asian mountain countries commit to work together

Senior government officials and experts from ten countries met in Kathmandu this week to promote collaboration on science, education, culture, and communication to lessen the impact of climate change on Asia’s mountain countries.

The Regional Workshop on Climate Change Impacts in Asian Mountains was held by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). By organizing this event together, UNESCO and ICIMOD recognized the importance of uniting their varied disciplines in the response to climate change and fostered strategies to make this happen.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the workshop, Deependra Kshetry, Vice-Chair of the National Planning Commission of the Government of Nepal and Chair of ICIMOD’s Board of Governors, highlighted the need to integrate the climate change agenda in overall development plans and policies of mountain countries to accelerate cleaner and greener growth. He anticipated that the outputs of this meeting would contribute to government plans and programmes in Nepal.

“We have to better harness the potential of interdisciplinary strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change on mountains”, said Axel Plathe, Head of the UNESCO office in Kathmandu. Managers of World Heritage sites in 12 mountain countries of Asia were among the workshop participants.

David Molden, Director General of ICIMOD, strongly advocated not only transdisciplinary but also transboundary cooperation for sustainable ecosystems and enhanced wellbeing of mountain men, women, and children. “We have to work together for resilient mountain development - for improved and equitable livelihoods through knowledge and regional cooperation”, he said.

The workshop proposed a number of strategies for collaboration across disciplines and borders, including:

• coordinated research for better understanding of climate and hydrological processes, their impact on mountain biodiversity and ecosystem services, and associated socioeconomic linkages;

• improving human wellbeing in marginalized mountain communities by unlocking the potential of payment for ecosystem services, and encouraging governments to ensure that the benefits of mountain goods and services are equitably shared;

• development of a standardized framework for assessing vulnerability to climate change impacts;

• enhancing the capacity of teachers, media professionals, and extension specialists to understand and communicate climate change issues; and

• enhancing regional cooperation and networking in capacity building, research, and development on climate science through regional organizations such as ICIMOD and the SAARC centres of excellence.

The event, held at ICIMOD’s Headquarters from 13 to 15 March ( 2013) was one of three regional workshops on climate change impacts on mountain ecosystems being held by UNESCO to help shape the formulation of global strategies to strengthen policies on mountain ecosystems. The outcomes will also contribute to other processes such as the Mountain Partnership and Rio+20 follow-up

Nepal promoted in DTM, MATTA and Scandinavian countries

Nepal Tourism Board, along with two  Nepali private travel trade companies participated in the 10th International Tourism Fair Dhaka Travel Mart (DTM) 2013, in Hotel Pan Pacific, Sonargaon, Dhaka from 15-17 March, 2013. DTM 2013 is organized by The Bangladesh Monitor and supported by United Airways, Biman Bangladesh and Eastern Bank Ltd.

DTM 2013 remained a potential platform for showcasing the tourism products and unique destinations as well as a forum for open B2B interaction amidst the exhibitors, buyers, sellers and the visiting public in Bangladesh. Apart from the host country Bangladesh, NTOs, tour operators, airlines, hotels, resorts and other tourism service providers from the public and private sector from Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Turkey participated in the fair.

Nepal is connected with Dhaka by two airlines: Biman Bangladesh & United Airlines. Reagent Airlines a private airline of Bangladesh are planning to fly to Kathmandu in the near future. Apart from this, a growing tendency has been found among the travelers to travel by land, Bangladeshi tourists come to Nepal via land route through India from Kakarvitta entry point from Eastern Nepal.

 Likewise , Nepal  participated in Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair 2013 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from March 15 to 17, 2013.Visited by 90,000 general public and 100 media persons, the fair provided a good platform for Nepal’s travel agents to sell their packages and for Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) an opportunity to promote destination as well as new tourism products.

Among 23 national tourism organizations who participated in the fair, NTB’s stall stood out for a unique decoration with a picture of Nyatapola temple on the top and Buddhist prayer flags across the stall. It was found that Malaysians are keen to travel in Nepal for leisure and soft adventure activities besides a chunk of Buddhist and Hindu population being interested in pilgrimage. General public seemed more concerned about the availability of halal food in Nepal. Good air connectivity between Kuala Lumpur and Kathmandu has given a confidence to the visitors.

Similaly, Nepal Tourism Board organized the first ever Nepal Sales Mission in the Scandinavian countries of Norway, Sweden and Denmark on March 12, 13 & 14, 2013. Eight leading tour operators and hotels from Nepal participated in the Sales Mission according to NTB.

Japanese climber Yuichiro Miura aims for Everest record

An 80-year-old Japanese mountain climber who has had heart surgery four times is heading to Mount Everest to try for a third ascent of the world's highest peak and will become the oldest person to reach the top if he succeeds.

Yuichiro Miura climbed to the summit of the 8,850 metre (29,035 ft) mountain in 2003 and 2008. He skied down Everest from an altitude of 8,000 metres (26,246 ft) in 1970.
Miura and a nine-person team will climb up the standard southeast ridge route, pioneered by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay when they became the first people to reach the summit in May 1953.

"The record is not so important for me," the white-haired Miura told Reuters in the Nepali capital, Kathmandu, before setting out for the mountain.
"It is important to get to the top."

The record for the oldest person to climb the mountain is held by Nepal's Min Bahadur Sherchan, who reached the summit at the age of 76, in 2008.

A doctor specialising in heart ailments is in the team to keep an eye on Miura's health. The group hopes to summit in May.

Miura has skied down the highest mountains on each of the seven continents, and is merely following family tradition. His late father, Keizo Miura, skied down Europe's Mont Blanc at the age of 99."If you wish strongly, have courage and endurance, then you can get to the summit of your dream," said Miura.

He already has a new dream. He wants to ski down Cho Oyu, the world's sixth highest mountain at 8,201 metres (26,906 ft), also in the Himalayas."Maybe, when I become 85 years old, and if I stay alive, I want to climb and ski down Cho Oyu," Miura said. "It is my next dream."

About 4,000 climbers have been to the top of Everest and about 240 people have died on its slopes.

'Icefall Doctor' Sherpa no more

A highly experienced climber Mingmar Sherpa has died in the Khumbu Icefall while setting ropes for the upcoming climbing season.

Mingmar Sherpa, 45, known as an "Icefall Doctor," was a member of a team responsible for maintaining the route up Everest.

The head guide for Alpine Ascents International Mountain Climbing, Mingma Sherpa was descending from Camp II when he slipped and fell into a crevasse. The death is the first of the year on Everest, following a 2012 season that became one of the deadliest in recent history. - Agencies

Spring climbing and trekking season begins In Nepal

The streets of Kathmandu are bustling with traffic today as the spring climbing and trekking seasons get underway in the Himalaya. Over the next few days, hundreds of mountaineers and backpackers will descend on the capital of Nepal before setting out for the country's legendary hiking trails and unmatched alpine settings. For many, this will be a trip of a lifetime, taking them on a grand adventure into the very heart of the Himalaya. And for a select few, it is the chance to stand on top of some of the highest mountains on the planet.

For most of these visitors, the first stop on their journey is to the Thamel District of Kathmandu. This popular tourist destination is home to most of the city's hotels and it is a great place to grab that last piece of gear you need before heading out into the mountains. Gear shops line the streets in this crowded and noisy part of town but not all of them are completely honest about the products they sell. In fact, if the deal on that North Face jacket or sleeping bag that you've had your eye on seems too good to be true, it's probably because it is actually a cheap knockoff. Sure, it may survive the trip but don't expect it to perform well or hold up over time.

After a day or two in Kathmandu, its time to head out to the Himalaya themselves. For those traveling to Everest, that mans a short flight to the mountain village of Lukla and the infamous Tenzing-Hillary Airport, named after the two men who first successfully summited the world's tallest peak. Others will depart KTM for Pokhara, a city that grants access to the Annapurna Trekking Circuit and three of the highest mountains in the world - Dhaulagiri, Manaslu and Annapurna itself.
Most trekkers will spend a couple of weeks hiking through the Himalaya, spending their days on breathtakingly beautiful trails and nights in local teahouses. Those quaint inns offer comfortable accommodations, tasty food and shelter from the frequently changing weather. A trek to Everest Base Camp takes roughly 10-12 days to complete depending on the selected route and speed. The entire journey is a blend of adventure, culture and Buddhist spirituality that also just so happens to take place in one of the most spectacular settings on the planet.

For the climbers the journey is a much more difficult and demanding one. Their arrival at Base Camp is just the start of their adventure and over the following six weeks or so, they'll spend most of their time acclimatizing to the altitude, honing their mountaineering skills and moving up and down the mountain. They'll push themselves to the absolute physical limit, all the while keeping their eyes on the weather, just to get the chance to stand on the summit for a few brief – but glorious – minutes.

Traditionally, the climbing and trekking seasons begin as the snows of winter recede and end with the arrival of the Monsoon in early June. During those few brief months, the various teahouses and base camps will be crowded with mountaineers and adventure travelers who share the camaraderie of the trail. It is an experience unlike any other and one worth taking for those who enjoy their travels to be off the beaten path and bit more active

Nepal marks 80th anniversary of first flight over Mt. Everest

Nepal is marking 80th anniversary of two Scots airmen flying over the Mount Everest on two Westland Wallace biplanes for the first time in human history.

For a group of people who went on a sightseeing trip to commemorate the first flight over the highest mountain on Earth, here on April 3, it was fun and excitement, thanks to the progress the aviation industry has made. It was an adventure filled with danger for the two airmen 80 years ago.

The one-hour flight took the group of people close to peaks such as Gauri Shankar, Nuptuse, Lhotse, Amadablam, Makalu and Mt. Everest. Sightseeing flights to Himalayan Mountains are one of the major attractions that Nepal's tourism industry has to offer to wealthy foreign tourists.

"This is a very special day to commemorate the first flight to the Everest 80 years ago today. At 10:05 a.m. my grandfather was one of the two pilots to fly over the summit of the Mt. Everest," said Charles Douglas-Hamilton, grandson of Lord Clydesdale, one of the pioneering pilots.

The flights, which made international headlines at the time, broke new records at sustained flight at 33,000 feet, stated a press statement issued by BAE systems. BAE systems Regional Aircraft is the direct descendant of Scottish Aviation, a company founded by the two pioneers Lord Clydesdale and David Mclntyre.

Yeti Airlines, which organized the commemorative flight has a fleet of seven Jetstream 41 aircraft manufactured by BAE Systems and runs commercial flights for sightseeing of the highest mountain.

Ghode Jatra being observed today

Ghode Jatra, a festival of horses, is being marked by organising a special program at the Army Pavilion, Tudikhel in the Capital on Wednesday.

Legends say that this festival came into existence as a celebration of the victory over a demon named Tundi, who resided over the meadow, which is known as Tundikhel at present.

Because Tundi was a terror amongst people, when he died, people rejoiced by dancing with horses on his body.

It is believed that the clamour of horses' hooves on Ghode Jatra at Tundikhel keeps the demon's spirit at bay.

Although parade of the horses is the major attraction of the festival, numerous events-cultural programs, motorcycle displays, and gymnastic performances-are staged on the occasion.

The government has provided a public holiday in Kathmandu valley on the occasion of Ghode Jatra.

Nepal-India military expedition to Mt Everest flagged off

The joint expedition of the Nepal Army and the Indian Army to the Mt Everest was flagged off on Tuesday.

Chief of Army Staff Gaurav Shumsher Rana flagged off the expedition amid a ceremony organised at the NA headquarters. General Rana handed over the flags of Nepal and India and the two armies to the leaders of the expedition. He maintained that the joint mission signified the cordial military relations between Nepal and India.

The joint expedition, which will head for the Everest base camp on April 11, comprises 14 NA personnel and 20 climbers from Indian Army.

Apart from climbing the world’s tallest peak, the 70-day joint expedition will also involve in cleaning works on the slopes of the peak and participate in a 64-km high altitude marathon race.

Bhaktapur prepares for Bisket Jatra

The stage is all set for the Bisket Jatra festival here in the ancient town of Bhaktapur, state-owned news agency RSS reports.

The Bisket Jatra is a famous festival with cultural and historical significance which commences with the start of the Nepali New Year, every year. It is celebrated for eight nights and nine days.

This year, the festival begins on April 10. The Bisket Jatra is among the many cultural and religious festivals celebrated in the country.

On the first day of the festival, the chief deity, Bhairavnath, and the Betal deity are installed on a three-storey temple built in the Pagoda style mounted on a chariot. This chariot is then towed from the premises of the Five-storey Temple to the ancient Thane (Upper) and the Kwane (Lower) streets of the town. The festival formally commences with the pulling of the chariots of the Bhairavnath and the Bhadrakali deities.

The date and timing of the Bisket Jatra festival is determined as per the solar calendar. This festival has been celebrated since the time of the Lichchhavi period. The festival gets its name from the two words Bi Sit in the Nepal Bhasa language which translates as 'the snake is dead'.

Homestay training concludes in Bhaktapur

A week-long homestay training has been concluded in Bhaktapur.

The training was run with an objective of providing necessary information for the operation of homestay facilities at Nagarkot, a tourism hub of Bhaktapur.

The training was organised by the Nagarkot Community Homestay Rural Tourism Management Committee with the help of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Bhrikutimandap, technical support of the Eco-Tourism Society and participation of the Nagarkot VDC Office, RSS reported. The training was provided to locals of Banstola village at Nagarkot-2,

Chairman of the Committee, Suraj Banskota, told RSS that the training was provided to villagers as they are to operate the first home-stay facility formally in Bhaktapur from the Nepali new year 2070 BS.

He said infrastructure has been prepared to keep 23 tourists at 13 houses of the village for the same.

A total of 28 people including 18 women participated in the training where different information about language, housekeeping, garbage management, welcoming guests and providing food were provided.

A cultural team has been formed for Khaijadi Bhajan, Ghanse songs, Teej songs prepared for welcoming tourists.

Tourist arrivals decline by 2.1 pts

The tourist arrivals declined by 2.1 percent to 62,442 in March compared to the same month last year.

According to the figures released by Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), however, arrivals from the Asia, other than SAARC have registered positive growth of 20.4 percent with China up by 35.7 percent, Japan (+6.9 percent), Malaysia (+122.3 percent), Singapore (3 percent) and Thailand (0.1 percent). SAARC region observed negative growths from all the markets.

Tourist arrivals from European region showed overall positive growth of 1.2 percent with arrivals from major tourist generating markets such as the UK, France and the Netherlands up by 21 percent, 18.6 percent, and 8.3 percent respectively.

But the arrivals from Germany, Switzerland Spain were down by 12.9 percent, 48.8 percent and 30.1 percent respectively compared to the same month last year.

Meanwhile, tourists from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and USA have registered strong growths of 66.6 percent, 26.4 percent, 25.5 percent and 17 percent respectively.

A total of 56,902 foreign tourists departed from TIA in March 2013.

The number of Nepalis arrivals stood at 65,461 while 88627 Nepalis departed from TIA in March 2013

TAAN to explore new trekking routes in Humla

Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) is set to explore new trekking routes in Humla district.

A team of TAAN is leaving for Nepalgunj on April 2 to explore new trekking routes in the district, said TAAN.

The seven-member team led by second vice president of TAAN Rana Bahadur Khadka includes videographer, report writer, photographer and cartographer. A 19-member group will provide logistics support to the exploration team.

“The team will fly to Simikot airstrip from Nepalgunj and start trek toward Hilsa – the bordering town along Nepal-China border. Then it will enter Mugu district and return to Nepalgunj via Talcha airstrip. The trip is expected to be completed in 23 days.” said the agency.

“We are exploring new side trails for the Great Himalaya Trail. We will explore and recommend a new trekking itinerary for the Humla-Mugu region,” Khadka said. “We will also prepare map of the area plus a documentary trip to promote the area.”

The exploration trip is organised by TAAN and supported by GHT Development Programme under the SNV Nepal.

“We will also hold interactions with local stakeholders in the area. These interactions will help us get feedback and suggestions from the locals,” he added.

Last year, it explored Lumba-Sumba area in the Kanchanjunga region, Lower Manaslu in the Manaslu region and Dolpo in the mid-western region.

TAAN promotes Nepal in Australia

A team of trekking entrepreneurs led by Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) participated in the Adventure Travel Expo held on March 9-10 in Sydney, Australia.

Being organized for the past 18 years, Adventure Travel Expo is one of Australia’s popular adventure travel shows.

TAAN Treasurer Anjan Thapa was the coordinator of the team. Similarly, TAAN Executive Member Gopal Babu Shrestha was the sub-coordinator. Thapa said the stalls of Nepali companies drew more than 1,000 visitors. Many Nepalis who are currently in Australia in course of their business or study also visited the fair.

“The visitors were keen to know about trekking, mountaineering and other adventure activities available in Nepal,” Thapa said, adding that local media gave good coverage to the event. “Local media also carried news reports about Nepal’s tourism products and its participation in the expo.” He further added that Australia, as a tourism market, holds great potential for Nepal.

“Australians know Nepal very well, we just need to promote our tourism products and services,” he added. TAAN has been participating in different international fairs in the past couple of years. Last year, it participated in travel shows in Seoul, South Korea and San Francisco, USA. It recently partnered with Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) to promote Nepal’s tourism products and services in South Africa.

Biggest Passover Festival in the world takes place in Kathmandu

The Jewish festival “Passover” was celebrated in Kathmandu with hundreds of Israelis and Jews traveling to Nepal from around the world.

A special function was held by the Embassy of Israel in Kathmandu for all the Jews living in and traveling to Nepal on 25 March 2013 in Naya Bazar Multi Venue, Naya Bazaar, Kathmandu.

Over a thousand Israelis and Jews observed this festival only in Nepal making it the biggest Passover celebration in the world. Not only the Jews living in Nepal, but many Jews from other nations also visited Nepal for the festival, the Embassy said.

Pesach or Passover is the biggest and the most popular Jewish festival celebrated in and beyond Israel. Pesach begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month Nissan and is celebrated for 7 days. This year it will be celebrated from 26 March to 2 April 2013. The name Pesach is derived from the Hebrew word Pasach, which means “passed over”. The festival marks the beginning of spring and commemorates the Exodus from Egypt over 3000 years ago.

Nat’l carrier starts daily flights to Malaysia

The national flight carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has increased its flights from Kathmandu to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to seven days a week. The NAC used to operate flights for six days a week earlier.

Following the increase in the volume of passenger, the stat-owned airliner has increased the daily flights to Kuala Lumpur by one more day. The corporation has been operating with two Boeings 757 with the capacity of 190 seats to different international destinations.

Similarly, the corporation is also operating three flights to Hong Kong, two flights to Thailand and four flights to Qatar.

AirAsia X Celebrates Its 100th Flight To Nepal!

AirAsia X, the long-haul, low fare affiliate of the AirAsia Group today is offering promotional fares to celebrate its 100th flight to Kathmandu, Nepal today.

The inaugural flight which took off on 3 July 2012 with three flights weekly will see an increase in flight frequencies to four flights weekly effective 15 April 2013.

AirAsia X’s CEO, Azran Osman-Rani said, “We are thrilled to celebrate our 100th flight to Kathmandu, Nepal and delighted to see the encouraging demand of over 80% average passenger load since we began our flights to Nepal. We have seen strong feeder traffic between the two countries and this is a testament to our commitment in offering guests affordable fares to suit our guests travel needs and preferences. AirAsia X will continue to work closely with our travel and tourism partners in Nepal to enhance attractive packages for our guests to further explore Kathmandu’s heritage and natural attractions.”

Azran also added, “We believe that the additional flight frequencies will further solidify our position in our key markets and boost tourism potentials in the markets we fly to. We are confident that the travel demand to Kathmandu will continue to be strong and hope that many will take the opportunity to use AirAsia X as a gateway to the many exotic, far-flung destinations across the region.”

AirAsia X was the first long-haul, low fare carrier to introduce Premium Flatbed seats, which have standard business class specifications of 20” width, 60” pitch and stretch out to 77” in full recline position.

The Premium flatbeds feature universal power sockets, adjustable headrests and built-in personal utilities such as tray table, drink holder, reading light and privacy screen. Premium seat guests also enjoy premium complimentary products and services including Pick A Seat, Priority Check-in, Priority Boarding, Priority Baggage, 25kg Baggage Allowance, Complimentary Meal and Pillow & Duvet.

On top of that, AirAsia X recently introduced the “Quiet Zone” cabin on all its long-haul flights across China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Australia and Nepal. The new service enhancement is exclusively for guests who are above age 12. The “Quiet Zone” cabin features a new ambiance with soft lighting, offering a more relaxing cabin atmosphere, which will ensure a more pleasant journey for our guests.

In addition, AirAsia X has expanded their ancillary offerings to include the Red Carpet service, a special service for those seeking for a more personalised check in experience at the Kuala Lumpur Low Cost Carrier Terminal. The Red Carpet Service includes a dedicated check-in counter, priority baggage tagging and loading, access to the Plaza Premium lounge at LCCT, fast track immigration, security clearance and priority boarding with buggy service to the bay (subject to aircraft parking bay distance) which includes priority baggage delivery upon arrival.

Nepal participates in Moscow Int’l Travel Tourism Exhibition

Nepal participated at the Moscow International Travel Tourism Exhibition (MITT), the fifth largest exhibition in the world from March 20 to 23, 2013, realising the potential of the market with almost ten thousand Russians visiting Nepal every year.

Russian tour operators were informed and updated about Nepal's tourism and there were talks between the two sides on business tie-ups and contact renewals during the event, said Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) in a statement.

Detailed information of tour packages was provided to the visitors as well as to the buyers at MITT which showcased over 3,000 companies from 120 countries and regions.

Climber George Lowe who helped Tenzing-Hillary first Everest ascent is no more

George Lowe of New Zealand, the last surviving climber from the expedition led by Sir Edmund Hillary that conquered Mt Everest in 1953, has passed away at the of age of 89.

Lowe’s death in a nursing home in the British town of Ripley on Wednesday marked the end of an era in mountaineering, AFP quoted Hillary's son Peter as saying. “George was one of the great climbers on the 1953 Everest expedition,” he told Radio New Zealand, adding,“He was really one of my father’s closest friends, kept him laughing all the time. They had a long friendship and a tremendous mountaineering partnership.”

Hillary and Nepal's Tenzing Norgay had claimed atop the world's tallest peak on May 29, 1953 for the first time. New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key said Lowe was part of an expedition that was still a source of pride for the country.

“George Lowe, along with fellow Kiwi Sir Edmund Hillary, made New Zealand a household name when, along with the other members of the Everest expedition, (they) conquered the mountain in 1953,” AFP quoted Key as saying, “I was sad to hear of his death but remain very proud of these men’s achievements.”

Lowe had helped Hillary and Norgay prepare for the final push to the peak and photographed the expedition’s last stages, using the material in an Oscar-nominated documentary “The Conquest of Everest”.

Nepal participates Int’l Tourism Fair in Dhaka

Nepal participated in the 10th International Tourism Fair Dhaka Travel Mart (DTM) 2013, in Hotel Pan Pacific, Sonargaon, Dhaka from March 15 to 17.

Nepal Tourism Board, along with two potential Nepali private travel trade companies in the DTM 2013, organised by The Bangladesh Monitor and supported by United Airways, Biman Bangladesh and Eastern Bank Ltd.

Nepal's ambassador to Bangladesh Hari Kumar Shrestha was present on the formal inauguration of the fair.

DTM 2013 remained a potential platform for showcasing the tourism products and unique destinations as well as a forum for open B2B interaction amidst the exhibitors, buyers, sellers and the visiting public in Bangladesh, said NTB in a statement.

Apart from the host country Bangladesh, tour operators, airlines, hotels, resorts and other tourism service providers from the public and private sectors of Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Turkey participated in the fair.

'Garden of Dreams' makes it to Time magazine

International news magazine 'Time' has rated 'Garden of Dreams' located at Keshar Mahal, Kathmandu, as one of the favorite places to visit in 'Soul' section of its Travel Special.


In Time's March 25 issue, Karen Leigh writes, “If you find yourself in the frenetic Thamel tourist district of Kathmandu and overcome with a need for tranquility, leave the Nepalese capital’s snarling traffic and persistent hawkers behind you and make for this lush greensward across the street from the former Royal Palace.”

The report further mentions, "Designed in the 1920s as a private garden, its wide lawns, surrounded by bamboo, fountains and exotic tree, are the perfect place to revive after a grueling climbing(or shopping) adventure. Walk its immaculately kept perimeter paths before find a spot to lie on the grass and read a book, the sounds of the city drifting overhead.”

“Coverage of Garden of Dreams in Time magazine has put Nepal once again in the international tourism map, and image of Nepal as a happening destination has been redeemed,” says Aditya Baral, Director and spokesperson at Nepal Tourism Board.

Built by late Field Marshal Kaiser Sumsher Rana as his private garden representing six seasons, Garden of Dreams, a neo-classical historical garden was renovated and restored from 2000 to 2007, and opened for public in 2008.

Experts call for collaboration to tackle climate change impacts in Asian mountain nations

Experts from the different countries and institutions have stressed the need for collaboration to tackle the impacts of climate change on the Asian mountain countries.

Speaking at the concluding session of a three-day regional workshop on 'Climate Change Impacts in Asian Mountains' organised by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) at ICIMOD headquarters Lalitpur Friday, they said that with joint efforts are essential to reduce the impacts of climate change in these countries.

Director General of ICIMOD David Molden said all the stakeholders should work together in this area in mountain nations that are facing similar problems because of climate change.

Axel Plathe, dead of the UNESCO Office in Kathmandu said that heritage sites are also facing myriad problems in the mountain countries in Asia and that the stakeholders should work together to tackle them.

Experts from different countries also urged governments to ensure equitable sharing of ecosystem goods and services along the lines of international and regional processes and their implementation at local and national levels.

Experts form France, Ireland, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar,Kazakhstan, Tazikistan and Switzerland and international organisations - FAO,UNESCO,ICIMOD, IUCN,WWF,WORLD MOUNTAIN PEOPLE ASSIOCIATIONS - participated in the workshop.

According to the ICIMOD, about 200 million people are facing the adverse impacts of climate change in Asian mountain countries.

Radisson MD attacked in Kathmandu, escapes unscathed

Radisson Hotel Kathmandu Managing Directot BK Shrestha was attacked by masked persons in Ekantakuna, Lalitpur on Saturday night.

According to police, Shrestha has not sustained any injuries. However the window pane of Shrestha's car was shattered.

FNCCI has condemned the attack.and demanded that the government take serious measures to improve security of businessmen and entrepreneurs.

It has also demanded that the attackers be brought to book

Number of tourists up 6% in Feb

Tourist arrivals to Nepal via air increased by 6 percent in February compared to arrival figures of the same month last year.

According to figures released by Immigration Office at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), a total of 45,123 foreign tourists entered the country through aerial route. Arrivals from Asia (other than South Asia) recorded healthy growth of 46 percent, thanks to robust growth in arrivals from China (135 percent), Malaysia (288.1 percent) and Singapore (111.9 percent), respectively. However, arrivals from Japan, South Korea and Thailand have registered negative growth of 20.1 percent, 29.4 percent, and 0.3 percent respectively.

Arrivals from South Asia region declined by 15.2 percent despite growth in arrivals from Pakistan (44.3 percent) and Sri Lanka (35.3 percent). However, arrivals from India, which is the largest source market for Nepal, witnessed a drop of 18.2 percent. Visitor arrivals from Bangladesh also declined by 5.3 percent.

European markets registered negative growth of 5.5 percent with major destinations showing mixed reaction in terms of visitor arrivals. Arrivals from Germany and the Netherlands were up by 8.3 percent and 21  percent, respectively while arrivals from UK, France, Italy, Switzerland and Russia declined b 6 percent, 13.7 percent, 31.8 percent, 8.7 percent and 8 percent respectively.

Similarly, tourist arrivals from USA (11.2 percent), Canada (42.2 percent) and New Zealand (44.8 percent) increased during the period. However, arrivals from Australia went down by 5.5 percent.

TAAN, Travelife sign pact

Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) has signed a cooperation agreement with Travelife to introduce the Dutch firm’s sustainability system among TAAN members.

TAAN President Mahendra Singh Thapa and Naut Kusters of Travelife signed the agreement on behalf of their respective institutions on February 29.

The agreement covers three major issues – promotion of sustainability and Travelife among TAAN members, Travelife training and exam, and Travelife action planning and reporting. As per the agreement, Travelife in partnership with Great Himalaya Trail Development Program (GHTDP) will take responsibility for the adaptation of Traveling Training package in Nepal.

TAAN will support the testing and approval of the training.

Nepal 112th in tourism competitiveness

Nepal has been ranked 112th in the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2013 published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) .

Nepal was ranked the same last year also.

In the Subcontinent, Nepal has been ranked above Pakistan and Bangladesh -- 122nd and 123rd.

India and Sri Lanka that are at 65th and 74th in the list. According to the report, various factors such as infrastructure, investment and price competitiveness were taken into account to prepare the rankings

Govt to open new peaks for expedition

The government is all set to unveil 23 new peaks for the expedition to promote mountain tourism amidst a diamond jubilee of the ascent of Mt. Everest on May 29.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Posta Bahadur Bogati said that the government is preparing to introduce new peaks for the expedition at the request of tourism entrepreneurs.

Minister Bogati had made such statement during the felicitation programme to Chhirim Sherpa (29) who has set Guinness World Records for being first women to climb Mt Everest twice in a single season on Monday.

Training on sustainability of tour operators concludes

The training on ‘Sustainability of Tour Operators’ organised by SNV Nepal in coordination with Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) and Trafelife concluded successfully in Kathmandu on February 26.

More than 60 tourism service providers, mostly trekking agencies, participated in the two-day training, TAAN said.

The training that covered issues like sustainable tourism, tourism impacts, supply chain management, sustainable destinations, customer communications, and communicating and marketing sustainable tourism.

The training was conducted by two resource persons from Travelife -- a Dutch firm.

Nepal to be promoted in African continent in March

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) together with different travel trade associations is going to organise Nepal’s first ever tourism promotion programme in the African continent in March.

The programme is being organised in celebration of the incredible journey of the ‘7 Summits Women Team’ from the summit of the Mt. Everest to Mt Kilimanjaro – the tallest peak on African continent, said Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) in its report. Led by Shailee Basnet, the team includes Asha Kumari Singh, Chunu Shrestha, Nimdoma Sherpa, Pema Diki Sherpa, Pujan Acharya and Maya Gurung. The promotional programme will be held at Dar es Salaam and Johannesburg.

The event is aimed at bringing more tourists from Africa to Nepal, said TAAN President Mahendra Singh Thapa. “We have found African tourists, especially from South Africa, interested to visit Nepal. But they are forced to book trips through European countries because they don’t have links with Nepali tourism service providers,” Thapa said adding, “We hope this programme will help establish links between African tour operators and Nepali tourism service providers.”

Team leader Shailee Basnet said the ‘Seven Summit’ campaign is an initiative to promote Nepal internationally. TAAN has provided monetary assistance of US$ 5,000 to the programme, said the association.

Tiger census starts in Chitwan

The counting of the rare Royal Bengal Tiger has started in Chitwan National Park to formulate a long-term plan for its protection and boost its population, state-owned news agency RSS reported.

The entire park area has been divided into different sectors for this purpose, Chief Conservation Officer Phanindra Kharel told RSS. He said the census has been started from the Triveni area in the western part of the park.

One hundred and sixty ultra-modern cameras have been installed and more than 24 technicians mobilized for the census.

A dozen elephants have also been employed for the census being done by adopting the camera-trapping and paw mark method, according to the park office.

The counting would be done by keeping the cameras in a single block for 15 days. It is said that it will take nearly three months for completing the field work.

The Chitwan National Park is home to the largest number of tigers in the country. Works on protection of the tiger are under way here in line with the policy of doubling the tiger population around the world by 2022.

UNESCO undecided on listing Kathmandu as endangered heritage site

With a controversial road that cuts through the Pashupati Monument Zone of Nepali capital Kathmandu still in place, the fate of the city being listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site has remained unpredictable.

In 2011, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the global custodian of world heritages, had suggested the government of Nepal to come up with an alternative to the dirt road that cuts through the Pashupati Area - one of the seven UNESCO-listed monument zones of Kathmandu - citing possible danger the road possess to Pashupati's archaeological and historical value.

According to UNESCO, if one of the seven monument zones of Kathmandu World Cultural Heritage Site - two Hindu sites (Pashupati and Changunarayan), two Buddhist sites (Swayambhunath and Bouddhanath) and three historic sites of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan Durbar Squares - is altered in such a way that the change mars the cultural and natural beauty of the site, the entire Valley will be listed as endangered.

"The government of Nepal has already submitted a detailed report to the UNESCO regarding the case, and various solutions to this problem are being discussed with Nepal's Department of Archaeology, Pashupati Area Development Trust and other stakeholders," said Axel Plathe, the UNESCO Representative to Nepal.

"The report addresses the issue well, which also reflects the seriousness the government of Nepal has taken in the matter."

According to Plathe, the report has been already forwarded to Paris where the World Heritage Center will assess it and submit their conclusion in the upcoming annual meeting of the World Heritage Committee to be held in Cambodia later this year.

Meanwhile, he refuted the rumor that Kathmandu will be de-listed from the World Heritage Site list if it is listed as endangered heritage site yet again. However, he added that like other world heritages across the globe, Kathmandu also has challenges and risks which should be tackled duly.

Earlier in 2003, UNESCO had already listed Kathmandu as an endangered heritage site once, owing to the newly built private houses around the Bouddhanath Monument Zone. The government had to reconstructed the houses complying with the historical designs.

"Just because Kathmandu has certain risks and challenges, it does not mean that the city will be listed as endangered world heritage site,"
Plathe said.

The controversial dirt road was constructed by the United Bagmati Cultural Development Committee, a local committee in the area, in 2007, which the Nepali Road Department and the Pashupati Area Development Trust claimed they had no clue during the inception.

"The constructors (of the road) did not come to us for our consent before dragging a bulldozer through the Pashupati Monument Zone," said Division Chief Gopal Bahadur Khadka of Department of Road Planning.

Similarly, member secretary of Pashupati Area Development Trust Sushil Nahta also lamented that the road was opened without the approval from his organization.

"It was on Saturday the track road was opened right through the middle of Shesmantak Forest of Pashupati Monument Zone," Nahta said. "When the office resumed on Sunday we were shocked after seeing the road in the middle of the forest."

Given the government's address on the matter, it is less likely that Kathmandu Cultural Heritage Site will be listed as endangered site, Plathe said. He also clarified that even if Kathmandu is listed as endangered site, the listing will be aimed at raising awareness for corrective actions from the government and other organisations concerned.

Kathmandu Valley, inscribed as a cultural world heritage site in 1979, is one of the four world heritage sites of Nepal, the other three being the cultural site of Lumbini, and the two natural heritage sites of Chitwan National Park and Sagarmatha National Park.

Pushkar Shah to cycle Great Himalayan Trail

Nepal's famous cyclist Pushkar Shah on Thursday emerged with an adventurous and inspiring mission -- cycling The Great Himalayan Trial for rural development.

Cyclist Shah, 43, who hails from a modest farmer family of Nepal's Dolakha district, had on November 29, 1998 set out from Nepal to travel the world on his bicycle to spread the message of peace. Eleven years later, on May 17, 2010 -- the final day of his successful accomplishment of world tour -- Shah was on the top of the Mount Everest with colorful flags of 192 countries.

After two-and-half years of physical and mental rest from his world cycling expedition for peace, which covered an extraordinary 150 countries and 390,000 kilometers, in a press conference in Kathmandu, Shah,revealed his next mission with an aim to promote The Great Himalayan Trial -- a 1,700 kilometer-long network of existing treks and trails of Nepal stretching from east to west and winding beneath the world's highest peaks.

According to Nepali trekkers, it takes 120 days for a person to walk through the trial, which includes a couple of high passes with altitude above 5000 meters.

Shah and his six-member team, including a mechanic and a photographer, will cycle for 45 days starting on April 5 this year from Western district of Darchula to Eastern Taplejung district.

Nepal bags best exhibit award in Adventure Travel Expo in Australia

Nepal has bagged the first prize in the category of ‘Best Exhibit’ in Adventure Travel Expo held in Melbourne, Australia, February 23-24.

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) bagged the prize for artistically designing Nepal stand and effectively exhibiting Nepal as a preferred holiday adventure destination among the prospective Australian visitors and exhibitors during the Expo.

The delegation led Sushil Ghimire, chairman of NTB and secretary at Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation met and held discussions with NRNs in Melbourne on the their role in promoting Nepal and expressed full support and cooperation from the government and NTB in jointly promoting Nepali culture and tourism in Australia.