Paragliding In Pokhara

The hills in Pokhara are now famous not only for their aesthetic beauty but also for paragliders. Lately, many tourists across the globe visit Pokhara to enjoy thrilling paragliding—they climb up the Sarangkot hill and glide down to the ground near Phewa Lake.

Come Spring season and a group of paragliders can be seen soaring up in the sky from the Sarangkot hill almost everyday. This opportunity provides them with a glimpse of the exotic Himalayas to the north if the sky is clear. The sublime joy experienced by the adventurers of this engineless instrument is inexplicable.

Amrit Bhadgoanle, a journalist by profession, has unforgettable experiences of paragliding. “I really feel like a bird,” he shares his moments.

As the cloudy curtain gradually unfolds revealing an open sky in festive times of Dashain and Tihar the urban folks lie resting on balcony of their buildings to bask in the sun, then they can trace quite a number of paragliders floating voluptuously. Interestingly, unlike a kite or a flying machine these gliders are not controlled. Rather the gliders can move in the desired direction with the help of the ropes attached with their paraglide tents.

This is why British paraglider in Nepal, Adam Hill citing examples from some top international magazines says that Pokhara is among the five best locations for paragliding in the world.

Invention of the flying machine was a great revolution in human civilisation. This helped humans to conquer nature to some context. Hence, paragliding is natural, as it is not done with machine or engines. “Flight in gliders is synonymous to a soaring eagle that goes round and round in the sky controlling itself with its wings,” Dikchhita Gurung, the first woman paraglider in Nepal narrates her experience.

She further says Pokhara is probably the number one destination to savour the beauty of nature while soaring in up the sky like a bird.

Expressing his magnificent joy, Bhadgaonle says, “Nobody wishes to make a descent from the sky once he/she starts feeling the joys of gliding that come with spectacular views of the earth below forming a collage of lakes, green forests, roads, streams and the wilderness.”

Currently, there is only one institution— Sunrise Paragliding Company—that provides paragliding services in Pokhara. According to Rajesh Bomjan, owner of the Sunrise Paragliding Company, his company has been rendering its services to interested paragliders for the last nine years. It has a collection of gliders, which are given out to the individuals, especially foreigners who start their gliding odyssey from the top of Sarangkote hill.

As soon as a whiff of air hits his/her face, the paraglider starts his/her take off after running down the slope before making a final ascent. A plastic cover is used to form the wings of the paraglider consisting of ropes running in all directions. The pull of the ropes helps to balance and direct the Paraglider towards the targeted direction.

The paragilder’s first step after its run, is to assimilate the paraglide into the air inclining down the high hills, however after that, gradually the paraglide begins to soar up above the hill. Some of the paragliders fly soaring until they feel the cool air of Machhapuchhre (Fish Tail) Mountain.

Bomjan has a long experience of Paragliding expedition from Palpa to Pokhara and to Beshisahar, Lamjung. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has allowed paragliding in certain locations in Pokhara. However, it is forbidden around the airport.

Rajesh Bomjan is the first Nepali Paraglider and there are other six more paragliders. Anil Gurung, Binod Bomjan, Shree Chhetri, Arjun Gurung, Dambar Parajuli and Naran Parajuli have the license to operate paragliding services. Two persons can fly in a paraglide once, one piloting and another staying near him. A three-months training is required for a person to become a paraglide pilot.

According to Bomjan, about seven thousand persons including a few Nepalese have taken this thrilling ride. The flight charge per hour is Rs 5500 for the foreigners and Rs 3000 for Nepalese nationals. “ Every year Paragliding flight competition is held in Pokhara” informs Biru Bomjan, former president of TAAN.