Nepal Tourism Year 2011 promoted in UK

Tourism promotion program specially focusing Nepal tourism Year 2011 was held in Wales. The program was organized by the Nepal Embassy, London in coordination with the Wales Nepali Community, Cardiff and Wales Gurkha Community. During the program, a power point presentation exhibiting Nepal’s major tourist destinations, UNESCO heritage sites, flora and fauna and cultural sites of historical importance was shown. Dignitaries attending the program included Dr Suresh C. Chalise, the Ambassador of Nepal to UK, Rt. Hon. Alan Michael JP MP, members of parliament, mayors, councilors, travel and tour promoters as well as prominent members of Nepali community based in Wales.


The Embassy of Nepal, London promoted Nepali tourism and culture at the London Mela. Hosted at Gunnersbury Park in Ealing , London Mela is regarded as the city’s biggest celebration of Asian culture and creativity. Special Nepalese highlights included Nepali cultural dances, Naumati Baja recital and display and promotion of Nepal Tourism Year 2011 at the Nepal Tent House. The embassy also gave away free air tickets to Kathmandu as prizes for the raffle draw.

A Pilgrimage Trek to Gosainkunda

Every year during the festival of Janai Purnima all Hindus visit the river banks or temples for a ritual bath. After the bath the sacred thread called the Janai is changed. Janai is worn by higher Hindu caste males across the left shoulder and tied beneath the right armpit. After passing boyhood, this thread is worn continuously as a symbol of awareness of body, speech and mind; when the knot is tied the wearer is supposed to have gained complete control over each.

During this festival, most Hindu devotees who have the time and can afford it, make a pilgrimage to Gasoinkunda, a high mountain lake north of Kathmandu regarded as sacred to Lord Shiva. A dip in this holy lake is believed to add considerable merit to the devotees.

The lake is situated at 4360 mts just south of the Langtang range of mountain. This secluded valley is also filled with nature's bounty. Here the rare red pandas lurk in dense lichen-draped rhododendron thickets, heard of blue sheep graze the alpine meadows and lammergeyers glide over glaciated valleys amidst scenery of lofty Himalayan peaks.

Although easily approached from Kathmandu, this region is far less trekked than the Annapurna or Everest areas making it all the more attractive for Nature lovers, pilgrims and trekkers alike.

Tourism Crisis Cell Formed

Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB)have signed an agreement on establishing a Tourism Crisis Cell (TCC) to facilitate rescue operation of tourist in case emergency situations and to address other tourist related problems.

HRA has been actively involved in coordinating rescue operation in the mountainous areas in Nepal. HRA will now have establish and operate TCC Secretariat at its office in Kathmandu. The cell can be contacted round the clock through 4442555 and 9751044088 hunting lines.

Trekking Agencies Association, Hotel association of Nepal, Association of Travel and Tour Operators and PATA Nepal chapter are the other members of the cell.

Bagmati River Festival 2010

Adventurehimal Nepal, not lagging behind in its Corporate Social Responsibility is actively supporting Nepal River Conservation Trust (NRCT) in organizing the Annual Bagmati River Festival.

NRCT is a non profit organization with an aim to conserve the natural and cultural heritage of the rivers of Nepal through various conservation, awareness and community development activities. Enthusiastically involved in conserving Nepal's Himalayan River system, preserving Nepal's rich cultural heritage and developing an environmentally responsible river tourism industry.

The 10th Mega Annual Bagmati River Festival, also known as the festival of the 21st century aims to provide a platform for all to work cohesively towards a common goal of maintaining the integrity of Rivers of Nepal. Clean up campaign, Awareness, Bagmati Eco challenge and Water Sports is targeted to making a difference by preventing further damage and loss of natural habitat along the Himalayan Rivers.

Monsoon Madness - Trishuli High Water

Its monsoon time and a calling for all river junkies once again. Not much can be said about the Trishuli river at other times but during the monsoon season, its a story untold. Huge runoffs from the tributary rivers make this river swell and shear with voluminous water making it a sheer delight to whitewater enthusiasts.

A two-day trip starting at Baireni and finishing at Gaighat this is a classic river experience. You run all the good rapids, watch the river grow as its tributaries join, marvel as it cuts its way through impressive gorges before it spills over the lowlands. During the trip, we camp on the sandy beaches surrounded by streaming tropical forest.

Everest Base Camp Selected in 20 Journeys of Lifetime

The UK's leading magazine The Observer, sister publication of UK's Guardian in its Sunday edition published on January 11, 2004 has selected Everest Base Camp of Nepal in 20 Journeys of a Lifetime. Selected by journalist Jill Hartley as great adventures that one never forgets, Everest Base Camp has been placed in the seventh position beating the destination like Galapagos Islands which was placed first by UK's internet based travel company iexplore.com in 2003. Galapagos Islands has been placed in sixteenth position in this list of The Observer. The famous traditional trade route known as Silk Route from Kashgar (China) then Tashkent - Samarkand - Khiva (Uzbekistan) is in eight position.

The Everest Base Camp is the only South Asian destination that has been included in the list. Most of the journeys included in the list are shared by two countries. The journey from Ruta Maya Antigua - Quetzaltenango (Guatemala) to Lake Atitlan - Antigua (Guatemala) via San Cristobal - Palenque - Merida (Mexico), Belize City - Caye Caulker (Belize), Tikal has been selected as number one among 20 journeys.

Free Visas to Nepal for Everest Climbers

Foreign mountaineers who have climbed Mt. Everest and Mt. Dhaulagiri will get a free Nepali visa for two years. The visa fee will be free for year 2010 and 2011 as a part of Nepal Tourism Year 2011 celebration.To mark the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Mt. Dhaulagiri, the visa fee for Dhaulagiri summiteers has also been waived off.

Each foreign climber has to pay USD 5000 to the government of Nepal as royalty for climbing Dhaulagiri, however after the announcement of the rebate on the fee they now have to pay just USD 2500.