Middle East, especially Dubai is emerging as a prime destination for the tourists from all over the world. With the view to cater and enhance the traffic flow from the Middle East market. The NTB, in association with Nepal Airlines Corporation and eight travel trade companies took part at Arabian Travel Market being held in Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center. The exhibition that held from May 4-7 saw the participation of Gorkarna Forest Golf Resort, The Everest Hotel, Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu, De’l Annapurna Hotel, Nepal Nova Treks and Expedition, Kundalini Tours and Travels, Explore Nepal, Yeti Travels from Nepal. The exhibition was inaugurated amongst thousands of trade visitors from around the world on the presence of Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai on May 4. Arjun Bahadur Thapa, ambassador and Dipak Adhikari, deputy chief of mission in Nepal Embassy Abu ...

The Day Women Descend On the Streets - Utsav Shakya The Rato Matsyendranath festival: a celebration that mixes religion, culture and everyday life into a heady concoction might as well be famous for something other than just that - primal screaming sounds from women of all ages as they pull the famous chariot on the ‘yaka bhujya’ day of the festival. For a moment, this scribe was reminded of maternity wards in hospitals! Armies of women of all ages fill the streets. Some in comfortable kurta salwars or jeans and others in bright, red saris tucked tightly into their hips tug at the towering chariot, their sneaker adorned or sometimes bare feet digging into the earth as they heave at the chariot of god, demonstrating a freakish strength. Whoever said women are only emotionally ...

An unprecedented cycling venture, on an unmarked route Muktinath to Lo-manthang - David Yonjan Mustang is located in the north-east of Nepal, bordering China (Tibet) on the Central Asian plateau between the Nepalese provinces of Dolpo and Manang. It is roughly 80 km long (north-south) and 45 km at its widest, and is at an elevation of over 2500 m. Lo Manthang! I had never heard the name before and my imagination was running wild trying to put a picture to the place. So I did what any normal person would do in such a situation. I googled ‘Lo Manthang’ and was instantly flooded with information! Lo Manthang – a walled city, is the capital of Mustang, an ancient Himalayan kingdom at an elevation of nearly 3800 ...

The Sherpa People of Illam - Utsav Shakya A sizeable community of Sherpa people lives in Illam, Nepal’s tea district that borders on India. They are fine examples of how a community is defined as much by the conditions they live in as by time-tested traditions. A huge tree, unearthed, lay inclined in the middle of the road, a part of its roots still in the ridge that had followed us on our left. Our vehicle, an old Land Rover, slowed down and then stopped a few feet away from the tree. The tree was too heavy to be lifted and there were not enough people to even try such an option. It was decided that we would walk the rest of the way to Khopi. I had been trekking with a photographer friend on assignment in the scenic, mountain villages of Illam in Eastern Nepal and our travels so far had been problem free. But soon, another, graver problem presented itself. The only space the Land Rover had to make an about turn and head back after leaving us was a little ahead of the fallen tree. On our right, a sheer drop of at least fifty feet into a small rocky river added to the tension. There was no way Raju, our driver, could back the huge four wheel drive to another space about a kilometer behind us. But inch by inch Raju turned the vehicle until it lay sideways; covering almost the entire width of the road and then all turned it all the way around. When we finally got to a misty, cold Khopi later that afternoon, a warm Sherpa family awaited us. We would spend our first night in the hills there. In fact, every day for the seven days that we trekked through the hills of Illam, we took refuge in the homes of local Sherpas. How did so many Sherpas, indigenous to Solukhumbu district end up here? What had brought so many of them here and for what purpose? When had they come here? Although my knowledge about Sherpas was not confined to just their fame as trustworthy porters and guides, rather shamefully, I did not know a lot about them either.

The Australian Embassy in Kathmandu celebrated the golden jubilee of diplomatic relations between Australia and Nepal. Australia and Nepal have enjoyed their diplomatic relationship for nearly half the century. Nepal is a popular travel and trekking destinations of many foreigners including Australians. Having Australian Embassy in Nepal makes lot easier for Australian citizens living and travelling in Nepal and for Nepalese desiring and planning to visit, study and migrate to Australia. This 50 year celebration was marked with a series of events and cultural exchange programs. The Australian Embassy hosted a live concert on the eve of 14th February with Sydney-based Latin Jazz band Tigramuna and Nepali musicians entertaining more than 200 friends of the embassy outside Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory, Jhamkishel. The embassy is also hosting a festival of contemporary Australian films for five days from Friday February 19th, which includes eight recent Australian feature films and six short films. The films highlight the history, culture and ...

The Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN) has organised a five-day handicraft trade fair and craft competition from Feb. 18-22 at Exhibition Hall, Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu. This event is organized with an aim to develop internal handicraft trade, motivate entrepreneurs and artisans and promote the export of Nepali handicraft goods. The fair is the platform to observe and explore the various unseen indigenous products brought from different corners of the country.  The event has handicraft products such as pashmina, silver jewellery, woollen goods, paubha paintings, wooden craft, metal craft, dhaka products, handmade paper products, bamboo products, bead items and many more in 150 stalls. According to the organizers, a display of life-size Buddha statues and a craft competition between seven special pavilions are its major attractions. The entrance ticket has been set at Rs. 100 each while there is a discount for general visitors and students with ID cards. The fair is expected to attract 300,000 visitors and ...

Nepal being hopeful awaits to welcome at least two lakh Indian tourists through the campaign “Nepal Tourism Year 2011”.  Public Relations and Publicity Department, Director of Nepal Tourism Board, Mr. Aditya Baral said, “Earlier, Jet Airways, was limited to Delhi-Kathmandu flight but now it has started operations from Mumbai to Nepal. Apart from that Kingfisher has also started flights to Nepal and Spicejet has keen interest to start its services in the same sector.” According to NTB statistics, there is an annual flow of around one lakh Indian tourists in Nepal. This campaign is expecting the increase in arrival by double. Baral said that the tourism board is undertaking major campaigns globally to showcase Nepal as a vital tourist and business destination for corporate meetings and vacations, adding he said, “Apart from global campaigns, we are holding campaigns in major Indian cities to attract all sections of Indian tourists including those wanting to travel for spiritual reasons. Indian nationals have no travel ...