Baahrakhari Golf, Symposium to be held in Kathmandu

Kathmandu, Apr. 16

The ninth edition of the ‘Ncell Business Baahrakhari Invitational Golf Tournament’ and the ‘Economic Symposium’ will be held in Kathmandu this year.

Baahrakhari Media announced at a press conference in Kathmandu on Thursday that both events will take place on May 2 at Gokarna Golf Course.

Indian bureaucrat Amitabh Kant will attend the symposium as the keynote speaker. He is the Chancellor of MITT University and former CEO of NITI Aayog.

Speaking at the press conference, Baahrakhari Media Editor-in-Chief Pratik Pradhan said Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle will attend the symposium as chief guest and deliver a special address. Former Finance Secretary Rameshwor Khanal will present a working paper at the event.

Pradhan said the programme aims to link sports and the economy by organising a golf tournament alongside an economic discussion.

Sulabh Bista, Head of Enterprise Business Sales at Ncell, expressed hopes that the event would add new dimensions in connecting sports and economy.

Yamuna Shrestha, Managing Director of Cimex Inc., the authorised distributor of BYD vehicles in Nepal, said the event connects sports and the economy in a practical way. She added that such programmes also provide relief for those experiencing stress in business.

Likewise, Gokarna Golf Club Chairman Suhrid Ghimire said developing sports as an industry could also support tourism.

Sudiksha Adhikari, Brand Manager of Khukuri Rum under Nepal Distillery, said the platform helps raise policy issues with the government, including duty-free facilities at airports and export incentives. She added that the liquor industry contributes significantly to employment and government revenue.

According to Deepak Acharya, Director and Secretary of Gokarna Golf Club, more than 100 invited players will compete, including men, women and senior players aged above 60.

The winner will receive a gold ball, while a BYD Atto 3 car will be awarded for a hole-in-one.

Acharya also highlighted the potential of golf tourism, noting that while an average tourist in Nepal spends USD 20–30 per day, a golf tourist can spend between USD 500 and 1,000 daily.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 17 April 2026.       

NCC holds Diamond Jubilee golf tournament

Kathmandu, Dec. 27

On the occasion of its historic Diamond Jubilee, the Nepal Chamber of Commerce has successfully organised a Corporate Golf Tournament. The tournament, which was participated in by industrialists and businesspeople from the private sector, was held at the Royal Nepal Golf Club in Kathmandu.

The NCC awarded the winners of the tournament on Saturday.

They were honoured with certificates by the Chair of the NCC’s Diamond Jubilee Main Celebration Committee and former President Rajesh Kazi Shrestha, President Kamlesh Kumar Agrawal, Immediate Past President Rajendra Malla, and Senior Vice-President Deepak Malhotra. A total of fifteen winners were awarded prizes in the competition.

On the occasion, Chamber Vice-President and Coordinator of the Golf Tournament, Arjun Sharma, said that the Chamber’s 75-year journey has truly been historic and inspiring. “For more than seven decades, the NCC has been playing a significant role in the development of trade, industry, entrepreneurship, and the private sector in the country,” he said.

Sharma further noted that the Corporate Golf Tournament was organised with the objective of promoting sports tourism in Nepal. He added that the golf tournament organised on the occasion of the historic Diamond Jubilee reflects not only sporting excellence but also the NCC’s social engagement, discipline, focus, integrity, and long-term vision.

To mark its 75^th anniversary and historic Diamond Jubilee, the Chamber has been celebrating this year in a grand manner by organising various programmes.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 28 December 2025.

Salico to hold Golf Tournament

Kathmandu, Nov. 27

Sagarmatha Lumbini Insurance Company (Salico) has announced that it will organise the Salico Golf Tournament 2025 on 28-29 November at the Royal Nepal Golf Club at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, as it has done in previous years.

The tournament will feature 17 different events across various age groups for both male and female participants. The main aim of the competition is to provide a platform for golfers to showcase their skills and to offer an opportunity for those interested in the sport to engage in the game, the company informed in a statement.

Although golf is one of the most popular sports worldwide, its development and growth in Nepal have been slower than expected. The organisers hope that this competition will contribute to the further expansion of the sport in the country.

Among the 17 events, the Hole-in-One category will feature a prize sponsored by Sipradi Trading Pvt. Ltd., which will offer a TATA Nexon K3 EV. Other prizes for different events include Sky Diving experiences for two participants sponsored by Simrik Air, and a Gosaikunda helicopter trip for one winner, sponsored by Kailash Helicopter.

The organisers also emphasised the importance of life insurance, noting that increasing awareness of the need for insurance to cover various risks is essential in today’s context. The company aims to raise awareness about the role of life insurance among participants in sports events such as golf, where risk management is an important consideration.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 28 November 2025.

Manjushree Trail Race competition from today

Bhairahawa, Nov. 9

The 170-kilometer-long Manjushree Trail Race competition is announced to begin from Friday, November 10. It will last for three days, till Sunday.

This competition marks the third edition of one of the most awaited events that began seven years ago, informed the organiser of the event, Manjushree Trail Race (MTR).

The race is scheduled to commence at 6:00 am on the first day, starting from Kalu Pandey Hill in Daha Chok, Kathmandu, and spanning a challenging distance of 170 kilometres.

"Within the framework of the Manjushree Trail Race, participants have the flexibility to select from three distinct race categories, covering distances of 92 km, 54 km, and 24 km, originating from Jhule, Chapkharka, and Pharping, respectively," the organiser informed in a statement on Thursday.

These routes encompass a diverse terrain, featuring descents, ascents, and flat sections. Each of these races will culminate at the Kalu Pandey Hill in Daha Chok.

Subas Thapa, chairman of the organising committee, said that the male and female champions of the challenging 170-kilometre race will earn the opportunity to represent Nepal at the 'Ultra Tour Monte Rosa (UTMR)' event, set to occur in Switzerland in 2024.

"The UTMR stands as a renowned international race, providing trail runners a platform to showcase their talents on the global stage. The organisers have pledged cash prizes and coveted 'Adventure Gear' awards for the winners," read the statement by the MTR.

Arjun Rai from Nepal had won the previous year's race which was participated by 42 Nepali and 31 foreign runners.

The idea for this race route was initially conceived by internationally acclaimed trail runners Lissy Hawker, Seth Wolpin, and Roger Henke in 2015.

According to the International Trail Running Association (ITRA), a global organisation headquartered in France and responsible for evaluating and standardising the proficiency of trail runners on an international scale, participants who successfully complete the 'Manjushree Trail Race' are eligible to receive a six-digit rating, which is regarded as the minimum qualification for participation in international trail races.

The organisers have established 19 checkpoints along the race route that meanders through various locations, including Ramkot, Jamacho, Teenpiple, Gorje Bhanyang, Shivapuri Peak, Chisapani, Jarsing Pauwa, Nagarkot, Nalagumba, Sanga, Ranikot, Lakuri Bhanyang, Fulchoki, Lele, Bagmati Khola, Pharping, Hattiban, Chandragiri, and Chitlang, ultimately circling back to Kalu Pande Hill.

 Published in The Rising Nepal on 10 November 2023.

First MBAN sports meet being held next week

 Kathmandu, Aug. 31

Under the coordination of Merchant and Bankers Association of Nepal (MBAN), various sports competitions are planned to be organised for the first time for 'MBAN Sports Meet 2022'.

The event is being organised with the theme 'Together for a healthy lifestyle, and members of the MBAN, regulator body, and other concerned organisations are going to participate, said the organiser.

Various competitions of futsal, table tennis and badminton have been included in the tournament. Table tennis and badminton competitions will be held in men's and women's categories while futsal competitions will be held in men's category only.

All competitions will be conducted as per the national and international rules of the games.

Along with the opening of the programme, table tennis and badminton matches will be held at the Dhanwantari Futsal at the Bhatkeko Pul on 2 and 3 September, while the futsal matches will be held at the Dhuku Futsal Hall in Chandol on 9 and 10 September. The concluding ceremony will be held on 10^th September. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 1 September 2022. 

Chandragiri adds hiking trail, cycle track to its tourism products

 Kathmandu, Oct. 29

Hiking and cycling enthusiasts in the Kathmandu Valley have new products ready in Chandragiri Municipality.

The city has recently developed a 1.5 kilometre hiking trail and 5 km cycling track in the jungle of Chandragiri hill.

The hiking trail begins at Matatirtha, a famous pilgrimage site to pay homage to mothers, and ends at the foothill about 300 metres away from Matatirtha, making a half circle in the jungle.

New hiking trail is fresh and organic. No concrete structures are used, only stones and wooden pieces are used to make stairs to develop the trail up the hill. One can enjoy the greenery, birds’ chirpings, cool breeze and a magnificent view of the Valley from the south-western side.

A landing area is constructed about half-way of the trail where hikers can enjoy a panoramic view of the Valley and snow-capped mountains in the north in a clear day. Ward Chairman of Chandragiri-6 Sanjaya Sigdel said that wooden waste baskets will soon be installed at various locations along the track.

The developers of the track have also designed a shrine at the highest point of the trail where a couple of stones are set as they would be in any Deurali, a point on the way after climbing a hill from where the trail goes down. There is a culture of installing stones at Deurali where travellers offer flowers in a wish to make their travel safe.

Although the initial climb is steep, the dense forest makes the journey refreshing. Since the length of the trail is just 1.5 km, it is perfectly suitable for family hiking or short time out from the bustling life of the city.

The cycle track also stretches along the jungle at the foot of the hill. Mohan Raj Khatri, Chairman of the Tourism Development Society in Chandragiri, said that the trail will be promoted as the adventure sports product. "We had organised a 22-km cycle rally in the past and we have applied the lessons learned in developing this track," he said.

Chandragiri Municipality has some of the most attractive tourist destinations and pilgrimage sites like the Chandragiri Cable Car, Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple, Matatirtha, Indra Daha and Tribhuvan Park which attract hundreds of thousands domestic and international tourists.

Mayor Ghanashyam Giri informed that the new infrastructure will help in supporting the development in the community and municipality.

The cycle track and hiking trail are developed under the Sustainable Tourism for Livelihood Recovery Project (STLRP) jointly executed by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). They have enrolled the Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) as an implementation partner of the project. The programme aimed at employing 3,000 workers for 10-40 days in various infrastructure development and maintenance programmes.

The project aims at employing the tourism sector workers who lost their jobs and income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. National Programme Coordinator of the STLRP Mani R. Lamichhane said that the NTB and UNDP funded project plans to employ about 100,000 tourism workers.

Workers from the tourism sector are selected by TAAN in cooperation with the trade unions. Abhishek BK, a mountain guide from Solukhumbu who had been guiding tourists to the Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp, has worked for eight days in the construction of cycle track.

 "I was trained by National Academy of Tourism and Hospitality Management in 2012 and earning more than 250,000 in a season but for the last two years the income source is disturbed," he said.

However, BK has not lost hope and expected to be back in his job by the next season. 

  Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 30 October 2021.

Shivam Cement sponsors Kathmandu Kings XI

Kathmandu, Sept 17

Shivam Cement has become the main sponsor of the Kathmandu Kings XI (KKXI) for the upcoming season of Everest Premier League (EPL).

The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the team for the same on.

EPL's this year competitions will be held from September 25 – October 9 at the Tribhuvan University ground in kiritipur.

Shivam Cement has collaborated with Kathmandu Kings XI as the Strength Partner for the tournament, said the company in a statement on Thursday.

Besides the collaboration with the team, the company will also be associated with the broadcast of the EPL in Nepal as Strength Partner during the tournament period.

Altogether 6 teams are playing for the coveted title in the league.

Led under the captaincy of iconic bowler Sandeep Lammichanne, international players like Shahid Afridi and Janak Prakash, national star players like Gulshan Jha, Subash Khakurel, Siddhant Lohani and other star players shall be playing from KKXI side during the tournament.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily. 

NCC holds race competition on 70th anniversary

Kathmandu, Mar. 6

Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) has organised a race competition on Saturday as a part of its 70^th anniversary celebrations.

About 315 individuals participated in the race organised in three segments of students, media persons and businesspersons. 

Udaya Limbu of Aadarsha Saula Yuvak Secondary School won the race from students section while Unish Ale Magar of Nepalaya Education Foundation and Aadarsha Saula’s Pravin Tamang stood second and third from among students.

Similarly, Panchakanya Secondary School’s Sarita Ramtel and Sonu Ghatane became first and second in the girls students segment. Anju Khadka of Gandhi Aadarsha School became third.

From journalists, Ramesh Shakya of Mahanagarkhabar, Bal Krishna Dangol of Apsara Weekly and Nikesh Khatri of Dekhapadhi stood first, second and third respectively. Likewise, Sachindra Pradhananga, Nabaraj Dhakal and Manik Ratna Shakya were the winners respectively from businesspersons.

Chief of Army Staff Purna Chandra Thapa distributed prizes to the winners. NCC felicitated senior marathon runner Baikuntha Manandhar and Ram Krishna Maharjan on the occasion.

NCC President Rajesh Kazi Shrestha said that the race was organised to promote healthy body and healthy mind.

The oldest business association in the country, established in 2007 BS in the name of ‘Banik Mandal’ and later renamed as Nepal Chamber of Commerce in 2010, is organising multitudes of programmes to mark the 70^th year of its establishment.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 7 March 2021. 

Last Resort of Sindhupalchowk reopens

Kathmandu, Nov. 20

 After a complete shut down for more than eight months after the advent of coronavirus pandemic, the Last Resort in Sindhupalchowk has reopened for the adventure seekers.

The resort operates adventure sports activities like bungee, canyon swing, canyoning, rafting, and rock climbing, and offers hospitality services.

But as a safety measures, it has not operated transportation service and requested clients to come on their own transport to the resort which is about 100 km away and a four-hour drive from Kathmandu.

"We have necessary COVID-19 protocol in pace and request everyone to have their masks on and maintain a safe distance at all times," it said in a statement.

Currently, services at the resort are operated four days a week – Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It has also announced discount as an offer price till 6 December 2020.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 21 November 2020. 

SAG strengthens relations among South Asian nations: Prez Bhandari

Kathmandu, Dec. 11

President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun Wednesday congratulated the national players who bagged medals in the 13^th South Asian Games (SAG) that concluded here on Tuesday.

President Bhandari tweeted to congratulate the medal winning players. She also appreciated the National Sports Council, coaches, referees and other stakeholders for the successful organisation of the competition. "The competition has further strengthened the cordial relations among the South Asian countries and people," she said.

Similarly, VP Pun issued a statement to express his happiness on the grand and successful organisation of the 13^th edition of the regional sports competition.

He congratulated all the winners.

"I would like to appreciate the government, Ministry of Youth and Sports, NSC, security agencies, staff, sports officials and concerned agencies for the historical organisation of the competition," said VP Pun.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 12 December 2019. 

Rafting in Trishuli is enthralling all seasons

Kathmandu, Nov. 17

It seems the Trishuli River offers rafting opportunity throughout the year.

While many people in the hills have begun to feel the chill in the morning and evening as the mercury is going down, a group of enthusiasts spent a day in the Trishuli River rafting down  the whiter water.
The blue water splashed on their faces and bodies. Some fell in the water and many splashed waters each other. An, it all happened as if it was a summer season.


In the morning, Pawan Bayalkoti, Executive Member of Gandaki Rural Municipality, was complaining to Ram Prasad Regmi, Ward chair of Gandaki – 8 that the time was not suitable, instead the programme should have been organised around the Dashain.


 However, after flowing down a couple of kilometres and having a couple of splashes of Trishuli water on his face, he said, "Wow, it is wonderful. The water is not that much cold."


A girl jumped in the water and enjoyed swimming for a couple of minutes. Rafter Nakkale said that it was not very cold in the river and the people come for rafting even during the winter, occasionally.

The 14-km long rafting from Benighat to Jawang Khola enthralled all. Dil Bahadur Gurung, Proprietor of River Life Camp in Wheeling – the ending point of the trip, welcomed them with fresh launch prepared from locally available products.

While people were savouring the food, Gurung said that he created the entire camp on his own and it had long been benefitting the villagers as well.


The Big-Fig Resort at Benighat had served the breakfast. Rajan Shrestha, Manager of the resort, said that while the Trishuli River was an option for adventure and entertainment for tourists, it had been a lifeline for many locals.


Chairmen of Gandaki Rural Municipality Ward Nos. 6, 7 and 8  - the organisers of the event - Tulasi Regmi, Jeevan Gurung and Ram Prasad Regmi said that the programme was organised on the eve of the Visit Nepal Year 2020 to promote tourism in the village.


Ward chair Regmi said that the local people and government should be benefitted by the Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign.


"Our aim is to promote historic Mallapuri at the confluence of the Trishuli and the Budhigandaki, Chitradevi and Munthala Mai temples, Bhairabhi Hill and local homestays in the village," he said.


Mallapuri is a palace built by the Malla kings about 250 years ago. The area has both historic and religious importance. Dhading district was known as the Salyankot kingdom which was ruled by Malla king and later was annexed to Gorkha empire by king Prithvi Narayan Shah, before he conquered the Kathmandu Valley.


Minister for Land Management and Cooperatives of Gandaki State Lekha Bahadur Thapa Magar, Member of the House of Representatives Hari Raj Adhikari, District Police Chief Om Adhikari and Chief of Budhigandaki Hydroelectricity Project Krishna Bahadur Karki also couldn't hide their excitement as they continued their journey down the river with the local people, government officials and businesspersons.


Excited Minister Thapa Magar said that the Trishuli was just the face of the tourism promotion, there were many attractions in the district. "Manaslu peak, Rubi Nala Valley, tourism track, Manakamana Temple, Gorkha Durbar and surroundings, Siranchok and Ligligkot are just a few of them, there are many natural, historical and religious attractions," he said.


He said that the state government would support the local bodies in creating tourism infrastructure, including view towers in Bhairavi Hill in Bhumlichowk, Firfire and Upallokot.


He suggested all the local bodies to identify locations that have high tourism potential.


Devendra Lamichhane, Chief District Officer of Gorkha, said that it was necessary to promote domestic tourism to mobilise local economy and create employment. He suggested that the local bodies should organise such programmes to attract more people to the new locations so that both the hosts and visitors could benefit.


"Most of the tourist activities are city-centric so we have to invite domestic and foreign tourists to new locations. There are many things to display such as demographic and natural diversity, historical and religious heritages and unique cultures," he said.


Lawmaker from Gorkha Hari Raj Adhikari urged the concerned government and private sector institutions to prepare tourism development plan.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 18 November 2019. 

LCCI to organise walkathon to raise funds for heritage restoration

Lalitpur, Aug. 19

Lalitpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) is organising a walkathon to generate awareness about the heritage reconstruction and preservation and raise funds for their restoration. 


The 19-km long walkathon will be organised on September 21, 2019. 


It will start from Patan, Mangal Bazaar and conclude in Khokana. There will be eight points from where the participants can start their walk – Mangal Bazaar, Sana Gaun, Lubhoo, Harisiddhi, Dhapakhel, Sunakothi, Thecho and Bungmati. 


The participants can join or leave the walkathon from any stop as per their convenience. “Medical teams will be ready in each stop and ambulances will be ready in case of emergency,” said Krishna Lal Maharjan, President of LCCI. 


LCCI also wants to contribute to the Visit Nepal Year 2020 through the walkathon. 


Maharjan said that Rs. 500 would be raised from each participant as the registration fee while Kumari Bank has supported with t-shirts and lunch. 


LCCI has aimed to attract more than 2,000 people in the event and hoped that it would be a milestone in the development of tourism attractions and heritages in Lalitpur district. 


Local entrepreneurs urged the government to spend a certain per cent of the income earned from the tourist fee in developing tourist facilities.



 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 20 August 2019. 

'Karnali may host world's longest river rafting'

Kathmandu, May 8: Nepal is preparing to host the world's longest rafting activity in the Karnali River.

The government is planning to operate the adventure sports in the 210-km long section of Karnali from Tibet border in the north to the Indian border in the south, said Suraj Vaidya, coordinator of the Visit Nepal Year 2020.

"Experts from Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA) have gone for feasibility study of the river in order to find suitability of rafting in all parts of the river," he said.

If everything goes well, the longest river in the country will witness rafting world cup or Asian Rafting Championship happening there, Vaidya said.

Currently, rafting in the Amazon is the longest in the world which is about 200 km long.

The VNY 2020 secretariat has also planned to use Yeti as Nepal's mascot.

"Every country has its own mascot, therefore, we plan to create 108 Yeti statue and install them across the country," said Vaidya.

He said that Nepal must focus on the tourist markets where it has direct flights and Vietnam and Cambodia could be new source markets.

Nepal plans to sign air transport agreement with Vietnam during visit of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli who will make the trip to Vietnam and Cambodia from May 9 to 13. The two countries have a large Buddhist population and are important tourist source market.

Flights to and fro Vietnam will be conducted from the Gautam Buddha International Airport, Bhairahawa.

Meanwhile, Nepal Tourism Board and VNY Secretariat are working with the Lonely Planet to develop effective tourism promotion plans and position Nepali tourism destinations in the international markets.

"The government is also preparing to hold Nepal Tourism Investment Summit by the end of this year where all provinces will collaborate with the federal government. This is an initiative beyond VNY 2020," said Vaidya.

"As the cost of doing business in high in Nepal, we have proposed the government to give us land to make tourism parks so that integrated services can be offered to the tourists," he said.

Similarly, the secretariat has proposed to conduct Shiva Shakti Parikrama (round) on 26 November 2019 to promote religious shrines in Nepal. Since, Buddhist Circuit and Ramayan Circuit have most of their parts in India, Shiva Shakti project will create greater tourist engagement in Nepal.

Likewise, World Heritage Day bike ride, Kathmandu by night, Namaste centres at the southern border points and new mobile app are in the plan for the preparation of the VNY 2020.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 9 May 2019. 

Zip line comes into operation in Kavre

Dhulikhel, March 13:

Adventure sports lovers in the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding districts have a new product to relish. A zip line has come into operation in Dhulikhel, a tourist city about 30 km east of the capital.

The nearest adventure product from the Kathmandu Valley runs on a 1.1 km-long rope from Dhulikhel Municipality – 8, Thakle to Panchkhal Municipality – 5, Khawa in Kavrepalanchowk district, and covers the vertical drop of about 100 metres.

The launch pad of the zip line in Thakle is at the height of 1300 metres from sea level and landing station at 1200 m.

"One can move down at the speed of 60-95 km, and it takes about 1 minute 20 seconds to reach the landing station. We can make about 60 people go down in a day," said Kedar Thapa, chairman of World Wide Adventure Pvt. Ltd, the company that runs Dhulikhel Zip Line project.

The company has offered three categories of zip lining – normal, tandem and superman, of which,  tandem and superman are new in the country, claimed Thapa who is also the Treasurer of the Nepal Trans-Himalayan Border Trade Association.

One person goes down in a sitting position in normal type while others can go down in superman style in superman category and tandem can carry two individuals at a time.

According to Thapa, a healthy individual above 13 years of age can slide down the rope.

"We are building a Children Adventure Camp here with Zip Line, various kinds of bridges such as V-Shape and Tyre and other facilities. All the facilities will be as per the international standards," said Bhupesh Shrestha another promoter of the project. The company charges Rs. 2500, Rs. 3500 and Rs. 4500 for normal, superman and tandem category respectively.

Himalayan peaks like Langtang, Dorje Lakpa and Phurbi Chyachu can be seen from the location.

The company has invested about Rs. 47 million and total investment will be about 70 million. "Our aim is to offer anew product to the domestic as well as international tourists during the Visit Nepal Year 2010, especially those visiting Kathmandu Valley and Dhulikhel," said Shrestha.

After the operation of Arniko Highway, which was damaged in the 2015 earthquake and is slated to reopen from May this year, the Zip Line can attract more Chinese tourists.

The company is planning to run shuttle services from Kathmandu and Bhaktapur to Dhulikhel and inaugurate the commercial operation within a couple of weeks.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 14 March 2019. 

Flying high in Godavari

Kathmandu, Jan. 15: As the capital the Kathmandu Valley lacks spots for recreational and other fun activities, open spaces and play grounds, as compared with its peers in other countries.

In recent years, it has started offering a few options for adventure and outdoor activities like cycling, hiking and cable car.

Paragliding at Godavari has become a new option to the adventure seekers, tourists and locals in the valley as it simultaneously offers adventure and the view of the Himalayas, the Kathmandu Valley and beautiful nature.

Kathmandu Paragliding has resumed its adventure sports services at Godavari of Lalitpur district after being shut for almost five years due to technical causes and 2015 earthquake.

Paragliding lovers can enjoy fly from Chapakharka and can go up to 2,100 m to 3,200 m high in the sky.

“We can pick up those who want to come to paragliding from any location in the Kathmandu Valley and take up to the hill in Chapakharka in Godavari.

 Paragliding starts from the hilltop and landing can be done at the top or bottom of the hills in Godavari,” said Narayan Aryal, Managing Director of the company.

The company charges Rs. 8,000 per person for Nepali citizens and Rs. 11,300 for foreigners.

Currently, six gliders are in operation in the area and up to 25 individuals can fly in a day and all six gliders can be operated at a time.

The company has made more than 1000 flights in the last five years with Nepali and Korean pilots. A senior citizen of 85 years and a 4.5 years child had flown from the Godavari top. “We give utmost priority to security of the gliders. There is an insurance provision as per the airlines system,” said Aryal.

Korean Instructor Song said that the paragliding offers majestic view of the Himalayas on the north, Lalitpur, Kathmandu and Bhaktapur cities and green forests below.

"On a fine day, the gliders can be taken up to the Phulchoki hill," he said.

Established in 2007, the company is running as a Korean-Nepali joint-venture business with Nepali investors having 51 per cent stakes.  Rs. 30 million was invested in the business.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 16 January 2019. 

Paanch Pokhari wins Nepal-Pak T20

Kathmandu, Dec. 21:

Paanch Pokhari Cricket Club has won the Nepal-Pakistan Friendship T-20 Cricket Tournament organised by the Embassy of Pakistan Kathmandu.

 Royal Indoor Cricket Club finished the runner-up.

Chairman of the National Assembly Ganesh Timilsina gave away the prizes to the winners of the tournament.

A total of 16 Nepali cricket clubs participated in the 10-day tournament in the fourth annual event of its type.

Timilsina lauded the efforts of the embassy in organising the sports event and underlined the huge potential to develop bilateral relations between Pakistan and Nepal through organiing such sports events.

Pakistani Ambassador to Nepal Mazhar Javed said that he would further energise the embassy's effort to bring the youths of two countries closer together. "This is an important pillar of the people-to-people contacts between Pakistan and Nepal," he said.

The winners received the Pakistan-made cricket kits.

Mayor of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City Bidya Sunder Shakya had inaugurated the tournament on December12.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 December 2018. 

A plunge, or Two, For Your Adrenaline Rush

‘Walk like a penguin and jump like a bird’, that is how you should make a bungee jump – teaches the bungee guide. But as you get out of the suspension bridge to the jumping platform, chances are that that you don’t even realise when the idea of jumping like a bird evaporates from you mind. Awe creeps in from the feet and shoots up your mind. You feel the thrill of your adrenaline rushing up and down your spine. The guide carefully takes you to the edge of the platform, holding you from the harness set on your body. With half of your feet out of the platform, the guide counts – One, Two, Three … bungee! And, you jump.

The climax of your bungee adventure lasts for the 3 seconds as you fall from the bridge. A movie camera from the bridge and Go-Pro camera on your wrist capture your every move. If you are seeking a day's break from your daily business or profession, bungee can be a perfect choice. Many young people take a bungee jump to show their courage and share the thrilling moments with their peers and families.

Every year, ten thousand thrill seekers and adventure-sports lovers go bungee jumping in the gorge of the thundering Bhotekoshi River, says Bhuwan Sharma, General Manager of The Last Resort, the bungee operator.

People choose adventure sports for stress-release, team building and fun or remedy to tensioin in their professional, personal and social life. The fear and ecstasy that you feel a couple of moments before the jump and the relief you experience after the fall is beyond your expectation.

New Zealander late David Allardice and Nepali Bishnu Neupane had established the resort in 1999 in Panglang of Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality of Sindhupalchowk district. They built a suspension bridge to start bungee and rafting. The bridge connects Pyangthali and Panglang villages. Later on, the resort added other adventure sport facilities like canyoning, rock climbing, Jacobs ladder and abseiling.

The Last Resort also offers swing and tandem swing services. With a harness in your body, you can jump from the suspension bridge to the gorge of Bhotekoshi river and enjoy the swing. Tandem swing allows two person at a time, a perfect thing with your beloved, and preserve the memory for lifetime. Love is said to grow with people experiencing awe together. Why not dare your fiancée to jump from the bridge with you, good luck!

You can buy the video and photographs of your jump from the camera crew at the resort. Bungee jump for Nepali costs Rs. 6,300 – including two-way travel from Kathmandu and lunch. Video comes at Rs. 2,500 along with a t-shirt. Foreigners have to pay 105 US Dollars for the bungee package.

Play with water

Canyoning in Panglang river is another attraction. This activity includes climbing down eight water falls – 157 meters total distance - with the help of a rope and harnessing your body, playing with white water falling from 45 metres, the height which otherwise could have scared you even at its sight. You get to experience the hidden beauty of a mountain stream – cold water, flowers and other plants, animals and butterflies. The guides never let you realise that you are performing the feat for the first time. Safety of the canyoneer is our first priority, water falls are quite high and a small mistake might cause an accident, said Ram Shrestha, a canyoning crew.

Bungy and canyoning are open four days a week – Sunday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from December to February and June to August. For the rest of the year, it is open for all days except Monday. Tight, close shoes and comfortable clothes are must for every activity. If you are going for the canyoning, do have extra pairs of shoes and undergarments to change the drenched body wears.

Rafting looks to be for the people who love group adventure. Do it with shorts, t-shirt, strap sandals, cap, sun screen and a towel.

The water of Panglang was not in use except a small irrigation system until the Last Resort started the adventurous hidden Canyoning. Using the locally available resources, it is now attracting thousands of tourists. It buys the vegetables produced by the nearby villagers. Likewise, of its total 56 employees, 44 are the locals.

If you have time, you can also enjoy a 20 metre high rock climbing which at a 15 minutes' walk from the resort. Jacobs ladder is in the resort-premises.

The Last Resort has amazing stories to tell. One is of Peter Horsefeld who jumped from the bridge 16 times in a day and walked up from the river even as he was suffering from diarrhea, shared Sharma. Bishesh, Sharma's son, jumped at barely 10 years of age, and is probably the youngest to jump from the Bhotekoshi bridge. Similarly, a 72 years old Argentinian citizen did a bungee in 2009.

Quake terror

Sindhupalchowk was one of the districts severely hit by the devastating Gorkha Earthquake in 2015. Private houses, government buildings, schools and health facilities and road infrastructure were completely damaged. The Arniko Highway, a road connecting Kathmandu to Tatopani, the northern border-point with China, was damaged at multiple locations and landslides had obstructed it at as many places.

The resort business lost domestic and foreign visitors, including a substantial number of overland Chinese tourists staying at the resort on their way to Kathmandu or back to China. Multiple landslides left pockmarks on the surrounding hills. We thought we had no chance of running the adventure sports here, Sharma said.

With luck, Sharma and his team brought professional geologists to the site soon enough. National Society for Earthquake Technology (NSET) and Durham University, United Kingdom did geological inspection and provided guidelines to reopen the business. Still about 13 ropanis of land is at risk and is still not used by the resort. “Our business recovered but its nature has changed. We used to receive European and Chinese tourists, now Nepali and Indian adventure seekers have increased notably,” shared Sharma. The resort receives about 12 thousand tourists a year.

The Last Resort has the capacity of 44 persons but can accommodate up to 70 individuals in with additional tents setup. Daily, about 40 people can make bungee jump, 20 go cannoning and 20 try tandem and swing. It offers 20 per cent discounts to the people of surrounding villages in every activity happening there.

Adventure sports in Nepal

Bungee jumping, paragliding, kayaking, cannoning, rock climbing, mountain biking, rafting, ultra-light flying, hiking, hot-air ballooning trekking, canoeing, zip-lining and jungle safari are the major adventure-sports available in Nepal. The mountain rivers offer amazing white-water rafting and canoeing experience. Bhotekoshi, Kaligandaki and Tamor are specially famous for it. 

With the advent of rafting in Sunkoshi, the recipe for adventure is growing. The tourists of Pokhara are offered hot-air ballooning and zip-lining. High Ground Adventure offers you bungee and zip-lining adventures in Pokhara while another zip-lining is being built on the Chandragiri hill. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily's Friday Supplement on 23 November 2018. 

Neha Dhupiya launches new Puma outlet

Kathmandu, Oct. 24: The sportswear brand Puma Monday launched its new store at Durbarmarga.

Bollywood actress Neha Dhupiya launched the new store amidst a programme.

The store houses a wide range of Puma's latest performance and sport style products ranging from lifestyle to football, running gear and gym wear.

The products are divided into different categories and displayed at the story.

Dhupia said that she used the Puma sportswear even before her association with the brand as the brand ambassador.

"It's comfortable and stylish. You can use it in any occasion," she said.

Talking about the new store Puma India's managing director Abhishek Ganguly said, "We are thrilled to expand our footprints in Nepal. It is an important market for us and we are hoping that these will prove to be our first few steps in the larger scheme of thing to come."

He claimed that the company wanted to provide the most stylish products.

The German brand distributes its products in more than 120 countries.