Tag: Kathmandu

India is top inbound tourist market for Nepal in February 2024

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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India has emerged as Nepal’s primary inbound tourist market in February, the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) announced on March 2, signalling a gradual recovery for the tourism sector in the erstwhile Himalayan kingdom from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Out of the total 97,426 tourists that arrived in the country via air route last month, 25,578 were from India, making it the leading source of inbound tourism. China followed with 9,180 visitors, and the US came in third with 9,089 visitors, according to the data.

Thailand secured the fourth position with 4,799 inbound visitors, while the UK and Bangladesh ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, with 4,571 and 4,099 tourists each. Mani Lamichhane, Director of the NTB, noted that although the data reported over 25,000 Indian visitors in February, the actual number is likely higher due to a significant number of tourists arriving from India via land routes.

Also read: Over 10 lakh foreign tourists visited Nepal in 2023; maximum from India

In January, Nepal welcomed 18,041 visitors from India. The number of tourists arriving by air in Nepal in February marked a 33% increase from February 2023, when 73,255 visitors arrived. Compared to February 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw 102,423 tourist arrivals, the recovery rate was 95.12%, the NTB reported.

NTB Director Lamichhane expressed optimism about the recovery of Nepal’s tourism sector in 2024, citing the positive trend indicated by the February data. With the onset of the tourism season in March, he anticipates a significant increase in the number of visitor numbers next month.

In the first six months of 2023, Nepal also registered a significant increase in number of Indian tourists as 1,68,000 tourists from across the border visited the country by air compared to 97,313 visitors during the same period in 2022, official data showed.

Recently, Nepal announced that it would host its inaugural tourism conference aimed at showcasing the country as a secure and appealing destination for travellers from the LGBTQ+ community. Dubbed ‘Yatra 2 Happiness: First Rainbow Tourism International Conference‘, the two-day event is scheduled to be held on April 20-21 in Kathmandu.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

All you need to know about the hallucinogenic ‘mad honey’ found on mountain tops in Nepal

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Mad honey is a rare and deadly concoction produced by bees on the mountaintops of Nepal and Turkey. It’s a distinct type of honey compared to the common varieties found across the world. “Mad honey” as it’s called for its hallucinogenic properties, is produced by Apis dorsata laboriosa, the largest honey bee in the world, it has a darker colour and somewhat bitter to taste, setting it apart from hundreds of other varieties.

What makes mad honey truly unique are its physiological properties. In low doses, it induces feelings of exhilaration, lightheadedness, and dizziness. However, very high doses can lead to severe hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, seizures, and even death, earning it the nickname “Love drug”. Despite its hallucinogenic effects, mad honey has been historically used for therapeutic purposes.

Also read: As tomato prices continue to soar, here are some tasty alternatives you can use instead

Traditionally, it has been utilized to treat digestive issues like peptic ulcers, dyspepsia, and gastritis, and it is also known to have been used for managing hypertension and as an aphrodisiac, stimulating sexual desire.

But what exactly is mad honey?

The psychotropic effects of mad honey are not due to the bees themselves, but rather the rhododendron plant family. Certain rhododendron species contain a class of neurotoxic chemicals known as grayanotoxins. When bees feed on the nectar and pollen of these rhododendron plants, they consume these toxins, which then find their way into the honey, giving it its unique and flavour.

What are the potential side effects of consuming mad honey?

While the potential health benefits of mad honey are unclear, ingesting honey that is high in grayanotoxin can lead to poisoning. Some locals swear by the health benefits of mad honey for various conditions, but studies are inconclusive. Due to its hallucinogenic properties, the sale and purchase of mad honey is controlled.

Also read: 8 amazing health benefits of eating the monsoon vegetable Kantola

In tiny doses, mad honey may have minor psychedelic effects, causing calm and happiness. Larger doses, however, might result in more serious side effects such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, and even death from cardiac arrest.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Dubai-bound Fly Dubai aircraft reports fire after taking off from Kathmandu

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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A Fly Dubai aircraft with nearly 150 people on board on Monday reported fire in one of its engines soon after taking off from the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, according to airport sources.

The aircraft heading towards Dubai returned back and was trying to force land at the airport, they said.

Fire engines are kept on alert at the airport, according to sources.

Also Read: American Airlines faces another in-flight urination incident in 2 months

There are more than 150 people on board including 50 Nepali passengers.

Eye-witnesses said they have seen aircraft catching fire in the Kathmandu sky.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Nepal plane crash highlights: Black box recovered from accident site as all 72 on board believed to be dead

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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A passenger aircraft crashed on the runway at Pokhara International Airport in Nepal on January 15, 2023. The aircraft that crashed between the old airport and the Pokhara International Airport carried 68 passengers and four crew members, reports said.

“There are 68 passengers on board and four crew members… Rescue is underway, we don’t know right now if there are survivors,” Sudarshan Bartaula told AFP.

The search and rescue operations resumed in Pokhara on Monday, a day after a Yeti Airlines aircraft crashed here and claimed 68 lives, as per latest toll..

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

The fascinating culture of Nepal that the world can learn

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Nepal, a small landlocked country in South Asia, is known for its diverse culture, stunning landscapes, and friendly people. Nepal is a country that offers a unique blend of natural beauty, diverse culture, and rich spiritual traditions.

Visitors can explore the stunning Himalayas, trek through lush forests and witness the deep devotion and respect for spirituality in the daily lives of the Nepali people. Additionally, people in Nepal are known for their warm and welcoming nature, making the country a destination where visitors can experience true hospitality and generosity. With its diverse and fascinating culture, rich spiritual traditions, and breathtaking natural landscapes, Nepal is a destination that should be on every traveller’s bucket list.

From its unique festivals and customs to its rich spiritual traditions, Nepal has much to offer and much to teach the world.

Diversity and Unity

Nepal is a melting pot of different ethnic groups, languages, and religions, yet despite its diversity, the people of Nepal have a strong sense of unity and national pride. The world can learn from Nepal’s ability to celebrate and embrace its diversity while also fostering a sense of unity and belonging.

Also read: Five best Pongal dishes to try during this festival season

Spiritual Traditions

Nepal is home to a rich tapestry of spiritual traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and animism. Visitors to Nepal can witness the deep devotion and respect for spirituality in the daily lives of the Nepali people, and can learn from their integration of spirituality into all aspects of life.

Respect for Nature

Nepal is known for its stunning natural landscapes, including the Himalayas, and the Nepali people have a deep respect and connection to nature.

The world can learn from Nepal’s emphasis on living in harmony with nature and preserving the environment for future generations.

Community and Hospitality

Nepali people are known for their warm and welcoming nature. They place a strong emphasis on community and hospitality. The world can learn from the Nepali people’s generosity, kindness, and willingness to share what they have with others.

Also read: Ganga Vilas Cruise to cost Rs 12.59 lakh per person: 10 highlights of world’s longest river cruise

Nepal is a small country with a big impact on the world. From its diversity and unity to its spiritual traditions and respect for nature, Nepal has much to teach the world. A visit to Nepal is an opportunity to learn and grow, to be inspired, and to be humbled.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Nepal plane crash: Bodies of 22 victims transferred to Kathmandu for post-mortem examination

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The bodies of 22 people, including four Indians, killed in the plane crash in Nepal’s mountainous Mustang district on Sunday, have been brought to Kathmandu where the mortal remains would be handed over to their families after the post-mortem on Tuesday.

The Canadian-built turboprop Twin Otter 9N-AET plane was carrying four Indians, two Germans and 13 Nepali passengers, besides a three-member Nepali crew when it crashed minutes after taking off from the tourist city of Pokhara, officials said.

Rescuers on Monday recovered 21 bodies from the wreckage site of the plane belonging to Tara Air. On Tuesday, the last body was also retrieved from the wreckage site. According to Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) General Manager Prem Nath Thakur, the bodies of 10 victims were brought on Monday evening and the bodies of the remaining 12 were brought here by a Nepal Army helicopter on Tuesday.

Also read: Nepal plane crash: A look at 9 fatal air accidents in the country since 2010

All the bodies have been sent to the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for post-mortem examinations. The bodies will be handed to the families of the victims after the post-mortem, the official said.

The government has formed a five-member commission of inquiry headed by senior aeronautical engineer Ratish Chandra Lal Suman to find out the cause of the Tara Air plane crash, officials said.

According to a preliminary investigation carried out by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), bad weather was the reason behind the crash of the plane.

The black box of the plane was also retrieved by a team of experienced international and national mountain guides from the crash site on Tuesday and it will be transported to Kathmandu.

Also read: View | All is not well with Indian aviation

The black box, also known as the cockpit voice recorder, records radio transmissions and other sounds in the cockpit, such as conversations between the pilots, and engine noises.

The modern planes have two black boxes that includes the flight data recorder which records more than 80 different types of information such as speed, altitude and direction, as well as pilot actions and performance of important systems.

The black box could offer vital clues about the crash in which all 22 people on board were killed. Due to the geographical remoteness and adverse weather conditions, the search and the recovery mission were delayed.

The plane was found scattered at an altitude of 4,200 metres, a four-hour uphill hike from the centre of Thasang Village Municipality.

Also read: Nepal plane carrying 22 people including four Indians goes missing; bad weather hinders search operation

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Nepal’s legendary mountaineer Ang Rita Sherpa dies

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Ang Rita Sherpa, the legendary Nepalese mountaineer who scaled the world’s highest mountain peak, Mt Everest, 10 times without bottled oxygen, died here on Monday at the age of 72, the country’s Mountaineering Association said. Rita, who was nicknamed the ‘Snow Leopard’ due to his adventures, was suffering from various diseases, including liver dysfunction. He died at his residence in Kathmandu.

“Ang Rita Sherpa was a legendary mountaineer who scaled Mount Everest for 10 times between 1983 and 1996 without an oxygen cylinder. He died today (Monday) at his residence here,” Tikaram Gurung, secretary of Nepal Mountaineering Association, said. He lately was suffering from brain and liver problems, The Kathmandu Post reported.

Born to a middle-class family in Solukhumbu, Rita was a giant in Nepal’s mountaineering and is survived by two sons and a daughter. The mountaineering legend was awarded a prestigious Guinness World Record certificate for making the most number of successful ascents on the 8,848-meter Mt Everest without using supplemental oxygen. The Guiness World Record has also recognized him as the first man to climb Everest in winter without supplementary oxygen in December 1987.

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Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Vistara launches flights to Kathmandu, starting February 11

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Tata-Singapore Airlines joint venture Vistara on Tuesday announced the launch of its services to Kathmandu, starting February 11.

Kathmandu will be Vistara’s fifth international destination since the launch of global operations last August, the airline said in a release.

The airline will operate daily flights between Delhi and Kathmandu from February 11, the bookings for which open Tuesday, it said.

“We are happy to launch services to Kathmandu. The timing could not have been any better, as Nepal recently kick-started its global tourism campaign, Visit Nepal Year 2020′ and prepares to welcome two million tourists this year.

“These factors make Kathmandu a promising addition to Vistara’s growing network,” Leslie Thng, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara, said.

With a vast domestic route network in India, Vistara customers can take one-stop connections to/from Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune among other cities, it added.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Golf, champagne breakfast and mountain flights: How Mount Everest is being redefined for the luxury traveller

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Everyone you meet in Nepal has an earthquake story, the one that devastated the country in 2015. In Kathmandu Square, where each fallen piece of heritage is being painstakingly restored with Chinese money, Dhanvi Chetri, who runs a small café, talks about how not a single building stood untouched after that dark day. “They (the restorers) had to reclaim what was left and rebuild every little bit. But I think they are doing a good job; it has started to look like what it once was.”

Everyone also has an Everest story. There are, of course, stories about the treacherous trails across the range, the brave Sherpas and the summiteers. But, increasingly, there is another story: Of golf, champagne breakfast and mountain flights on the sublime Everest mountain range. Nepal’s entrepreneurs have quietly been creating luxury infrastructure to attract travellers beyond the trekkers, the mountaineers, the backpackers. Of the 1,173,072 foreign tourists who visited Nepal in 2018, most were there to trek through the range or summit Everest. Admittedly, a lot of its tourism economy is anchored on the mountaineers and climbers.

“But Nepal is tightening its rules and requirements for climbing permits. There is no choice; the terrain is increasingly difficult, there are a lot of avalanches, not to forget what the summiteers leave behind as they shed weight on the top,” a Nepalese army officer, who cannot be named for security reasons, told me. His base in Kathmandu was being used for a flight over the Everest for a golf championship, at which the army chief was meant to be the chief guest. The army has been lobbying with the government to tighten permit rules because the avalanches regularly kill both summiteers and Sherpas.

Nawang Sherpa, who I met over a cup of tea in a café in Patan Square, talks about how the gear-carrying, trail-blazing community are rebelling against the brutally exploitative industry, their sadness visible, and how overcrowding is keeping the ‘real mountaineers’ away, leaving Everest to those seeking thrills, adventure and personal glory.

The way out, Nepal believes, is to attract another set of travellers to Everest: the high-paying luxury travellers. The blend is enticing. There is golf on temporary turfs built in the right season (in October, when the weather clears), helicopter rides and flights over the soulful mountain region, and the aforementioned champagne breakfast.

Every year, Baahrakhari Media, a local media house, hosts a golf championship on Mount Kongde Ri in the Solukhumbu district, at a height of 13,943ft, from where the Bhote Koshi River looks like a sliver of ice slicing through beautiful rhododendron forests and yak pasture lands; the V-shaped steep ridges on the northern edge is a patina of ice floes. The Kongde peak base camp is from where mountaineers climb through glaciers and steep rocky faces to approach the summit of the Everest peak.

To the backdrop of craggy mountains, stands Yeti Mountain Home (YMH), the highest luxury lodge in the world with rich, lustrous Sherpa Khumbu-style cottages and modern comforts. Experts lay out a temporary one-hole golf course close to the hotel while Yeti sets up a lavish breakfast. Travellers get to Kongde via a helicopter flight, either from Kathmandu or Lukla, a small Himalayan settlement at 9,833ft. The helicopter takes off from Kathmandu to the Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla, said to be among the world’s most dangerous ones, surrounded by steep terrain, with a short runway perched on a mountain shelf.

From Lukla, a special AStars (Ecureuil AS350) chopper, manufactured in France and particularly well-suited for the mountainous terrain, takes off for Kongde; it is considered one of the safest helicopters to take on the trickiest mountain ranges, where wind speeds can touch 60 to 80 km/h (on the peak, the army officer tells me, the winds often blow at 200 km/h). They say mountains have a mind of their own, so the weather can get bad any time and often, flights get delayed for hours or even cancelled.

Baahrakhari Media has been organising the golf championship for over two years now. But there is more to Everest than the trekkers, summiteers and golf. Specialised luxury touring companies offer trips to both Kongde Ri and Namche Bazaar. Expect to pay $5000+ for a four-to-five-hour tour. But then, if your itinerary includes flying at really high altitudes and eating breakfast on top of the world, no amount is big enough. The chopper first flies up-close to the four tallest peaks in the region — Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu and Everest, and then lands for about 15 minutes (that is how much an un-acclimatised traveller can bear) at the Base Camp in Kalapathar, a 10-metre tall ‘hill’ at 18,000ft, from where the view of the three-sided pyramidal peak of Mount Everest is the clearest. The chopper takes off to YMH at Kongde Ri, or to Hotel Everest View deep within Sagarmatha National Park, a Unesco World Heritage Site, at 13,000ft.

Both layout long tables of pure indulgence: White-tablecloth, a meal of eggs with bacon and sausages, croissants, jam made from Nepalese fruits, and Moët & Chandon, served by a team of Sherpas. And yet, what I will remember the most are the views, the closest one can get to Everest without climbing it. Some travel companies such as Remote Lands offer an experience that is far more bespoke. In December 2017, they had flown down chefs from Noma, the two-Michelin-star restaurant in Copenhagen and London’s Ledbury for a pop-up at the Mount Everest base.

A more adventurous luxury tour to the Everest range includes flying to Lukla, then walking and trekking through several Sherpa villages in deep valleys for over three days, stopping at monasteries; at Thamo, the birthplace of the record-breaker Ang Rita Sherpa, who has climbed the Everest umpteen times, some of them without oxygen; over the Bhote Kosi River; trekking to Sumdur Peak to a 300-year-old monastery, to ultimately reach Kongde after a more leisurely forest trek in the evening. The next morning is the treat of the champagne breakfast with the lofty Himalayan peaks as companions.

The mountain flight over the Everest range 

Equally enticing is the mountain flight offered by Nepal’s Buddha Air, where travellers can view a part of the Everest range from a distance of just 20 miles. The airline flies a 19-seater Beechcraft 1900, with the flight no. U4102, every day at 6 am from Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport. The flight I took early one morning was delayed due to weather conditions. Within seconds of take-off, it ascended high up the Himalayan range, as the concrete that defines the Kathmandu landscape eased out into icy glaciers, mountain lakes and the most amazing range of peaks I have ever seen at such close quarters.

The flight lasts an hour and every passenger is assigned a window seat; it takes a round trip so people on both sides can view the entire range of 20 of the highest peaks in eastern Nepal — among them, the Langtang Lirung at 23,000ft, a mountain as spectacular as any of the famous Khumbu giants; the Gauri Shankar at an elevation of 23,405ft, much more well known to Indians because of its association with Lord Shiva and Gauri, a manifestation of Parvati, near Rolwaling Himal on the Tibetan border; right up to Sagarmatha ⁠— ‘The Goddess of the Sky’, the native name of Mount Everest (in 1865 the mountain was renamed in honour of the Surveyor General of India, Sir George Everest, but the locals still refer to it by its original name), at 29,029ft, its pyramidal peak covered that day by soft clouds. From here, the Everest looks like a secluded, glorious mountain that takes indomitable spirit to climb, with none of the problems increasingly being associated with it.

Somewhere along the route, the crew opens the door of the cockpit and invites passengers within, to enjoy a 360-degree view of the range from the pilot’s window. “This is literally a bar-headed goose’s view of the soulful mountains,” the captain tells me. Incidentally, the bar-headed geese are known to fly over heights of more than 23,000ft and are a common sight for those summiting. The snow swathes of the peaks are speckled with brown of the rock in some places and the green/red of rhododendron forests in others; deep valleys, ice floes, icy rivers and pine trees are part of the rich landscape. From the height of 29,000ft, the rivers look like markings on a map, their green blending with the brown of the earth.

These are journeys of a lifetime; an Everest Experience certificate at the end of the flight will remind me that I had once flown only 20 miles above the world’s most mystical peaks that combine religion, spirituality, adventure and gorgeous landscapes into a seamless whole.

Deepali Nandwani is a journalist who keeps a close watch on the world of luxury.

Read her columns here.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow