Kathmandu, July 7 : Two hundred saplings of several species of plants with religious association have been planted at Kailashdanda of the Pashupati area today.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai, initiated the sapling planting programme. The saplings of Sami, Kapur, Rudrakshya, Asare species, among others, were planted in the open spaces at Kailashdanda.

The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) had built a wall this year for the protection of Kailashdanda as it envisages to develop the area into an attractive park.

PADT has continued with the campaign of planting saplings of various species of trees and plants having religious association since last year by announcing that it would plant 5,000 such saplings in the Pashupati area.

Also today, Minister Bhattarai inaugurated the main gate built towards the southern edge of Pashupati area near the Ring Road. This gate has been constructed by Nepal SBI Bank at an investment of Rs 30 million as part of its corporate social responsibility.

Addressing the programme, Minister Bhattarai said although there is adverse situation due to the coronavirus pandemic, all sectors could not be closed always. He shared that preparations are being made for operating trade, business and enterprises including the public transport by maintaining social distancing.
The minister opined that a lot needed to be done for providing minimum services to the pilgrims and devotees visiting the temple. He urged the PADT to work vigorously to establish the significance of Pashupati among the people across the world adhering to the Vedic Sanatana Hindu faith.
Secretary at the Ministry, Kedar Bahadur Adhikari, said the business houses and institutions should also pay attention to carrying out works under their corporate social responsibility in other religious sites of the country as well.

PADT member-secretary Dr Pradip Dhakal said the Pashupati area is being developed into a venue for practising meditation and yoga, and a place of religious learning. He said the Trust is engaged in the campaign of establishing the identity of Pashupati area as an attractive place for spiritualism and religion to draw a large number of religious tourists from across the globe.

Nepal SBI Bank Ltd’s managing director and CEO, Anukul Bhatnakar said the Bank would carry out several other works and activities in partnership with PADT. On the occasion, he also handed over a broomer machine costing Rs 2.5 million for cleaning around the Pashupati area.RSS

Kathmandu, July 3 : The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has started imparting training virtually to the tourism entrepreneurs about the effective implementation of the protocol on precautions and safety measures to be taken while reopening the tourism sector after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Issuing a press statement on Friday, the Board shared that the training was conducted in coordination with the tourism related organizations to enforce the ‘Operational Guideline with Health Protocol for Tourism Sector’ that the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and NTB had prepared jointly.

NTB CEO Dr Dhananjay Regmi shared that some 600 tourism entrepreneurs would be provided training in the first phase. The protocol includes measures to be taken by the people right from their arrival to their departure as well as by the service providers here.
The protocol also encourages tourism entrepreneurs to do digital marketing to attract tourists in the wake of COVID-19, according to the press statement.

The training was coordinated by Hotel Association of Nepal, Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents, and Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal.

The training would be conducted at the state level in future, according to the NTB.RSS

In one of the remotest part of Western Nepal, lies the biggest and the deepest prestine freshwater lake of the country.

The Rara Lake. Covering the water surface area of 10.8 sq km and reaching 167 meters deep, the lake is situated at an altitude of 2990 meters (9,810 feet) above the sea level in the Mugu district.

Protected by the Rara National Park–which covers the area of 1583 hector in Jumla and Mugu districts and covered by the vast alpine coniferous vegetation including blue pine, black juniper, Himalayan spruce, oak, Himalayan cypress and other representatives of such flora and fauna, the rich vegetation here is a sanctuary for diverse species of wildlife such as the endangered red panda, musk deer, Himalayan black bear, leopard, jackal, Himalayan Thar, yellow-throated martin, wild dog, wild boar, common langur, rhesus macaque and the common otter.

Resident Gallinaceous birds and migrant waterfowl are commonly sighted around the lake area while birds like coots, great-crested grebe, black-necked grebe, red-crested pochard, mallard, common teal, merganser and gull can be seen in the park during the winter.

Rara, the shimmering blue jewel as named by Bill Greer, is one of the major trekking destinations of the country.

Trek to Rara can offer anyone with the cultural and scenic beauty of the snow-capped mountains and spectacular landscape through the logistically tough routes but a memorable and fascinating and experience.

It takes a two or three days hike to reach the Rara Lake. The trek starts from Jumla. The trek leads through the remote country toward the Tibetan border through Charya Chaur, Botan and Ghorasain. Chuchemara Hill at 4,087m is the best vantage point to enjoy magnificent views of the deep blue lake, the forested hillsides and the snow-capped peaks.

The best time to journey to the Rara is spring, summer and autumn.

Photos: Prashneel Nepal

Jan, 7: Nowadays, a non-stop flight from New York to Houston, Texas, takes about four hours. In 1973, the same flight would have taken just over two and a half hours. So much for progress.

But this is not an isolated case: flight times are getting longer.

There are a number of reasons that more time is needed for airlines to fly from A to B, but one explored recently is fuel costs.

According to Business Insider, as the price of fuel rose in the Noughties, from $0.70 per gallon to over $3, airlines realised they could save millions of pounds per year by flying their planes slower, therefore using less fuel – but arriving at the destination later. A gallon of jet fuel cost $1.59 at the end of 2016.

For example, in 2008, Associated Press reported that American airline JetBlue saved $13.6million (£11m) a year by adding two minutes onto the length of each flight.

It is not a particularly new tactic.

In 2013 the Telegraph reported that budget airline Ryanair told its pilots to fly slower to save fuel – and therefore money – but add two minutes onto every hour’s flying time.

In 2014, Reuters reported that jet fuel consumption in the US, after peaking in 2005, fell more than 15 per cent in 10 years, the equivalent of more than 200,000 barrels per day.

Traditionally, the typical flying speed (546-575mph) is a trade-off between commercial pressures and fuel consumption – reaching a destination quicker is not only more appealing to customers but also minimises crew costs and ensures a new load of passengers quicker.

Another reason flight times are thought to be growing is one Telegraph Travel explored in 2015, a practise known as “schedule padding”.

“The accusation is that airlines are coming under increasing pressure to have as high an on-time performance score (OTP) as possible, and are consequently allowing themselves plenty of wiggle room when allotting flight times,” the article read.

Traditionally, the typical flying speed (546-575mph) is a trade-off between commercial pressures and fuel consumption – reaching a destination quicker is not only more appealing to customers but also minimises crew costs and ensures a new load of passengers quicker.

Another reason flight times are thought to be growing is one Telegraph Travel explored in 2015, a practise known as “schedule padding”.

“The accusation is that airlines are coming under increasing pressure to have as high an on-time performance score (OTP) as possible, and are consequently allowing themselves plenty of wiggle room when allotting flight times,” the article read.THE TELEGRAPH

Kathmandu, Feb 28: As Robert Frost knew well, the road less travelled is often the more interesting choice – at least when it comes to talking about one’s travels. In order to find some routes both less-trodden and worth bragging about, we asked the users at question-and-answer site Quora “What are the world’s most interesting roads?”

While some readers described routes that traverse one of the world’s coldest regions, or tunnels that only measure 4m wide, other respondents took our question to its limit, recommending roads that were not only interesting, but dangerous as well. In those cases, the roads are less frequented for a reason: read on for terrifying drop-offs, unpredictable mudslides and a complete lack of concrete paving.

National Road 5, Madagascar
For National Road 5, which runs north-south between the towns of Maroantsetra (pictured here) and Soanierana-Ivongo on the African country’s east coast, “you need to hire both a driver and a mechanic,” said Anders Alm, chief technology officer for WAU, a travel agency that provides regular trips to the area. If you’re “bored of concrete”, he added, this drive – which he called “the worst road in the world” – would be one way to change it up.

With sections of sand, solid rock and even worn-down bridges that drivers must inspect before crossing, the 200km road takes nearly 24 hours to drive. It turns especially treacherous during the rainy season (December to March), when the lack of asphalt or concrete paving leads the road to become impassable in many spots.

The upside? Most of National Road 5 runs along the white sand coastline, providing spectacular views of palm tree forests and the Indian Ocean.

Rohtang Pass, India
Rohtang means literally, “pile of corpses” – a name that stems from the deadly mudslides that often cover the 4,000m-high road in the eastern Himalayas. Not to mention the area’s generally unpredictable weather, including snowstorms and sudden avalanches.

“Each season, road crews use GPS to find the road and dig it out again,” said Witold Chrab, a Washington DC-based engineer who drove a motorcycle across the pass in 2011. Once cleared, the pass generally remains open from May to November – though snow can make it impassable at any time; in 2010 it left 300 tourists stranded. An 8km tunnel is being constructed beneath the pass to provide a safer option, but the original route, which connects the Kulu, Lahual and Spiti valleys in northernmost India, lures visitors with views of rugged mountain ranges, sprawling valleys and even a mountain goat or two.

Transfăgărășan Road, Romania
While well-known in the world of auto enthusiasts – its 90km of hairpin turns and dramatic descents earned it the title of “best road in the world” by the BBC Top Gear crew – fewer casual drivers know of Romania’s second-highest road. Built as a military route in case of an invasion in the 1970s, the road connects the two tallest mountains in the Southern Carpathians, Moldoveanu and Negoiu, and ascends a total of 2,034m in altitude.

“If you like changing gears every three or four seconds, you know it’s fun,” said Romanian native Razvan Baba. Even more fun? Nobody tends to be around to enforce the 40km/h speed limit, Baba said – though the hairpins make it tough to go much faster.

Eyre Highway, Australia
Carl Logan, a police officer from Perth, warned readers that this 684-mile stretch in southern Australia might seem “plain and boring” at first glance, but actually holds plenty of adventure – particularly with its animals. “You might see kangaroos, emus and sometimes even camels,” he said. The wildlife also makes the route riskier, as a wandering animal can seriously damage an oncoming car.

The most dangerous time to take on the highway – which runs between the towns of Norseman and Ceduna – is dawn or dusk, when most wildlife attempts to cross the road. But those who do drive at nightfall will be rewarded. “Because there is no civilisation, the night stars will be the brightest you’ve ever seen,” Logan said.

Prithvi Highway, Nepal
Running 174km from Kathmandu to Pokhara past sights such as Annapurna, the 10th-tallest peak in the world, and its conservation area (pictured here), this road’s dramatic views come at a potentially high cost. “In addition to beautiful views of the Himalayas, you will see vehicles that have ended up in the river chasms,” said Janet M Foley, a Las Vegas resident who drove the route. Prithvi Highway also passes some of the country’s most important religious sites, including the sacred Manakamana Temple.

Foley said the “joy ride” was well worth it one way – but decided to catch a plane back to Kathmandu rather than pressing her luck twice.

Kolyma Highway, Siberia
Locals know the Kolyma Highway, or M56, as “Trassa” – simply “The Route” – because in this desolate, frozen region of eastern Siberia, it is the only main road.

Another nickname for the highway, “the road of bones”, speaks to its tragic history: it was built by the hundreds of thousands of political prisoners who were exiled to the region’s gulags under the Stalin regime from the 1930s to the 1950s. Thousands were shot for not working hard enough, while others died from the gulags’ brutal conditions. The cold was another killer: with temperatures recorded as low as some -70C, the Kolyma is located in the world’s coldest inhabited area. Many of the dead simply were buried beneath the road’s foundations.

After the road fell into disrepair for decades, actor Ewan McGregor and TV presenter Charlie Boorman took a motorcycle journey on it in 2004 for the TV show Long Way Round. Kolyma Highway was designated a federal road in 2008 and began to attract a band of particularly adventurous – and cold-loving – motorcycle enthusiasts. Today, the 2,031km route is still known as the “world’s coldest road”, said world traveller Filipp Peresadilo, with snow falling even in July and August. It also remains one of the most desolate, with few travellers knowing of the world’s most frozen road – or its tragic history.

Guoliang Tunnel, China
For decades, the tiny cliff top village of Guoliang, located in the Taihang Mountains of eastern China, was reachable only by climbing the mountain on foot. After the government refused to build a road, effectively leaving the village to become a ghost town, the locals decided to take matters into their own hands. From 1972 to 1977, they used explosives and shovels to dig their own 1.2km tunnel; some lost their lives in the process.

Dangerous to build, the route is also dangerous to drive. Perched on the top of a cliff and measuring a narrow 4m wide, the Guoliang Tunnel is particularly treacherous after rains, when it can become very slippery. Thirty “windows” in the stone face, meanwhile, give spine-tingling glimpses of the valley far below. “China is the place to visit if you’re looking for extreme roads,” said Quora contributor Lewis Shaw. “Just don’t look down!”

BBC

kathmandu, Feb 25: They say they are in limbo because of Nepalese government indecision, weeks before the new climbing season begins.

Officials vowed permits for nearly 300 climbers would be valid for five years after the 2014 Sherpa strike, they say.

The Sherpas boycotted expeditions following the deaths of 16 their colleagues in an avalanche last April.

More than a 12 international operators – and the Expedition Operators’ Association of Nepal – subsequently demanded that climbers from 31 different teams be allowed to try scaling the mountain again as individuals or with any team they wanted to join.

Government officials say they promised to accept the same permits – but only as long as climbers came back with the same teams.

That might not be possible, operators said, because members are from different countries and may have their own plans, priorities and schedules.

“Here we are six weeks away from starting our expeditions and no one knows anything,” says Russell Brice, of Himalayan Experience, who has been bringing foreign climbers to the Nepalese Himalayas for years.

“As expedition operators we are left totally in the dark, it’s gone nowhere in one year.”

Another operator, Gordon Janow, said the indecision meant none of the climbers hoping to use last year’s permits could attempt Everest this spring season, which begins next month.

“At this late stage, climbers who were waiting on a permit decision are likely to late to join given the expense, training time and the need to be away for more than two months.”

Officials say the issue is complicated, however, and they want to discourage expedition teams comprising strangers, for safety and other reasons.

“Making the permits transferable like that was a new thing that required changes in regulations which is a long process,” Tourism Minister Deepak Chandra Amatya told the BBC.

“I have sent it to the Ministry of Law. It should happen pretty soon.”

But Law Ministry officials say existing regulations do not allow climbing permits to be transferable.

“Since the request made by the Ministry of Tourism requires changes in existing provisions, we are studying the issue and working on it,” an official said on condition of anonymity.

Operators say they were brushed off last year when they approached the Tourism Ministry, whose response was “quite cold”.

“We received the reply that they were not convinced we were asking for the right thing and they said we needed to be more professional about our request,” a spokesman said.

Climbing as part of a team in Nepal used to be generally much cheaper than doing so as an individual.

But from January, the government slashed climbing permit fees to $11,000 (£7,000) from $25,000 (£16,000) per person.

Until last year a group of seven had to pay $70,000 (£45,000) which encouraged climbers to club together. Now, regardless of the size of the group, the new fee is across-the-board.

Officials say no new climbing permit have been issued so far for this season.

“Climbing groups are preparing to apply for permits,” Department of Tourism director general Tulsi Gautham said. “We expect the number of Everest expedition teams not to be less than last year.”

Last week, the BBC reported that the route from base camp to the top of Everest will be changed to avoid the risk of avalanches on the left side of the Khumbu Icefall, scene of the 16 April Sherpa tragedy last year.

Expert rope and ladder-fixing Sherpas, known as Icefall doctors, will begin to change the route during the first half of March.

By then expedition teams will begin to arrive at the base camp before starting their ascent in April and May.

The issue of last year’s permits, however, remains far from resolved.

BBC

Yogesh Dhakal, Lukla- Solukhumbu: Solukhumbu is famous for the silver capped tallest mountain in the world – Mt. Everest. Adding to its natural trekking routes that deliver some of the most delightful adventures, this reclusive Himalayan district is famous for its religious and cultural heritages. In the recent decades, Lukla has been catering to the needs of its guests by providing a blend of world-class and local hospitality flavors. But these are more or less expected. What I found most astounding was Lukla’s hospital. I could not help sharing experiences of my visit to this healing center located near the highest peak in the world that truly proved to be the real Sangrila on this earth.

Located just about a kilometer away from the Lukla’s main town, the Pasang Lhamu Nicole Niquille Hospital clad in blue teen is awe inspiring as its architect blends in perfectly with the blue sky above and snow capped mountains around. I have been habituated with the stench of urine and phenyl blended with the staled air of Kathmandu’s major hospitals and of course was expecting the same when I reached there. But it was different. It was Pasang Lhamu Nicole Niquille hospital and that too it was not in Kathmandu it was in Solukhumbu. Thus by far the hospital was polished top to bottom. It was spotless and the ambience was so good that a patient would even recover from it. Of course medicine should be there.

So far I have got the opportunity to witness some of most dilapidated hospitals in rural Nepal, not to speak of those located in the heart of the nation. But the Pasang Lhamu Nicole Hospital was a different experience. It is equipped with most of the modern facility that we can think in such a remote area. Established in the late a of 2005 by joint efforts of the Switzerland based Nicole Niquille Foundation and the Pasang Lhamu Mountaineering Foundation, the hospital is equipped with an emergency care service and has a capacity to attend 25 in-house patients.

Though the hospital does not performs complex surgeries and lacks a MRI machine for advanced imaging services, it has been equipped more essential equipment and provide gynecology, dental, surgery and general physician services. Along with that the hospital provides Ultra Sound, Blood Test, X-Ray, Urine testing among others. Since its establishment, the hospital has been the first choice of Everest expeditioners for medical treatment.

Two doctors, two nurses and a ANM provide service to patient who come here after a hard trek up and down the steep snow capped mountains which sometimes shoot up to three four days ordeal, hospital’s administrative chief Pasang Lhamu Sherpa said.  Stressing on the lack of human and material resources, Sherpa said that the hospital refers patient with complex type of ailments to other hospitals and even arranges flight tickets for needy people from the trust.

Of the 22 staffs that provide unrelenting services at this hospital, some of them are foreign volunteer doctors who serve as a charity to the society. These volunteers usually provide service to the hospitals and patient for six months. The hospital as a token of appreciation to their service to the local community has provided well-furnished lodging and dinning arrangements within the hospital premises. Presently the hospital is also working hard to establish a canteen for the patient’s caretakers.

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So how was this healing center established making Lukla a Sangrila?

Unlike the urban centers in Nepal, Lukla is one of the remotest places on earth. The whole of Solukhumbu region lacks sufficient resources to provide proper adequate medical attention to the locals.

At the end of the year 2002, founder of the Switzerland based Foundation Nicole Niquille Hospital Lukla, a non-political, non-governmental and non-profit organization, signed an agreement with the Solukhumbu based Pasang Lhamu Mountaineering Foundation for the construction of the hospital building at Lukla.

Driven by the zeal to provide health service to the local community people, who would walk miles carrying the patient on their back for medical treatment, Nicole and her husband Marco were excited when they signed the agreement. On their return to Switzerland this couple put all their efforts to garner support for this project.

After an intense workout they succeeded in wining the confidence and support of some of most prominent social, political and business entrepreneurs in Switzerland for the project.

This charitable organization included some key personalities which included former Swiss President, former member of government, former federal Councilor, former director general of International Committee for Red Cross (ICRC), Politicians, Famous Doctors, Journalists Footballer, mountaineers, and skiers to name a few. After discussion the charity was renamed as “Foundation Nicole Niquille, Hospital project Lukla” in February, 2003.

Since that day the charity has been putting all its effort to make the hospital even more resourceful and useful to provide best health services to the local community.

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Translated and Edited by Chitra Raj Bhandari for Yogesh Dhakal who did this story upon his recent visit to Solukhumbu, Nepal.

Yogesh Dhakal

Nepali new year celebration were on the high and while I was wondering what should I do, to give it a special starting, I received an unexpected invitation. To trek on a two day new trekking route- Ranipauwa – Chimteshwor – Devighat. The offer seduced me instantly and there was no denying. I instantly began to pack my things when Chandra Rijal, President of Nepal National Tourism Entrepreneurs called me on the last day of the year. The next morning I was on the van and geared up to trek on one of Nepal’s brand new trekking route.

At 8 am our van speeded towards and three hours on the road, our team was in Raanipau. A small town but provisioned with good and elegant hotels. Along with luxurious accommodation, the charges were cheap in comparison to those found in Kathmandu. From the facilities, it was evident that the town was fast bracing to welcome tourists there. It was a happening tourist destination with foreigners enjoying the beauty and serenity that one rarely gets in Kathmandu.

After having a delicious ethnic Nepali lunch at a hotel, we geared up for the trek. Rijal informed that the three-day trekking route is originally designed to trail around Raanipauva, Chimteshwor, Devighat, Galchi, Dharke, Naubisey to Kathmandu. But for us, we were skipping the latter three destination and will be ending our trek in Devighat and return to Kathmandu from Devighat. So, now i began to sketch a trail map in my mind and started following the team as they stepped up the mountainous trek right at the end of Okharpauwa town.

Half-hour uphill trek caught my fellow trekkers breath. Though my city-dwelling frets were also pulling me down the hill, the music of the pine leaves and the sweet and thick air was instilling in fresh ounces of life. I was once more truly in the lap of nature. The turvy and twisted trail up and down and across the mountain trail filled with pine trees brought us to a desolate town- Maajhkharka. The town is manifestation of the Tamang heritage. Tamang women clad mostly in their ethnic outfit welcomed us with Strawberry and Strawberry juice. That was in fact the last thing I expected to quench my thirst. Powered with the juice and the simple yet weather tarnished smiles of those folks we set out for our next resting point- Hiley.

Hiley is famous for its awesome mountain view and sunrise. A perfect place for sight seeing and cultural heritage. As part of the Tamang heritage, it showcases the inherent cultural and social practices. An ideal place for serious researchers, it is also equally awe inspiring destinations for travelers and trekkers like us. The welcome offered by the Tamangs throughout the trail-towns renders Tamangness to the whole circuit. Its simply out of the box experience.

Morning sun has always been an inspiring source within me. I used to dream that I could the sun in my hands if I were to climb a mountain, when I was a child. On the top of Chimteshwor mountain top, I realized that my childish ambition still seemed so far away. Even at such heights. The mountain has a key place in Nepal’s history and Hindu scriptures. It was the same place from where Nepal’s great king, Prithvi Narayan Shah, had conquered Nuwakot and planned his strategy to capture the Kirtipur kingdom. Relics of Shah’s armory on the mountain top can be found to these days also.

But that was not all. According to local legends, the place got its place Chimteshwor because Hindu’s god Lord Shiva had forgotten his Chimta (a percussion instrument) when he once had lived in the caves there. Legends claim that Shiva and his wife Parvati had stayed their for some days, with a saint. But later on the couple decided to move on concluding that they were disturbing the sage’s penance. However, the lord forgot his percussion at the cave. years later, locals made a temple to workshop lord Mahadev. The temple was named after Mahadev and his son’s content.
Clock was Dickung. We would have spent some more hours or even days at the place. But we were destined to move. So, we started down the mountains for Devighat. Six hours of refreshing visit through newly populate forests, rife with ainselu and kafal we reached Mahadev Kharka- a desolate place of Jilling VDC. What was amazing here is that kids dashed off to their houses seeing us – strangers. Locals claimed that a constant decrease of foreign tourist has been seen in the town. After spending some hours in Devighat, we headed back to Kathmandu. And thats all.

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COLORADO SPRINGS: They’ll be crammed into a space the size of an RV for more than a year, breathing recycled air, subsisting on dehydrated food and drinking their purified urine. If they die, they’ll be freeze-dried in a body bag. And if they survive, they’ll have to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere at a screaming 8.8 miles (14.2 kilometers) per second.

But the applications are already rolling in for the first manned mission to Mars, the project team said Thursday (April 11).

Speaking at the National Space Symposium here, members of the Inspiration Mars Foundationdescribed the challenges inherent in launching two humans on a 501-day flyby journey to the Red Planet and back in January 2018, but remained optimistic that those challenges aren’t insurmountable.

“So far, we haven’t come up with any show-stoppers, so that’s exciting,” said Jane Poynter, president of the Paragon Space Development Corp., which has partnered with Inspiration Mars.