VISIT NEPAL

Kathmandu  - Nepal's Tourism Year 2011 has claimed the first Indian casualties with police arresting three men for allegedly seeking commercial sex in the capital. Rafiq Hussain, 40, Shahid Ahmad, 49, and Nadim Ahmad, 40, were arrested Saturday during a raid on a spa and beauty parlour in a key area of the capital that had been under surveillance following complaints by locals, police said. 'We raided the Natural Spa and Beauty Parlour located near the Yak and Yeti hotel,' inspector Krishna Prasad Koirala told IANS. 'The three Indian men were caught in compromising positions.' Six Nepali women, including the owner of the spa, were also arrested. The other five women, in their 20s, reportedly said they had come for beauty treatment while police claimed they were commercial sex workers. The three men told police they were tourists who had arrived from Lucknow, the capital of India's Uttar Pradesh state. On Sunday, the men were taken to the Kathmandu chief dist...

To reach the best place to see Mount Everest (known locally as Sagarmatha), from Nepal s capital city of Kathmandu you first take a half-hour flight on a small plane to Lukla, then walk 31 miles to the small city of Namche. The trekking is by foot, up 12,000 feet over an unpaved path that's inaccessible to motorized vehicles. Fifteen feet wide in some places, as narrow as five in others, the alternately rocky and smooth path ascends and descends, traversing narrow steel bridges over fast-flowing rivers, and a landscape of Himalayan peaks, pine forests and valleys. A vast number of faded but still lively Buddhist prayer flags hang from passing buildings. Tourism is an important part of Nepal's economy and Sagarmatha National Park is a popular destination, with people drawn to the roof of the world. Each year, about 25,000 tourists visit. But tourism, and the people it brings with it, creates a "population effect" in the region. An average of four service people migrat...

Nepal launched open Nepal Tourism Year 2011 on Friday amid a special ceremony at Dasarath Stadium in the capital. “I declare the beginning of Nepal Tourism Year 2011 for peace, prosperity and stability,” said President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, officially inaugurating the program. Representatives of nearly a dozen institutions organized a colorful cultural show. A paragliding motor show was also held, with 21 pilots exhibiting their skill for half an hour in a sky colorful with the NTY flag and balloons to the joy of nearly 25,000 participants. Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Nepal Army and school children presented group demonstrations of their skills and performed group dances during the five-hour inaugural ceremony. Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said that NTY 2011 was aimed at giving a message to outside world that Nepal was a safe and attractive destination to visit. “Leaving behind a decade long conflict, we have crossed four years of the peace process. For stable peace, ...

Nepal has been listed among top countries, according to a new Lonely Planet travel guide for the top places to go to in 2010. Lonely Planet's "Best in Travel 2010" released on 02 November, Monday lists Nepal along with El Salvador, Greece, Germany, Malaysia, Morocco, New Zealand, Portugal, Suriname and the United States as the best places to go and best things to do in the year ahead. "This is a collection of destinations and experiences that we rate as the stuff people really should consider for next year. Whatever your own style dictates, you should be able to find inspiration in these destinations," Reuters reported Asia-Pacific communications manager Adam Bennett as saying. Source:ekantipur

Pas gaun, the hilly village of Lamjung district magnetizes the outsiders with its beauty and hospitality of Gurung community. Small houses with stone roof and stone paved clean path makes it divine gift to the people. Tourists are pretty enjoying the nature and its beauty though there are lack of modern services and facilities due to geographical intricacy. Anyone can melt down by the warm welcome and hospitality given by gurung to the guest at Pas gaun. Pas gaun is located at one thousand six hundred and fifty meters high from sea level where 400 houses of Gurung are there. Pas gaun is reached through rural tourism village Baglungpani,Ghalegaun, Bhujung from the headquarter of Lamjung district, Besi Sahar after the 8 hours long trek. Day by day internal as well as external tourists are increasing in Pas gaun according to local social worker Balram Gurung. Comparing to other places the gurung traditional culture is still alive at Pas gaun with their uniqueness and full of entertainmen...

Despite a lot of preparations for bringing in a million tourists during the Nepal Tourism Year-2011, tourism authorities and other stakeholders here seem to have missed a chance to make a lasting impression on foreign tourists. A dilapidated signboard of the Tourist Information Office in Belahiya in the district is a case in point. “I feel sorry looking at the pitiable condition of the board,” said an Indian national from Rajasthan, Raj Kishor Singh. Singh had some suggestions to all concerned, and this included maintenance of the signboard without delay and cleanup of the area. The board has become an eyesore for other foreign guests as well. Though the government and the local Chambers of Commerce and Industry have pledged to construct a gate on the Belahiya border, the authorities have not bothered to repair the board and keep the area clean. Ramesh Thapa, Chairman of the Samudaik Sewa Samaj, Belahiya, expressed dissatisfaction over the authorities’ indifference. “The authoriti...