Indra Jatra festival in Nepal

Indra Jatra festival in Nepal

Indra is Lord of Rain and the king of Heaven. Jatra is procession. Indra Jatra is celebration of God Indra’s Day.  Indra Jatra is festival of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.  Some believes Indra Jatra is thanking day to lord Indra for the rain. According to others, the festival is celebrated in the honor of Bahirab, who is Shiva’s manifestation and is believed to destroy evil.

Indra-jatra-festival-nepal

Indra Jatra begins every year from the day of the Bhadra Dwadasi to Ashwin Krishna Chaturdasi. It is an eight day long festival.

The festival begins with the carnival-like erection of The Linga (Yasingh), a ceremonial pole, accompanied by the rare display of the deity Akash Bhairab, represented by a massive mask spouting Jaad and raksi (Nepali local liquors). Households throughout Kathmandu (especially Newars) display images and sculptures of Indra and Bhairab at this time of year. This thirty-six feet long wooden pole (The Linga (Yasingh)) is chosen with great care from the Nala forest in Kavre district east of Kathmandu.

Indra Jatra Festival

According to traditional beliefs, Indra had received this flag from Lord Vishnu for protection.

Finally, the Kumari (living goddess), leaves the seclusion of her temple in a palanquin and leads a procession through the streets of Kathmandu to thank Indra the rain god. The main attraction of the festival is the procession of chariots and masked dancers representing deities and demons. Indra is called Yanya in Newari. Jaad (Nepali local liquor) flows from the Bahirab statue, which is remarkable to look at in Hanuman Dhoka.

Indra Jatra Festival The procession consists of: •    Majipa Lakhey •    Pulukishi •    Sawan Bhaku •    Ganesh (Chariot) •    Kumar (Chariot) •    Kumari (Chariot)

Besides these, there are various dances held on the open stages of the city called dabu. There is display of Swet Bhairava as well as various deities of the city.

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Western Nepals tourist destinations Poon Hill and Ghorepani witness high tourist influx

Western Nepals tourist destinations Poon Hill and Ghorepani witness high tourist influx

Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek

Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek

The Poon Hill and the Ghorepani lying on the round Annapurna now is flocked with tourists as the place is renowned for sightseeing of the Himalayan ranges and the dawn.

The area which lies at an altitude of 3 Thousand 2 Hundred and 10 meters height is visited by about 5 hundred tourists in a day and the hotels on the entry point of the tourist destination is all packed with the start of the autumn season.

Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek

Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek

The Ghorepani Tourist Police Beat has recorded a total of 14 thousand 2 hundred and 34 foreign nationals’ entry in the last four months of last fiscal year. Though the data about the Nepali nationals are not recorded the entrepreneurs here also has started to feel the influx of the Nepali tourists in the area.

“The increment pace of the Nepali tourists has increased along with the development in travel culture amongst Nepali,” Teksar Buddhuja, one of the entrepreneur in the area said. Currently a total of 22 hotels are in operation in Ghorepani.

Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek

Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek

“With the increasing influx the hotels in the area have started the upgrading and the extension of the service,” Ghorepani Hotel Management Sub-Committee Vice Chairman Sushil Pun said.

Surrounded by Rhododendron forest the Poon Hill- Hill station is renowned for sun rise along with the mesmerizing view of the Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Macchapuchre, Manaslu, Gurja, Churen, Neelgiri and other 16 Himalayas.

Source: Tourismmail

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Tabei, first woman to scale Mt Everest, no more

Tabei, first woman to scale Mt Everest, no more

Junko Tabei, first woman to scale Mount Everest, has died at the age of 77.

Tabei was suffering from cancer for the past four years and died in the course of treatment at a cancer centre in a Japanese town of Saita, according Japanese Mountaineering Association.

Junko Tabei

Born in Japan on September 22, 1939, Tabei reached atop the Everest in 1975, becoming the first woman to ascent the highest peak in the world.

Breaking the sad news about Tabeis death, President of the Nepal Mountaineering Association Ang Tshering Sherpa said the Japanese Mountaineering Association and Alpine Club confirmed the death of Tabei, saying she died three days ago.

Junko Tabei - the first woman to ascent the highest peak in the world.

He compared the death of Tabei as a huge loss to the mountaineering tourism sector of Nepal for Sherpa argued that Tabei adored the land housing Mount Everest.

Tabei has done many good works in the sector of mountaineering tourism. She has also contributed to advancing the cause of environmental conservation and played important role in the promotion of mountaineering tourism sector, admitted President Sherpa. With her demise, Nepal lost a good friend, he added.

Junko Tabei - The first woman to ascent the highest peak in the world.

Tabeis last visit to Nepal marked on April 30 this year when she led a Japanese mountaineering team to observe the golden jubilee of the first ascend of Mount Manaslu and Mount Lhotse.

Source: My Republica

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2018 to be observed as Visit Nepal Year

2018 to be observed as Visit Nepal Year

The government has announced that it will observe 2018 as ‘Visit Nepal Year’ with a target of welcoming on million tourists to the country.

The announcement has come in the wake of slump in tourist arrivals due to devastating earthquakes of 2015 and border disruptions.

Swayambhunath Stupa

The Policy and Programs for 2016/17 states that the government will launch different promotional programs prior to the Visit Nepal Year 2018.

The government had observed similar campaign in 2011 with a target of bringing one million tourists in 2011 as well. But the campaign failed to deliver. Nevertheless, the announcement is expected to rejuvenate the tourism sector hit by the earthquake and the blockade.

Nepal Annapurna Circuit

Upgradation of existing tourist destinations, identification of new destinations and infrastructure development in new areas as well as marketing of new destinations are the other plans that the government has announced for the development of tourism sector.

The government has also said that it will implement a 10-year National Strategic Tourism Plan while introducing promotional programs for attracting tourists from neighboring countries.

Mount Everest

In line with the federal structure of the country, the government also said that it will identify and develop at least one prime location as the center point in every province to develop as tourist destination.

The government also plans to bring trekking and mountaineering permit system into one-window system. “Arrangements of granting permit to tourists for trekking and mountaineering will be integrated,” reads policy and programs document.

Amid rising incident of casualties in mountain areas, the government has also said that it would set up integrated rescue centers in Everest and Annapurna regions.

Lumbini Birth Place of Lord Buddha

“Birthplace of Lord Buddha — Lumbini, Kechana – country’s lowest point, and Damak, where the world’s tallest Buddha statue will be built, will be linked with the International Buddhist Circuit,” the document reads.

At a time when Nepal’s aviation safety standard has come under scrutiny, the government has pledged to strictly implement air safety standards as per the international standard to make civil aviation in Nepal safer. Radar system will be upgraded for the improvement of internal aviation safety, according to the government policy and program.

Source: MyRepublica

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Lumbini – The Birthplace of the Lord Buddha

Lumbini  – The Birthplace of the Lord Buddha

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Siddhartha Gautama, the Lord Buddha, was born in 623 B.C. in the famous gardens of Lumbini, which soon became a place of pilgrimage. Among the pilgrims was the Indian emperor Ashoka, who erected one of his commemorative pillars there. The site is now being developed as a Buddhist pilgrimage centre, where the archaeological remains associated with the birth of the Lord Buddha form a central feature.

Lumbini - The Birth Place of Lord Buddha

Brief synthesis
The Lord Buddha was born in 623 BC in the sacred area of Lumbini located in the Terai plains of southern Nepal, testified by the inscription on the pillar erected by the Mauryan Emperor Asoka in 249 BC. Lumbini is one of the holiest places of one of the world’s great religions, and its remains contain important evidence about the nature of Buddhist pilgrimage centres from as early as the 3rd century BC.

The complex of structures within the archaeological conservation area includes the Shakya Tank; the remains within the Maya Devi Temple consisting of brick structures in a cross-wall system dating from the 3rd century BC to the present century and the sandstone Ashoka pillar with its Pali inscription in Brahmi script. Additionally there are the excavated remains of Buddhist viharas (monasteries) of the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD and the remains of Buddhist stupas (memorial shrines) from the 3rd century BC to the 15th century AD. The site is now being developed as a Buddhist pilgrimage centre, where the archaeological remains associated with the birth of the Lord Buddha form a central feature.

Lord Buddha Nepal

Integrity
The integrity of Lumbini has been achieved by means of preserving the archaeological remains within the property boundary that give the property its Outstanding Universal Value. The significant attributes and elements of the property have been preserved. The buffer zone gives the property a further layer of protection. Further excavations of potential archaeological sites and appropriate protection of the archaeological remains are a high priority for the integrity of the property. The property boundary however does not include the entire archaeological site and various parts are found in the buffer zone. The entire property including the buffer zone is owned by the Government of Nepal and is being managed by the Lumbini Development Trust and therefore there is little threat of development or neglect. However the effects of industrial development in the region have been identified as a threat to the integrity of the property.

Swayambhunath Stupa

Authenticity
The authenticity of the archaeological remains within the boundaries has been confirmed through a series of excavations since the discovery of the Asoka pillar in 1896. The remains of viharas, stupas and numerous layers of brick structures from the 3rd century BC to the present century at the site of the Maya Devi Temple are proof of Lumbini having been a centre of pilgrimage from early times. The archaeological remains require active conservation and monitoring to ensure that the impact of natural degradation, influence of humidity and the impact of the visitors are kept under control. The property continues to express its Outstanding Universal Value through its archaeological remains. The delicate balance must be maintained between conserving the archaeological vestiges of the property while providing for the pilgrims.

lumbini Canal

Protection and management requirements
The property site is protected by the Ancient Monument Preservation Act 1956. The site management is carried out by the Lumbini Development Trust, an autonomous and non-profit making organization. The entire property is owned by the Government of Nepal. The property falls within the centre of the Master Plan area, the planning of which was initiated together with the United Nations and carried out by Prof. Kenzo Tange between 1972 and 1978.

Swayambhunath

The long-term challenges for the protection and management of the property are to control the impact of visitors, and natural impacts including humidity and the industrial development in the region. A Management Plan is in the process of being developed to ensure the long-term safeguarding of the archaeological vestiges of the property while allowing for the property to continue being visited by pilgrims and tourists from around the world.

Source: UNESCO

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NTB announces 2073 as Ghumphir Barsa

NTB announces 2073 as Ghumphir Barsa

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) on Monday announced Bikram Sambat 2073 as Ghumphir Barsa, which means travel year, in a bid to promote domestic tourism. The initiative is part of the governments preparations to organize International Tourism Year 2017-18.

A minister-level decision had approved the proclamation of Ghumphir Barsa last Friday.

Living Goddess Kumari in Kathmandu

Living Goddess Kumari in Kathmandu Durbar Square

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will make a special announcement of the programme, the first of its kind, on April 24 to commemorate the first anniversary of the April 25 earthquake.

As our domestic tourism requires promotion, we have decided to conduct a wide promotional campaign to encourage domestic sightseers to travel in Nepal, said Deepak Raj Joshi, CEO of the NTB. The programme is part of the preparations to declare 2017-18 as International Tourism Year.

The NTB has allocated a budget of Rs2 million to carry out promotional activities to make the programme a success.

The board will encourage the private sector to create special packages targeting Nepali travellers. NTB will help the private sector to promote the tour packages, said Joshi.

Boudhanath Stupa

Boudhanath Stupa (Buddhist Pilgrimage)

Likewise, the tourism promotional body has suggested to the government to allocate a separate budget for travel leave concessions for government employees in the next fiscal year. Besides, the NTB has also planned to encourage the corporate sector to provide travel leave holidays.

As per the plan, a booklet will be published describing the tour packages developed by travel and tour operators, the board said. In a bid to promote new destinations, travellers will be offered schemes and incentives, said Joshi.

We are not aware of our geography as we have not travelled in Nepal, said Ambica Shrestha, senior tourism entrepreneur and president of Dwarikas Hotel. visit Nepal and let the country move ahead. I believe this programme will encourage Nepalis to explore their country and promote tourism, said Shrestha.

Trekking in Nepal

Trekking in Nepal

There are no statistics regarding domestic tourism in Nepal, but travel trade entrepreneurs said that the trend was on the rise owing to young travellers and adventure lovers who are exploring new ways of recreation.

They said that places like Pokhara, Chitwan, Muktinath and the Annapurna Circuit, among others, have been receiving a large number of domestic visitors due to a growing middle class.

Source: The Kathmandu Post

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