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Left intact in quake, Namche Bazaar awaits tourists

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Left intact in quake, Namche Bazaar awaits tourists

Namche Bazaar, also known as the gateway of Mt Everest, that stood intact in the recent earthquake is now awaiting tourists.

Thousands of domestic and foreign tourists en route to the world’s highest mountain visit Namche Bazaar of Solukhumbu district every year to enjoy the scenic beauty of the place. However, rumors about devastation by quake have adversely affected tourism in the area.
Namche-bazaar
Angchhiring Sherpa, an hotelier, said, “Nothing except a few residential houses has been damaged here.” Fear among tourists is natural, especially after the strong aftershocks that followed the devastating April 25 earthquake. But Namche Bazaar, which stood intact in the quake, is without tourists these days. “Namche is still safe for tourists to visit,” Sherpa said.

Both the earthquakes of April 25 and May 12 have inflicted minor damage to Namche Bazaar area. Only around 250 private houses in the rural areas of Namche have been destroyed, while 150 residential houses have been damaged.

The news about complete destruction of Namche Bazaar is not true, according Angphinjo Sherpa, a civil society leader. “All the tourism entrepreneurs waiting to welcome tourists,” he said.

Namche is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world. It has 53 hotels and lodges. However, only two people lost their lives at the Everest Base Camp due to an avalanche triggered by the earthquake.

Bikram Thapa, a local radio journalist, of district headquarters, Salleri, has recently reached Namche Bazaar for reporting after four hours of trekking. “I found Namche stood unaffected,” he told Republica. “I found half of a dozen hotels and lodges have developed cracks due to the earthquake.”

However, most of those tourists who were in the Namche area at the time of the earthquake have already flown back to their countries.

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Source: myrepublica

Nepal prays for return of tourists after earthquakes

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Nepal prays for return of tourists after earthquakes

Nepal is hoping to welcome tourists back to the country in time for the next trekking season in the autumn

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Nepal earthquake: What does the future hold for tourism? Photo: ALAMY

 Nepal is hoping to welcome tourists back to the country in time for the next trekking season in the autumn, with attractions being rebuilt and trekking routes in the foothills of Mount Everest reopening.

Following the recent devastating earthquakes that killed more than 9,000 people, most hotels and restaurants in Nepal shut down, tourism numbers fell significantly and thousands of porters were left out of work.

“It has been hard,” said Sujan Sijapati, operations manager for Intrepid Travel in Nepal. “The earthquake meant that the season finished early and we’ve already written off the coming month to focus on rebuilding for the coming season.”

Two trekking routes, including the popular Langtang trekking route, were closed and hotels damaged in the quakes on April 25, the worst natural disaster in the country since 1934, and its aftershock on May 12, which destroyed nearly half a million houses and left thousands without food or water.

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Earthquakes killed more than 9,000 people this year

The aftermath saw holidays cancelled for May, before spreading to the rest of the year. Relief and aid workers were soon filling the hotels left empty by tourists.

Kathmandu landmarks before and after quake, in pictures

There is hope for the next season however, with tourism experts and officials suggesting that the effect of the Gorkha quake will not be long term. Most trekking routes are still intact and could all be reopened by the autumn.

Several of the heritage sites damaged in the Kathmandu Valley are reopening this month, the Nepali Times reports, with Boudhanath stupa, Budanilkantha and Pashupatinath temples, among those that have been declared safe.

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Boudhanath stupa (Photo: Alamy)

 Meanwhile, the vast majority of hotels are apparently being restored as they did not suffer structural damage.

“People are keen for tourists to return – not just hotels and tour operators, but restaurants, gear companies, even those in remote areas rely on tourism. Now there is no work at all,” said Mr Sijapati.

What does the future hold for tourism in Nepal?

He explained that most tourism companies are privately owned by Nepalese people on a local scale, and so he expects they will have a tough time.

“People have been traumatised, but you can’t cry all the time. People are united to work together to overcome the national crisis. There is a strong sense of patriotism. Things are getting better and becoming more normal. Schools have opened. People are quite positive, they have started laughing and partying and voluntarily clearing debris. There is a strong sense of unity to rebuild Nepal.”

Monkeys outside of Pashupatinath temple (Photo: Alamy)

Monkeys outside of Pashupatinath temple (Photo: Alamy)

The UN’s World Food Programme revealed last week that thousands of out-of-work porters are being hired to deliver aid to the most remote parts of the quake.

Ang Tsering Sherpa, president of Nepal’s mountaineering association, said the scheme would “support the livelihoods of mountain communities who are facing great problems because of the quake”.

He said: “This is the time to help the Nepalese people. If you are serious about helping Nepal, don’t just give money, come to Nepal as a tourist.”

The Himalayas: Trip of a Lifetime

Independent assessments are being carried out to determine which trekking routes should reopen. Intrepid said it is working with independent safety experts and other government and industry organization to start an infrastructure assessment on areas like Annapurna.

Mr Sijapati said that travellers he meets on the ground in Nepal seem eager to help a country focused on rebuilding itself.

Intrepid has launched a million pound fundraising campaign that will see all profits from the company’s next season of Nepal trips donated to local and international charities working to rebuild it. The adventure travel specialist is also running three charity treks in the autumn, including one to Everest Base Camp.

Mt. Everest

Mt. Everest

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Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Individual Everest permits also extended for 5 years

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The government has made amendment to Mountaineering Regulations, allowing mountaineers, who took individual permits to climb Mt Everest in spring last year, to use the permit over the next five years.

Earlier, the government had extended validity of only group permits. But the decision had draw flak from mountaineers who said it was not possible for all members in the team to gather at the same time for the expedition. Minister of General Administration Lal Babu Pandit said that the cabinet has decided to allow individual climbers to use their climbing permits over the next five years.

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A total of 334 climbers of 32 expedition teams, including a Nepali team, had received permits to climb Mt Everest last year. The climbers, however, are required to pay US$ 1,000 to the Department of Tourism (DoT) based on the new royalty structure. The government reduced royalty fee for foreigners climbing Mt Everest from normal route, also known as the South East Ridge, to $11,000 per person from $25,000 per person with effect from January1, 2015.

All expedition teams called off their expedition after a deadly avalanche near Camp II of Mt Everest killed 16 Sherpa guides in April last year. “With the amendment in Mountaineering Regulations, we are hopeful that the number of mountaineers on Mt Everest will increase this year. We will see new climbers as well as those who had cancelled their trip last year,” Pushpa Raj Katuwal, chief of Mountaineering Section at DoT, told Republica.

According to Katuwal, the government has issued climbing permits to five teams so far. Meanwhile, DoT will send two liaison officers who will man the government’s contact office at the Everest Base Camp for the entire climbing season. The government has already prepared Terms of Reference (ToR) for the liaison officers.

“With this arrangement, we believe climbers will feel much safer. Also, they can get the required information in time,” he added. The liaison officers will provide weather updates, coordinate rescue operations in case of emergencies and settle disputes arising among climbing parties.

The government has changed climbing route slightly this year to avoid the where avalanche hit mountaineering workers last year. According to the department, climbers will have to deviate around 40 meters right of the regular trail which will extend the trip to Camp I by around two hours.

“In case the government reduces climbing permit fee in the next five years, we will refund the climbers accordingly,” Tulsi Prasad Gautam, director general of DoT, said.

Source: Republica

TAAN promotes Nepal in Melbourne, Los Angeles, Denmark

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TAAN promotes Nepal in Melbourne, Los Angeles, Denmark

Three separate delegations of Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) promoted Nepal’s tourism products and services in Melbourne (Australia), Los Angeles (USA) and Herning (Denmark).

TAAN coordinated participation of Nepali trekking companies in these expos. TAAN Secretary Pasang Sherpa led Nepal’s delegation in Adventure Travel Show held in Los Angeles, USA on Febraury 21 and 22. TAAN member companies participated in the expo.

Trekking-expo

“Our stalls received around 700 visitors – most of them were buyers. Our participation was successful,” Sherpa said.

Similarly, Executive Member Vidya Hirachan led Nepali delegation in Adventure Travel Expo held on February 21 and 22. TAAN member agencies “Our participation was highly successful. There were lots of quality visitors,” Hirachan said. “Most of the visitors were interested toward trekking. Few sought information about expeditions.”

The expo, which saw participation of 120 countries, saw around 25,000 visitors, according to Hirachan.

TAAN delegations distributed promotional brochures, DVDs and maps to the visitors.

Similarly, TAAN member agency Sherpa & Swiss Adventure participated in Danish Travel Show held in Herning of Denmark from Febraury 20-22. The participation was coordinated by TAAN.

Trekking in Himalayas Nepal

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Trekking in Himalayas Nepal

Nepal is the ultimate destination for the trekking enthusiast-offering a myriad of possibilities from the short and easy to the demanding challenges of the snowy peaks. Easy, moderate or rigorous-there is something for every palate. Nepal har aptly been called “A Trekkers Paradise” as her terrain-mountains, hills and the Terai-offers some of the most spectacular trekking routes in the world. The immense contrasts in trekking routes in the world. The immense contrasts in altitudes and climates found here support an equality spectacular mix of lifestyles, vegetation and wildlife. Trekking in Nepal is as much a cultural experience as a Himalayan adventure. In the shadows and foothills of the icy pinnacles of the Himalaya, one passes picturesque charming villages inhabited by diverse ethnic groups. Treks vary from expeditions, high altitude treks to simply easy paced walks.

Trekking-in-Nepal

Trekking is another word for walking. The treks are focused in Annapurna, Everest, Langtang, Rolwaling, and restricted areas such as Dolpo, mysterious Mustang, Jumla ( Rara Lake ), Kanchenjunga, Makalu and Arun Valley , Manaslu and Larke La Pass and many new discovered unbeaten trails. However, the word trekking has become more well known for the kind of walking which takes you along trails winding up, down, over and around mountains.

Trekking is not mountaineering although some of the popular trails are used by mountaineering expeditions to get to their base camps. Most of the trails you will walk on are still used predominantly by Nepali people for everyday travel and trade. It is not uncommon to be passed along the way by a Nepali porter carrying lengths of corrugated roofing iron slung from a jute strap (namlo) around the head or a sick relative being carried in a basket (doko) in the same manner to the nearest medical facility.

Annapurna-Base-Camp-Trekking

Samrat Tours & Travels offers some of the best treks depending on the interest of the client. From hikes lasting three to four days to trekking in the restricted areas which may last longer than a month. Samrat Tours & Travels family is ready to serve you and make your holiday dream come true with some fine arrangements, government registered and will differ with its rescue services in case.

5 places in Nepal you must visit before you die

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5 places in Nepal you must visit before you die

Nepal is country with one of the best landscapes in the world with stunning scenic beauty. It has been a tourism destination for people around the world for past hundreds of years. With 1310 magnificent mountains above 6000m, Nepal boasts of many fascinating places. Nepal is world famous for trekking, mountaineering, wildlife tourism, bird watching, jungle safari, river rafting and much adventurous stuff along with ethnic heritages and cultural richness.

Here, we have come up with 5 places in Nepal that you must, we repeat, YOU MUST VISIT BEFORE YOU DIE. Believe us; these places will blow your mind.

1. Rara Lake: Rara Lake tops them all. Situated in an altitude of 2990 m above sea level, Rara is the biggest lake of Nepal covering an area of 10.8 kilometers. The lake is surrounded by Rara National Park that protects unique and vulnerable species of flora and fauna. This shimmering blue jewel set in a ring of snowy peaks gives you fascinating, magnificent and marvelous views you’d have ever seen.

rara-lake

2. Everest Base Camp: You cannot find more spectacular place that the Everest region where four of the world’s six tallest peaks Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Makalu and Mt. Cho Oyu rise above everything else. The Everest Base Camp offers you one of the grandest walk with astounding mountain views and glimpses of the life of world famous Sherpas. On the way, you get opportunities to go sightseeing around Sagarmatha National Park, a home to large varieties of Himalayan floras and faunas. Trip to this place shall the most gratifying event of your life.

everest-base-camp

3. Upper Mustang: The Upper Mustang trek brings you into the hidden world of the old Buddhist kingdom of Mustang, also called Lo which used to be part of the Tibetan empire, and is therefore closely related to Tibet. Not only the culture, but also the landscape is very much related to Tibet. Mustang lies in the rain shadow of the Dhaulagiri and you walk in a complete desolate landscape, surrounded by rocks in all kind of colors and bizarre formations.  In this barren landscape the villages with their bright colored fields are like oases. The culture of the people living there is one of the major attractions for tourists and visitors alike.

upper-mustang

4. Annapurna Base Camp: Ask any travel agencies in Nepal for best trekking destination, most of them will have one answer – Annapurna Base Camp. Go during spring, and you will witness luscious rhododendron forests which gives you majestic feel. Annapurna Base Camp is one of the most popular treks in Annapurna region that takes you to closer to the Annapurna range. It combines so many different landscapes that you perhaps will experience one of the best adventures in your life.

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5. Tilicho Lake: Tilicho Lake is one of the highest lakes in the world at an altitude of 4919 meters located in the Annapurna range of the Himalayas in Manang district. It provides one of the most heart-throbbing views that will remain in your eyes for long time. It is an extremely adventurous terrain that provides you a very revitalizing experience. It was also the site of one of the highest ever altitude scuba divers. There are many trekking agencies in Nepal that will guide you to this enormously beautiful lake.

High-mountainous lake Tilicho

Source: Nepalb2b