Nepal rich in folk culture: US researcher

American national Anna Stirr, who has done profound research on Nepali folk culture, has said Nepal is rich in folk culture.
Taking part in an interaction programme on 'promotion and protection of folk culture', organised by the Independent Journalists' Association, Nepal here Sunday, Stirr said Nepal's culture is characterised by diversity and significant values.
She further said during the research she visited different villages and settlements of Nepal and was mesmerised by the cultural diversities they own up.
Association's Central Chair Krishna Prasad Bastola spoke on the need of collective efforts to protect Nepali folk culture which is facing significant indifference from within Nepalis.
Similarly, Association's General Secretary Kamal Poudel 'Athak' and media person Shanti Rana said the Nepali folk culture was in the need of protection and urged one and all to gear up for the same.
It may be noted that Ali Miya Folk Literary Academy honored Stirr with a cash prize of Rs 20,000 Saturday in recognition to her contribution to the research of Nepali folk culture and folk singing
Source by ktm post

Royal chitwan National park

Royal chitwan National park is a wild life and cultural haven with a unique flora & fauna such as Royal Bengal tigers deer , rhino,bear and wild boar, as well as the fascinating Tharu tribe whose lifestyle has remained unchanged for several hundred for several hundred years. The Royal chitwan National park is a large area of low, heavily forested hills bordering India on the south. Several jungle camps have been created to offer the tourists comfortable accommodation, elephant back safaris for wildlife viewing canoeing and nature walks with highly trained naturalist. The camps are rigorously regulated to avoid environmental and habitat disturbance and are easily reached by air or road.

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Dry landslide strikes Annapurna region

Narchyang, Dana, Bhurung-Tatopani, Ghar and Histan villages in Myagdi district were covered in thick plumes of dust following Sunday’s night’s massive dry landslide, which was triggered by an aftershock. A magnitude 5.5 aftershock with its epicenter in Gorkha was recorded at 11:54pm on Sunday.Five locals who had gone to collect bamboo in the forest were rescued from the cave where they were hiding when Narchyang village, situated between Annapurna South and Nilgiri mountains along the Annapurna mountain range in the district, was hit by the dry landslide. Mud and debris are continuously falling from the steep slope, threatening villages and people living there,” said Bishwa Singh Khadka, district police chief. “However, no immediate impact has been recorded so far. People of Narchyang village and around 160 construction workers, who were at the 5-megawatt Galemdi Hydropower Project site, have moved to safer locations. Construction work at the hydel project has been halted.
We have moved to safer places, but the landslide has resulted in massive dust plumes, due to which we are facing difficulty in breathing,” said Mukunda Baruwal, site in-charge of the hydropower project. This is not the first earthquake-induced dry landslide in the Annapurna mountain range since the April 25 earthquake. Geologists and scientists have warned of increase in number of landslides and avalanches in the mountains and hills due to the impact of the earthquake. In May last year, just a month after the April 25 earthquake, a massive landslide had blocked the Kali Gandaki river at Baisari in Bhagwati VDC of Myagdi. Twenty five houses were buried. Though no human casualties were reported, hundreds of villagers of Beni, Ghatan, Benibazaar, Galeshwor, Pokharebagar were relocated to safer areas.
Various studies conducted after the earthquake have identified 4,312 landslide incidents after the quake and warned that tens of thousands of landslides could occur due to the impact of the earthquake. The steep mountain slopes and weak rock structure, further weakened by the earthquake, make the Kali Gandaki river basin area prone to landslips and landslides,” said Basanta Raj Adhikari, deputy director at the Centre for Disaster Studies at Institute of Engineering.
Source by Kathmandu post 

TAAN celebrates Lhosar with great fanfare and rejoicing

Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) organized TAAN Lhosar Culture Program 2016 in Kathmandu on Friday to celebrate Lhosar – the New Year festival of different ethnic groups living across the country.Vice President of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal His Excellency Nanda Bahadur Pun graced the event as Chief Guest. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ananda Prasad Pokharel and Chief of Army Staff General Rajendra Chhetri were also present in the program.Similarly, Ambassador of France in Nepal His Excellency Yves Carmona, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia in Nepal His Excellency Abdulnaser Abdulnaser bin Husien Al-Harthi, Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Nepal His Excellency W M Senevirathne, Acting Ambassador of Australia in Nepal His Excellency Stephen Rowe, Chief of Public Affairs Office at the Embassy of United States in Nepal Mr Tristram Perry and First Secretary of Embassy of Malaysia in Nepal Ahmed Al Phadi also participated in the program.

Likewise, high-ranking government officials, representatives of different travel trade associations, former office-bearers and executive members of TAAN and TAAN member agencies, among others were also present in the program.All the participants were accorded warm welcome by Sherpa, Tamang and Gurung community. They were welcomed with khadas and offered sweets, traditional Khapse and local liquor.Welcoming the participants, TAAN Executive Committee Member Sarita Lama said 'TAAN Lhosar Cultural Program' is TAAN's attempts to preserve Nepal's timeless culture and tradition. "Along with preserving our timeless and tradition, we are hopeful that this event will foster friendless and brotherhood among tourism entrepreneurs," she added.Similarly, TAAN First Vice President and coordinator of TAAN Lhosar Cultural Program Organizing Committee, Tej Bahadur Gurung, wished all a Happy Lhosar and said TAAN tried to celebrate Lhosar differently this year to make it more managed. "Last year, TAAN had organized Lhosar in the streets of Thamel. Events like these will preserve our culture and tradition and also foster brotherhood among tourism entrepreneurs," he added.

Likewise, Ambassador of France in Nepal lauded the role of TAAN in promotion of adventure tourism as well as Nepal's culture and tradition. Similarly, Ambassador of Sri Lanka said he was pleased to be a part of the program. He also wished all a Happy Lhosar.  Similarly, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ananda Prasad Pokharel said Nepal's timeless culture and tradition should be promoted effectively in the international market to bring more tourists.Addressing the program, Vice President His Excellency Nanda Bahadur Pun wished all a Happy Lhosar. "Our culture and tradition needs to be preserved for future generation," he added.Concluding the program, TAAN President Chandra Prasad Rijal thanked His Excellency Nanda Bahadur Pun for accepting TAAN's invitation to grace the event as Chief Guest. "TAAN has been celebrating Lhosar for the past two decades to preserve our culture and tradition. We will give continuity to the event in future as well," he added.After the inaugural session, artists performed traditional songs and dance as well as entertaining programs. Traditional dance of Sherpa, Tamang and Gurung were performed on the occasion. The crowd went berserk when celebrated artist Ram Krishna Dhakal took to the stage. Other artists like Mingma Sherpa, Mausam Gurung, AD Sherpa, Himal Ghale, Suresh Ghising, Ranjita Gurung, Shankar BC, Rashmi Tamang and comedian Balchhu Dhurbe also performed at the program.  The program concluded with a DJ session by DJ BJ.

TAAN has been celebrating Lhosar on a regular basis for more than two decade 

                 TAAN 

Watching wildlife western Nepal

Watching wildlife western Nepal

 Western Nepal particularly the Dolpa area is reminiscent of Kashmir in its rich variety of flora. Being in the rain shadow area monsoon conditions are more amenable for visitors the region is drier and free of leeches. In order to witness the full wildflower regalia. The time to visit is August from jumla east one may distinguish ground orchids edelweiss corydalis campanulas anemones. Forget me notes impatiens and rose. Higher up in the alpine areas larkspurs geraniums poppies sedums and saxifrages proliferate.

 Look for flocks of swift-flying snow pigeons and gliding pairs of Himalayan. Within the forests along the trek to Rara lake it is entirely possible to catch sight of Nepal national bird the Impedance pheasant. An excellent place to spot blue sheep is on the kagmara la trek your chance of sighting a snow leopard is better in sparsely populated Dolpo and other remote areas of western Nepal. 1788 the people of western Nepal had very little reliance  on Kathmandu.

Himalayan Smile Treks and Adventures Pvt. Ltd.

Email: sales@himalayastrek.com|info@himalayastrek.com

Seven Corner Road | Thamel | G.P.O.Box No.13216 | Kathmandu | Nepal

Tel: 977-1-4700386 | 977-1-4700446 | Fax: 977-1-4701336
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TAAN felicitates UAAA President

Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) organized a dinner reception in Kathmandu on Friday in honor of the President of Union of Asian Alpine Associations Dr In-Jeong Lee.

At the program, TAAN honored Dr Lee with Letter of Appreciation in recognition of his credible efforts and inspirational leadership to protect mountain environment, mountain communities and mountain diversities of the world. "Himalayan countries like Nepal are the most vulnerable to the climate change and we believe such a responsible organization like UAAA will consistently provide successful leadership to address the challenges," reads the Letter of Felicitation.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ananda Prasad Pokharel presented the Letter of Felicitation to Dr Lee. Minister Pokharel also presented Letter of Felicitation, posthumously, to South Korean adventurer Park Young-Seok – the first man in the world to climb all 14 eight-thousanders and Seven Summits, and trek to both poles. He went missing while opening a new climbing route in Mt Annapurna in 2011.

Minister Pokharel presented the Letter of Felicitation to Park's wife. He also presented Token of Love, on behalf of TAAN, to Choe Yong Jin, ambassador of South Korea to Nepal.

Speaking at the program, TAAN General Secretary Karna Bahadur Lama said TAAN's relationship with UAAA began two years ago when TAAN former President Ramesh Dhamala visited UAAA assembly held in Tokyo in 2014. "Last year also, our former president visited UAAA assembly held in Seoul where TAAN was granted 'observer member' status," he added. "Nepal, which lies in the lap of the Himalayas, needs to enhance cooperation with UAAA for effective development and promotion of tourism in mountain areas. UAAA's support is crucial for us in fighting the impacts of climate change and global warming in our country."

Similarly, UAAA President Dr Lee thanked TAAN for the wonderful program and said his association was keen to work with TAAN.

Likewise, Minister Pokharel said UAAA's support would be crucial for Nepal to fight the impacts of climate change and global warming. Stating that Nepal has been failing to exploit its tourism potential to the fullest, he said efforts are being made to promote Lumbini – the birthplace of Buddha – as the pilgrimage destination.

Delivering his vote of thanks, TAAN President Chandra Prasad Rijal said TAAN was keen to work with UAAA and learn from its expertise in mountain areas.

Sadhuram Sapkota, officiating secretary of tourism ministry; Govinda Bahadur Karki, director general of Department of Tourism; Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) board members Ghanendra Shrestha and Rajendra Sapkota; former President of TAAN Sitaram Sapkota; and representatives of different associations were present at the program.

Similarly, office-bearers, executive committee members and staffers of TAAN Secretariat were present at the program.