2nd National Canyoning Rendezvous concludes

Nepal Canyoning Association (NCA) organized 2^nd National Canyoning Rendezvous 2016 in Chahare Jharana of Nuwakot district on June 3 and 4.

The two-day event was promoted by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN).

TAAN 2^nd Vice President Ram Prasad Sapkota inaugurated the event amid a function held on June 3. Before the inauguration ceremony, locals with traditional musical troupe escorted the Chief Guest, other guests and members of the organizers, and media persons to the canyoning site.

Inaugurating the event, Sapkota said canyoning needs to be promoted effectively in national and international market as the adventure sport holds great tourism potential. He also said TAAN would do its bit to promote canyoning in Nepal.

TAAN Secretary Mukti Pandey was also present in the inauguration ceremony. He also enjoyed canyoning in the Chahare Jharana.

Later in the day, 2^nd Vice President Sapkota gave away certificate of participation to 25 Nepali as well as foreign canyoners.

Similarly, TAAN General Secretary Karna Bahadur Lama, who was the Chief Guest of the closing ceremony, said there are plenty of canyoning spots in the mid-hills yet to be explored. "It is good to know that people have started enjoying canyoning. Nepalis as well as foreigners are enjoying this adventure sport," he added.

Likewise, Rajendra Lama, president of NCA, said the rendezvous is their effort to develop canyoning as an adventure tourism product. "Along with promoting this adventure sport, we are also producing guides because we are going to need more guides when this sport becomes popular," he added. He also informed that NCA was training 10 guides in the Chahare Jharana.

Lama also thanked NTB and TAAN as well as other supports and sponsors who helped to make the event a grand success. source by TAAN 

   

Khatri, Syangbo win Langtang-Gosainkunda Half Marathon

 Khatri, Syangbo win Langtang-Gosainkunda Half Marathon

Bharat Khatri of Nepal Army and Phul Maya Syangbo have won the men and women categories, respectively, of 1st TAAN Langtang-Gosainkunda Half Marathon 2016 held in Rasuwa district on May 29. Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) organized the event on the occasion of 38^th Establishment Day to disseminate the message that the Langtang-Gosainkunda region, which was devastated by the earthquakes of 2015, is now safe for tourism activities. Khatri completed the 21-kilometer half marathon in 1 hour 22 minutes and 55 seconds. Similarly, Homlal Shrestha (1 hour 23 minutes 35 seconds) and Govinda Prasad Adhikari (1 hour 23 minutes 46 seconds) finished second and third, respectively.Similarly, Syangbo, who won the women's category, finished the race in 2 hours 7 minutes and 26 seconds. Kamala Tamang clinched the second position with the timing of 2 hours 18 minutes and 53 seconds while Binda BK, who clocked 2 hours 21 minutes and 17 seconds, finished the race in third position.

The 21-kilometer half marathon began from the sacred Gosainkunda Lake and went through Lauribina, Cholangpati, Chandanbari, Dimsa, Deurali and Ghattekhola before concluding at Dhunche. TAAN Secretary Mukti Pandey, who was a participant himself, inaugurated the half-marathon by cutting ribbon at the Gosainkunda Helipad.TAAN Executive Members Ngawang Nima Sherpa and Taranath Lamichhane also participated in the event as athletes.Assistant CDO of Rasuwa Deepak KC handed over checks, medals and certificates to winners and runners-up. While winners in both the categories took home medals, certificates and Rs 50,000 each, while 1^st runner-up and 2^nd runner-up in both the categories received cash prize of Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000, respectively, along with medals and certificates.Speaking at the program, Assistant CDO KC thanked TAAN for organizing such a grand event in Rasuwa district. "We are hopeful that the event will be of great help in promoting tourism in Langtang-Gosainkunda region and to disseminate message that the area is now safe for tourist activities," KC added. He also requested TAAN to give continuity to the event in future as well.

In her welcome speech, TAAN Executive Committee Member Sarita Lama said that the half-marathon was a part of TAAN initiative to promote tourism in Langtang-Gosainkunda region. "TAAN is with the people of this area. Together we should work for promotion of tourism products and services available here," she added.TAAN Executive Member Surya Bahadur Ghimire emceed the program. TAAN Executive Member Pasang Sherpa 'Sangam' was also present at the program. Likewise, Temba Singh Tamang, chairman of District Sports Development Committee, said they were eager to join hands with TAAN to give continuity to the event in coming years.Presiding over the program, 1^st Vice President Tej Bahadur Gurung, who chaired the program, said TAAN was encouraged by the immense success of the half-marathon despite short preparation time. "Support and cooperation extended by locals and concerned stakeholders of Rasuwa have encouraged us to make the event bigger in the coming years, Gurung said, adding. He further added that positive media reports of the event will relay the message all over the world that Langtang-Gosainkunda region is now safe for tourism activities. source by TAAN

  

Translocated rhino gives birth to male calf

          Translocated rhino gives birth to male calf

A rhino which was trans located to the Bardiya National Park (BNP) from the Chitwan National Park (CNP) in March has given birth to male calf. The rhino with ID 21010 gave birth to a male calf in the Guthi post area on Sunday, said Ashok Bhandari, assistant chief warden of the BNP. “The calf is healthy. The mother was one of the five rhinos translocated to Babai Valley of the BNP.The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), with the support from WWF Nepal, had translocated the rhinos as part of a plan to protect the endangered species and increase their number in potential habitats across the country. The DNPWC plans to move 30 rhinos to different habitats by 2018.
This is, however, not the first time a translocated rhino has given birth in Bardiya. Earlier, between 1986--when first rhino translocation took place--and 2000, a total of 27 calves were born in Bardiya. Thirteen of these endangered species were brought to the BNP from the CNP in 1986.By 2003, a total of 87 rhinos were translocated to the BNP and Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve, and over 70 rhinos were moved to Babai Valley.
Babai Valley that was once considered an ideal habitat for tigers and rhinos given the huge expanse of forest cover and grassland and limited human disturbance, however, gained notoriety for poaching, particularly between 2002 and 2006 when insurgency was at its peak. Almost all the rhinos that were translocated between 1986 and 2003 were wiped out.
But in recent years, conservation efforts with increased participation of government bodies, conservation partners, security forces and communities, Babai Valley’s habitats are gradually reviving. We have witnessed considerable increase in tiger and rhino population in and around the Babai flood plain areas, Bhandari said. “The birth of a male calf from a translocated rhino is encouraging. Nepal is home to 645 one-horned rhinos, with the CNP having the highest number of rhinos at 605 followed by the BNP at 29.

  source by Kathmandu post

Himalaya Airlines to start Doha service on May 31

Himalaya Airlines has decided to launch Kathmandu-Doha flights instead after failing to obtain clearance to operate services to New Delhi as per its original plan. The carrier, a Nepal-China joint venture company, said on Monday that it would be starting regular flights to the Qatari capital on May 31. It will be flying its new Airbus 320 from Kathmandu to Doha on a regular basis after conducting charter flights to Colombo, Sri Lanka. The airline had flown Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his entourage to Beijing during his official visit to China in March.Raju KC, commercial general manager of Himalaya, said they would be operating three flights weekly to Doha initially. “We will soon be conducting daily flights to Doha on a regular basis,” he said.According to him, the introduction of their fleet to international markets could help increase the inbound market share of Nepali airlines. “In the next five years, we have targeted to increase the market share of Nepali carriers to 50 percent from the present 5 percent.

      Due to the absence of competitive airlines in the country, much of Nepal's international market has been secured by international airlines. Himalaya said its flight to Doha would depart Kathmandu at 11 pm while the return flight would leave Doha at 2:30 am. Vijay Shrestha, vice-president, administration of Himalaya, said they had created the flight schedule keeping the wishes of travelers in mind. Himalaya had originally planned to fly the Kathmandu-Doha route from April 12. It will be the second carrier to connect Qatar and Nepal after Qatar Airways. Shrestha said they would be delivering their service ‘on time performance’ basis and at competitive prices. “We are offering excellent customer service with a flavor of Nepali culture and at prices similar to those of budget carriers,” he said. Himalaya has appointed Cleopatra Travels as its General Sales Agents that will be conducting passenger and cargo related services on behalf of the airline.

Apart from Doha, the company has been planning to operate flights to Delhi and various parts of China. Shrestha said they had already applied for a permit to link Delhi and that the paperwork was being processed. “We have also planned to extend services to Chengdu, Lhasa and Beijing in China in the near future.”He said they had targeted to expand the fleet to 15 Airbus 320s in the next five years and connect Kathmandu with various cities in Asia and beyond. The airline acquired its first aircraft, an Airbus 320, on March 9.The company will introduce long-haul wide-body aircraft of the A330 family in due course of time to operate direct flights to Japan, Korea, Europe, Australia and North America," Shrestha said. It had previously planned to launch scheduled flights in October 2014, but the plan was deferred due to 'some technical problems'. It was further delayed by the devastating April 25 earthquake. source by kathmandu post.
  

Chhukung Ri peak climbing Nepal

                                       Chhukung  Ri peak climbing

 A more strenuous trip is to climb the hill to Dingboche than hike up the Imja valley for another two hours past Bibre to Chhukung, a small summer settlement at 4730m. The views from chhukung and further up the valley on the moraines towards Island peak (6189m) are tremendous. The great south face of Lhotse towers above to the north while Amphu Lapcha and the immense fluted ice walls that flank it dominate the horizon to the south. To the south west the eastern face of  Everest Ama Dablam provides an unusual view of this picturesque peak. It is a fast trip back down the valley to pheriche for the night.

 Chhukung is the staging place for climbers attempting Island peak. It’s also a good place to stay if you will climbing chhukung RI, a 5546m rock outcrop offering splendid panoramas of Makalu Ama Dablam and Baruntse 7220m. Chukhung Ri is a rocky peak, similar to Kala Pattar, rising above the village of Chukhung to 5,545 meters 18,209 ft. It takes three hours or less to reach the summit from Chukhung and it requires no technical climbing. The summit has astounding views of Imja Test Island Peak, Ama Dablam, Makalu, and the Lhotse face, and it is a worthwhile addition to any climbing or trekking itinerary in the Khumbu region.