11 June 2015

NEPAL IS SAFE FOR TOURISM ACTIVITIES

An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.9 magnitude on April 25 and 7.3  May 12, 2015, according to the United States Geological Survey. Tremors and aftershock are still felt throughout the region till we write this article. Many of the trekking trail and expedition team were affected with this. The earthquake triggered an avalanche on Mount Everest. Langtang village vanished due to avalanche descended from Langtang slopes thousands of feet above. Report shows that 80+ foreigners were dead in different parts of Nepal while on trekking or expedition, Langtang region alone claimed 40+ foreigners.

Government and Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) are working hard in engineering assessment in  below trekking routes which are affected and in top priority for immediate reconstruction 
a. Dhunche-Gosaikunda-Helambu, Syafrubesi-Langtang-Kyanjin, b. Larke Pass-Chekampar, Tsum Valley
c. Kalinchowk-Bigu Gumba-Charikot, Gaurishankar and Lamabagar, Jiri-Khumbu,
d. Annapurna Circuit, Dhaulagiri and Dhorpatan trails
http://taan.org.np/news/2175-govt-prepares-action-plan-for-recovery-of-tourism-industry

Now, Nepal being slowly recovering for the earthquake terror, many travelers and tourist have questions and confusions either they can or cannot travel safely in upcoming season and years in Nepal. 

 All media, newspaper, Television have highlighted about damage, destruction of resulted by the earthquake. It is obvious that it will take some time to re build and repair all our damage heritage, culture and natural site. Government, different national and NGO and NGOs have taken immediate initiation to recover as soon as possible.

Here, are some of the international coverage about the earthquake, its consequences and tourism industry condition.

Nepal for Tourists – Nothing to Fear..
http://www.adventuretravelnews.com/nepal-for-tourists-nothing-to-fear#.VW_ZHS7mknc.facebook

Left intact in quake, Namche Bazaar awaits tourists
http://myrepublica.com/society/item/21687-left-intact-in-quake-namche-bazaar-awaits-tourists.html#sthash.UxQ41C1d.0NkwDoeu.dpuf

What can tourists do to help, not hinder, Nepal’s quake recovery?
http://theconversation.com/what-can-tourists-do-to-help-not-hinder-nepals-quake-recovery-41514

Quake-hit Nepal seeks experts’ advice on tourism
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-32889294

Fallen: Nepal's historic landmarks after the quake
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/26/travel/nepal-earthquake-landmarks/index.html

Cultural heritage sites to open for tourists from June 15
http://taan.org.np/news/2177-cultural-heritage-sites-to-open-for-tourists-from-june-15

The Best Way to Help Nepal Recover From the Quake? Go There on VACATION http://time.com/3851425/nepal-earthquake-tourism-impact-holiday-trekking/

Nepal earthquake: What does the future hold for TOURISM http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/nepal/11570168/Nepal-earthquake-What-does-the-future-hold-for-tourism.html

Nepal Travel Advice from government of UK
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/nepal
Find below Nicholas Cowie who is in ground and is country manager in Nepal of reputed Australia based travel agency had to say about his earthquake experience and tourism industry condition.

INTREPID TRAVEL..“Tourism creates jobs, jobs support families.” All your Nepal questions answered by our man on the ground
http://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/nepal-on-the-ground/
Exclusive interview by Nepal leading online news ekantipur.com with Andrew Jones, vice-chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (Pata)
There is enough room to make tourists visit Nepal this autumn
http://www.ekantipur.com/2015/05/29/business/there-is-enough-room-to-make-tourists-visit-nepal-this-autumn/405836.html?utm_source=Nepali+Trekking+Agencies&utm_campaign=ea6e2c7488-Newsletter-17&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a23ee10a8b-ea6e2c7488-122921069

How Adventure Travel In Nepal Opened My Eyes To Life’s
http://elitedaily.com/life/culture/adventure-travel-nepal-opened-eyes-lifes-truths/1056360/

Many of agree tourism is only the sector that can benefit to rebuild Nepal economy from grass root. In Nepal, tourism creates jobs, jobs support families, families contribute to societies. Travellers who are willing to come to Nepal will directly and positively affect change for the better. Economy in affected areas such as Gorkha,Dhading, Lamjung, Sindhupalchowk, kavrepalanchowk (epicenter of earthquake) etc are more rely on tourism. Lots of youth are directly and indirectly related to tourism. Some are porter, some are guides and some are owners of homestays and lodges.

Nepal stills open its arms to welcome foreigners despite damage to historical and cultural monuments. Road and air transport linkage is not affected and have link to different parts of Nepal. 95% hotel, restaurant are safe and are in operation apart from that of Langtang region. Nepali tourism workers are ready to be back to usual business to cater the tourist and to provide services despite they had lost someone in circle.
For upcoming season and vacation, please don’t cancel your trips to Nepal at this situation. Government & tourism authorities are working very hard to get engineering assessments and reports that determine what work has to be done to reopen tourism safely for everyone.  For now, Langtang area is in not go list as most of infrastructure is damage there. Other areas are still safe and can cater traveler’s like before.

NATURALLY NEPAL, ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH !!!

Text copyright © Raju Dong


NEPAL IS SAFE FOR TOURISM ACTIVITIES

09 June 2015

9 Storyed palace made by Late. Prithvi Narayan Shah in end of 18 century. 

Devastated  Basantapur Palace complex. 


Basantapur Palace complex made in British Architecture.

Fallen Hippie Temple or Maju Dega Temple. 

Destroyed Kastamandap Temple from where "kathmandu" got its official name. 



KATHMANDU DURBAR SQUARE AFTER EARTHQUAKE.

05 May 2015

At Dhankuta with Ashmita Uprety. 

Who looks outside, Dreams. Who looks inside, awakens !!!

20 April 2015

Araniko highway. 

Snap Before Rafting.



Can they cross the rapid ???


On a Rapid



Bhotekoshi Rafting at Sukute Beach Camp !!!

Trip To Bhardeu, Lalitpur
From Left, Raseek, Leela, Maddy & Susmeeta.

Happy From Nepal !!!


BUTTER LAMP, OFFERING TO BUDDHA.

11 April 2015




BOUDHANATH STUPA !!!

09 April 2015

Champa Devi (2,278m) is the highest peak on the Chandragiri Ridge south west of Kirtipur, affords a panoramic view of the west Kathmandu valley, back dropped by the snow covered Himalayas.

ITINERARY AND OPTIONS.
A : Chandragiri hike (5-6 hrs) Mini bus ride from Sundhara to Matatirtha. Start hiking till deurali. (2-3 hours) Take lunch Walk to Chandragiri (1-2hrs) Walk to Thankot (2 hrs) and take a vehicle &drive home.
B : Champadevi Hiking (5-6 hrs) Mini bus ride till 1 km from Taudaha. Start hike to Champadevi (2-3 hrs) Take lunch Walk to Machegaon (2-3hrs) Take a vehicle to drive back to Kathmandu
C : Chandragiri and Champadevi Hike (7-8 hrs) Mini bus ride till 1 km from Taudaha. Start hike to Champadevi (2-3 hrs) Take lunch Hike to chandragiri (2-3 hrs) Walk to Thankot (2 hrs) Take a vehicle and back to Kathmandu














Champadevi Hiking !!!

Namaste / Namaskar / Namaskaram is a customary greeting when people meet or depart mainly 
among Hindus of the Indian Subcontinent, in some Southeast Asian countries. Namaste is spoken with a slight bow and hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointing upwards, thumbs close to the chest. This gesture is called Añjali Mudrā or Pranamasana. In Hinduism it means "I bow to the divine in you".






What is Namaste ?

19 March 2015


VISION...




Swayambhunath Temple.

19 September 2014

HISTORY OF TOURISM IN NEPAL
Exact date and history of tourist coming in Nepal is still unknown.
Tourism, despite having a long history has really appeared for development since 1950’s after the end of autocratic Rana Regime in 1950, when Nepal came out of century’s old-isolation. The road network established connecting some place of Nepal with Indian border.
Before 1950’s, only hand full of tourist visited Nepal under the strict permission of Rana Regime. In 1924, George Mallory & Andrew Irvine attempted Everest summit and went missing. And some other mountaineers were given permission to climb +8000mtrs mountain.
HERE, I POINTED OUT SOME OF THE MAJOR ACTIVITIES THAT HAS DIRECT AND INDIRECT INFLUENCE IN TOURISM HISTORY OF NEPAL.

- 1950 : Tony Hagen, a Swiss geologist first came Nepal with Swiss Development mission. And in 1952, he was employed by Nepal Government for exploring and mapping geography of Nepal. He traveled 14000km across the Himalaya of Nepal until he retired in 1972 AD.  
Tony Hagen
- 1950 : Maurice Herzog became the first person to summit Annapurna I.
Slowly small group of wealthy tourist, sponsored student start travelling from England to Nepal overland via Eastern Europe, Turkey, Kasmir, Manali and to Nepal for research and climbing purpose.

- 1953 :  Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa climbed Mt. Everest and became first to do so.

- 1955 : Nepal issued first tourist visa to Boris Lisanevich, a legendary hotelier invited by King Mahendra to allow Thomas Cook company to send tourist to Nepal. Boris established first hotel “Royal Hotel” and began catering tourist.  Coronation of Late king in 1956, with the assembly of large number of foreign dignitaries exposed Nepal as potential tourist destination in international community.
The first private airline “Himalaya Airways” began its operations.
Boris Lisanevich
Royal Hotel

- 1956 : National tourism council set up five year tourism development plan under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

- 1957 : Nepal Transportation Department was established to paved the way of Civil Aviation. In 1960’s, Nepal began direct links to Indian Cities and this land-locked country became more accessible to outside world.  

- 1958 : Royal Nepal Airlines Cooperation (RNAC) now Nepal Airlines CO-operation (NAC) came in operation. Nepal became member of International Union of Official Travel Organization.

- 1964 : Colonel Jimmy Robert established first travel agency “Mountain Travel Nepal” now is “Tiger Mountain” to offer opportunity for wealthy travelers to enjoy trekking and climbing in Nepal with any problems. Also established “Tiger Tops” in Chitwan to accommodate tourist who enjoy jungle activities. He initiated orientation to Nepalese Government about potentiality of tourism in Nepal. Became a role model in teaching and implementing Management in the Tourism in Nepal. So, he is taken as “Father of Nepalese tourism”

Jimmy Roberts
- 1960’s & 1970’S : Nepal became prime tourist destination as Hippie trail started to take off. They were followed by radical and liberal anti-war philosophy with “mind exploring” activities that involved experimentation with “Sex, drug, religion”

50% of hippies were 16 to 30 years of age. They came Nepal because Hassish was legal at that time which ended up in 1979 after established of Drug Enforcement Administration, then drug became illegal.
They became good ambassador of Nepal and keep on telling the cultural and natural beauties of Nepal to the outer world. Hippies played crucial role in advertising and promoting Nepal as the tourist attraction in the international arena.
Hippie Trial marked by red. 
-1972 : Tourism master plan was formulated with German assistance that led to concept of spreading economic activity in Nepal and Nepal-Style tour packages to maintain special destination.

- 1972 : NATHM was established by Government of Nepal with technical assistance of UNDP/ILO with aim to produce skilled workforce required by hospitality and tourism industry. More than 20,000 professionals has trained from NATHM till date in different sector such as hotel management, tour and trekking guide etc.
- 1973 : Chitwan National Park (CNP) was established.
During 1975-1991, Nepal became hot spot for holiday makers, adventure seekers and cultural tourists.

- 1998 : Nepal celebrated “Visit Nepal 98” to strengthen Nepal tourism. Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) was established to promote tourism sector.

- 1992 : Necon Air and Asian Airlines came into existence.

- 1999 : Fall of Nepal Tourism with hijacking of INDIAN AIRLINES fleet from Tribhuwan International Airport. Nepal tourism began tackling downfall of tourist.

- 2001 : Black day in Nepalese history as Royal massacre took place. This has given message in international arena that Nepal is no safe for tourist. Almost 50% of travel agencies were shut down with lack of tourist arrivals.

Present day tourism in Nepal
Tourism in Nepal began slowly picking up after the Comprehensive Peace Accord signed in 2006 between Nepalese Government and Moist party. Tourism began booming with the Nepal being peace zone for travelers.

- Global economic crisis brought downfall in American and European visitors whereas converted into hot tourism destination for Chinese Travelers’.

- 2011 : Nepal Tourism Year was celebrated. 700000+ visitors, Slogan –”Naturally Nepal Once is Not Enough”

- 2012 : Lumbini Visit Year was celebrated.

CHALLENGES IN NEPALESE TOURISM SECTOR OF NEPAL
- Political instability
- Lack of infrastructure
- Security of tourists
- Lack of skilled man power
- Lack of effective marketing & investment opportunities.
- Threat of socio-cultural degradation and disappearance of traditional good culture.

CONCLUSION
- Tourism in Nepal faced lots of up’s and downs.
- Great potential in tourism industry
- Proper marketing/promotion needed to increase number of tourist.
- Rural tourism & domestic tourism is to be encouraged.
- Investment in tourism sector is must important.
- Crucial role of government in management, control of illegal activities, development of new destination, and vision for tourism development is needed.

Written by : Raju Lama Dong
Reference :
- Note by Prof. Dr. Hari Prasad Shrestha
- Different blogs
- Wikipedia ; history of tourism in Nepal

HISTORY OF TOURISM IN NEPAL

22 July 2014


Meet an old lady in Tibetan camp Pokhara. She is one of those who decided to leave Tibet after it was captured by China in 1950's. She travelled for 1 month and came pokhara via upper mustang, kagbeni, then beni. Her family , relatives got scattered to Tibet and Nepal. 

She is now 73 years old, still energetic,hard working, and cheerful. she wish that she could see free Tibet in her life and worries about her children's and grandchildren life's. 
And says "what to do son, Chinese didn't let us to live in our own country. Now I am here And will die in Pokhara"

More than 20000 Tibetan refugees (up to third generation) now settles in 12 refugee camps (4 in pokhara, 8 in Kathmandu) all over Nepal. Neither they are citizens of Nepal nor they could be real Tibetans. They make their livelihood by knitting carpet & woolen clothes, selling antiques & goods. 

They are thankful to Red Cross, Doners, Nepali government who made their life easier to settle here in Nepal.

Inspiration and motivation




Tibetan Camps of Nepal

ILLAM, most popular place of Eastern part of Nepal. It has been always top preferred place to visit of my bucket list. I had a chance to be in Phikal (ILLAM is 30km from here) when getting back from Darjeeling Sikkim tour last January, 2013. On the way back we had some wonderful time in the Sano Pathibhara temple and Kanyam Tea State. This is the closest i been to ILLAM. Since, then it is always “when I could be there” in my mind.





ILLAM has many wonderful places of attraction. Sandakpur, Sri antu Dada, Mai Pokhari, Chinn Tapu, Pathi Bhara, Mai Beni, Gajur Mukhi etc. If you have sufficient time, pre departure orientation and of course a strong will, you can visit this places in a few days without any hassle. These places are easily connected via road network – in some places bumpy ride too. Make sure to get a good knowledge of these places, by means such as Google, travel guide book, locals or your friends who had already been there.

Illam Tea State

The most important part is the weather. ILLAM neither gets too hot is summer, nor too cold in winter, As it lies in sub-tropical and Temperate climatic zone. But monsoon is bad time to be there. ILLAM receives much rain as it lies nearer to Bay of Bengal (India) which is the source of rain in Nepal. I been there in May, its normally pre-monsoon period in Nepal. So, I did not had had a luck to visit much places of ILLAM . The rain was unpredictable so spend much time in the tea garden, went a day trip to Mirik, Darjeeling (some 50 km from ILLAM)
17-19 hours bus ride from Kathmandu Or if you choose to use air, fly to Biratnagar and another 5-6 hours land surface transfer will take you to Illam. 
Add caption


Kanyam Tea State



MIRIK
A tiny Switzerland located some 50km far from Illam crossing Pashupatinagar (East border between Nepal and India). We took a jeep till Phikkal, changed Mini Van to Pashupatinagar and again Jeep to Mirik. Worth visiting this place if you are in illam and make sure you have full day to spent on.
A lake lying center of the area, surrounded by trees, monasteries makes a perfect place to be with your dear one.. 








ILLAM AND MIRIK

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