Nepal Culture Tour

Nepal's culture is rich with traditions of various ethnic groups. A culture tour to Nepal will familiarize the visitor to the opulent cultural heritage that Kathmandu is blessed with.

Best Time to Visit: Round the year
Duration:13 days / 12 nights 
Destinations Covered: Kathmandu Valley - Nagarkot - Daman - Chitwan - Lumbini - Tansen - Pokhara - Gorkha - Kurintar - Kathmandu

Itinerary 
Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu

Day 02: Sightseeing tours to Pashupatinath temple, Bodhnath stupa and Budhanilkantha.

Day 03: Kathmandu-Nagarkot.
Sightseeing tours to Bhaktapur and Changu Narayan temple. Drive to Nagarkot for overnight stay.

Day 04: Nagarkot-Kathmandu
Early morning Sunrise view over the Himalayan Panorama. Drive to Patan for sightseeing tours. Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

Day 05: Kathamandu

Sightseeing tours to Kirtipur, Dakshinkali and Chobhar. Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

Day 06: Kathmandu-Daman
Drive to Daman (75km) along the Tribhuvan Highway. Overnight stay in Resort.

Day 07: Daman- Chitwan
Early morning spiritual sightseeing of the Himalayan paranoma.

Day 08: Chitwan-Lumbini
After breakfast, you will drive to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, who is the founder of Buddhism. 

Day 09: Lumbini-Tansen
After a 4 hour drive along a rough hilly roads, you will arrive at Tansen, a pristine hill town which is yet untouched by mass tourism. It is situated at the altitude of 1371m.

Day 10: Tansen-Pokhara
Full day sightseeing tour to Pokhara valley. That includes visiting temples, caves, gorges and waterfalls as well as boating in lakes.

Day 11: Pokhara-Gorkha.
Enjoy the excellent views of the temple complex at Gorkha.

Day 12: Gorkha-Kurintar.
From Kurintar, you will take a breathtaking cable car ride to famous Manakamana Temple. Visit the Manakamana Temple to have an insight to the faith of Hindu devotees for their goddess.

Day 13: Kurtinagar (Kurintar)-Kathmandu .
Transfer to airport for departure.

पर्यटन उद्योगमा प्रबिधिको प्रयोग : नेपालको स्थिति र सम्भाबना)

दिपक बस्ताकोटी

“ प्रबिधिको प्रयोगले मलाई मेरो होटल बुक गर्न,  टिकट खरिद गर्न लगाएत अन्य सम्पूर्ण भ्रमण सम्बन्धि ब्यबस्था गर्न अत्यन्तै सहज बनाएको छ, र मलाई ट्राभल एजेन्सिको कुनै जरुरत नै छैन ।”  – प्रबिधिको प्रयोग गरी भ्रमण गर्ने एक मलेशियन यूवा  एक प्रतिनिधि पात्र मात्र हुन्, प्रबिधिलाई पर्यटनसंग जोड्ने ।  पर्यटन उद्योग सन् २०२० सम्ममा विश्वको सबैभन्दा ठूलो उद्योगको रुपमा खडा हुने विश्वास लिईएको छ । सन् २०११ मा ९८ करोड अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय पर्यटकले बिभिन्न स्थानको भ्रमण गरे भने सन् २०२० सम्ममा यो संख्या बढेर १ अर्ब ५६ करोडको हाराहारी पुग्ने अनुमान गरिएको छ । हालैका दिनहरुमा विश्वभरका प्रायजसो देशहरुले पर्यटन उद्योगलाई अर्थतन्त्रको प्रमुख मेरुदण्डको रुपमा लिन थालेका छन् र त्यसै अनुरुप यस उद्योगको बिकाश गर्न लागिपरेका छन् । सन् १९५० बाट बिदेशिहरुको लागि खुल्ला गरिएपश्चात् नेपालमा पनि पर्यटनको विकास र बिस्तार हुन थालेको पाईन्छ । बीर गोर्खाहरुको देश, शान्तिका अग्रदुत गौतम बुद्ध जन्मेको देश, विश्वकै सबैभन्दा अग्लो हिमाल सगरमाथाको देश, अनुपम संस्कृति र सांस्कृतिक सम्पदाहरुले भरिएको देश जस्ता अनेकन पर्यटकीय धरोहरहरुले सजिएको हुनाले नेपाल एक महत्वपूर्ण पर्यटकीय गन्तब्यको रुपमा रहिआएको छ भने सन् २०११ मा नेपालमा जम्मा ७३५,९३२ ‐ दयनीय स्थितिको रुपमा ) पर्यटकले नेपाल भ्रमण गरेका छन् । ‐ स्रोत ः ध्त्इ र ल्त्द्य )
आजको विश्वका धेरै मानिसहरु प्रबिधिको प्रयोग गरी आफ्नो भ्रमणको ब्यबस्था गर्ने गर्दछन् । मलेशियामा भ्रमण छनौट गर्दा प्रबिधि र वेबपेजको प्रयोग सम्बन्धि गरिएको एक अध्ययनमा ७७ प्रतिशतले होटल बुक गर्नु अगावै त्यस होटलसंग सम्बन्धित सामाग्रीहरु र पहिले सेवा लिईसकेका उपभोक्ताहरुले लेखेका रिभ्यूहरु पढ्ने गरेको, ६२ प्रतिशतले आकर्षणको र गतिबिधिहरुको रिभ्यूहरु पढ्ने गरेको, ४८ प्रतिशतले रेष्टुरेन्टहरुको रिभ्यू पढ्ने गरेको र समग्रमा ८१ प्रतिशतले यस्तो रिभ्यूहरु र रिफरलहरु उपयोगी रहेको बताएका छन् । त्यस्तै गुगलले पनि सन् २०१४ सम्ममा विश्वभरि डेस्कटपमा ईन्रनेट सेवा प्रयोग गर्नेको तुलनामा मोबाईलमा ईन्रनेट सेवा प्रयोग गर्नेको संख्या ज्यादा हुने अनुमान गरेको छ ।  आजको ट्राभल गर्ने सम्पूर्ण तरिकामा पुरै फेरबदल आएको छ र परम्परागत पर्यटन अब ई – पर्यटनको रुपमा परिबर्तन भैसकेको छ । मानिसका हरेक क्रियाकलापहरु अब एक क्लिकमा नै सम्पन्न हुन थालिसकेका छन् चाहे त्यो जुनसुकै क्षेत्रमा होस् ।
प्रबिधि र यसको प्रयोग सिमित रुपमा मात्र हुने कुरा नभएको र यसको क्षेत्र ब्यापक भएकोले यस लेखमा बिबिध पक्षहरुमा छलफल गर्न सम्भब छैन । यहाँ केबल नेपालमा हामिले कसरि प्रबिधिको प्रयोग गरेर हाम्रो पर्यटन क्षेत्रको उत्पादकत्वमा बृद्धि गर्न सक्छौँ भन्ने बिषय मात्र उठाउन खोजिएको छ ।
हाल नेपालमा वेबपेजको निर्माण, इन्टरनेट मार्केटिङमार्फत पर्यटन क्षेत्रले सिमित लाभ लिईरहेका छन् । पर्यटकको श्रोतमुलुकमा सोझै पहुँच पु¥याउन नसक्ने साना ब्यबसायीहरुलाई यसले निकै फाईदा पु¥याईरहेको पनि छ । यसलाई आजको आबस्यकता अनुसार बिकास र बिबिधिकरण गरेर लगेको खण्डमा अझैँ लाभदायक हुने देखिन्छ । हालसम्म नेपालको पर्यटन क्षेत्रमा प्रबिधिको प्रयोग त्यति ब्यापक नबनेको र यसको यथेष्टमात्रामा उपलब्धता पनि नभएकोले उचित प्रतिफल लिनबाट यस क्षेत्र बन्चित रहेको छ । बिभिन्न स्वरुपमा आफ्नो क्षमताले भ्याएजति अलग अलग वा एकल रुपमा मात्र बिभिन्न कम्पनीहरुले सिमित मात्रामा प्रबिधिको प्रयोग गरिरहेका छन् ।
नेपालको पर्यटकीय सम्भाबनाहरुको अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय बजारमा अत्यन्तै न्यून रुपमा प्रचार प्रसार हुनु वा प्रचार नै हुन नसक्नु, हाम्रा पर्यटकीय गतिबिधिहरु परम्परागत ढर्रामा चलिरहनु र बिबिधिकरण नहुनु,  प्रबिधिको प्रयोग मार्फत छिटो, छरितो र भरपर्दो सेवा प्रदान गर्ने ब्यबस्था कमजोर हुनु जस्ता केही कारणहरुले यहाँको प्रचुर सम्भाबना खेर गैरहेको छ  र हामि दिनानुदिन अन्य प्रतिस्पर्धि देशहरु भन्दा निकै पछाडि परिरहेका छौं । हाम्रो क्षमता बिस्तार नहुनुको कारणले प्रबिधिको प्रयोग गरी यस क्षेत्रबाट हामिले लिनसक्ने लाभ पनि अन्य देशका अनलाईन ब्यापार गर्ने ब्यबसायिक संस्थाहरुले लिईरहेका छन् ।
यसै परिपे्रक्ष्यमा, ट्राभल टेक्नोलोजी नेपालले नेपालका होटलहरुलाई आफ्नो बस्तु र सेवाको ‐ प्रोडक्टको ) अनलाईन बिक्री गर्न सक्ने गरि पोर्टल तयार पारेको र हालसम्म १८० भन्दा होटलहरु समाबेश भैसकेको तथा यसमा आबद्घ हुने क्रम दिनानुदिन बढ्ने क्रममा रहेको जनाएको छ । उक्त वेबपोर्टलमा होटलहरुले आफ्नो होटलमा भएका सुबिधाहरु र सम्पूर्ण सुचनाहरु अाँफुले चाहेजसरी राख्न, हटाउन, परिमार्जन गर्न सक्नेछन् । यससंगै उक्त संस्थाको पेमेन्ट गेटवे प्रयोग गरेर यसमा आबद्ध होटलहरुले सुलभ तरिकाले आफ्ना ग्राहकहरुसँग अनलाईन पेमेन्ट लिन र पाउन सक्नेछन् । संस्थाले यसरी तयार पारेको वेबपोर्टललाई अन्य संस्थाहरु जस्तै ट्रेकिङ कम्पनी, ट्राभल, राफ्टिङहरुले पनि आफ्नो वेबपेजमा राखेर त्यहाँबाट भएको हरेक बुकिङमा कमिसन पाउन सक्ने ब्यबस्था गरेको छ । होटल जस्तै आफ्नो प्रोडक्टहरुलाई लिस्ट गरेर ट्रेकिङ कम्पनी, ट्राभल, राफ्टिङहरुले पनि आफ्ना प्रोडक्टहरुलाई अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय रुपमा लैजान, अनलाईन रुपमा बिक्रि गर्न सकिने गरी अर्को वेबपोर्टल तयार गरेको छ । यसमा पनि आबद्ध हुने कम्पनीहरुले आफ्ना प्रोडक्टहरुको नियन्त्रण संस्थाले प्रदान गर्ने लग – ईन  सुबिधा मार्फत आँफै गर्न सक्नेछन् ।
हालसम्म ट्राभल टेक्नोलोजी नेपालले आफ्नो सिमित श्रोत र साधनको उपयोग गरी ब्यापारिक उद्धेश्यले तयार पारेको उपरोक्त वेबपोर्टलहरु त्यति ब्यापक स्वरुप लिई नसकेको भएपनि यसको उचित प्रयोगद्वारा नेपालको पर्यटन उद्योगले धेरै ठूलो लाभ लिन सक्ने देखिन्छ । यसलाई बढी भन्दा बढी प्रतिस्पर्धि बनाउन, ब्यापक उपयोग गर्न र आजको विश्वमा प्रबिधिको प्रयोगले ल्याएको अभुतपूर्ब बिकासको हाम्रो पर्यटन उद्योगले पनि उचित लाभ र शेयर लिन पर्यटनसंग सम्बन्धित सम्पूर्ण सरोकार राख्नेहरु लाग्नु जरुरी छ । पर्यटन क्षेत्रसंग सम्बन्धित संगठनहरु आफ्ना सदस्यहरुको हितको लागी भन्दा गोरखधन्दा र राजनीतिमा ज्यादा दखल राखिरहेको स्थितिबाट माथि उठेर सदस्यहरुलाई यस्ता प्रबिधिको प्रयोग गरी उत्पादकत्व र क्षमता बृद्घि गर्न सहयोग गर्नु नितान्त जरुरी छ । सिंगापुर टुरिजम बोर्डले सरकारी निकाय ‐ इन्फोकम डिभेलपमन्ट अथोरिटि ) संगको सहकार्यमा प्रबिधिको प्रयोग गरी ई – कमर्शको अबधारणामा जाने आफ्ना सदस्यहरुलाई पचास प्रतिशत ‐ ५० % ) सम्म आर्थिक सहयोग गर्ने गरी सन् २०१० ÷२०११ देखि काम गरिरहेको छ । यसको प्रमुख उद्देश्य घुम्न आउने पर्यटकहरुको स्वादमा फरकपन दिनु, सहज र सरल तरिकाले सेवा दिनु र सम्पूर्ण ब्यबसायको क्षमता अभिबृद्धि गर्नुरहेको छ ।  यसबाट शिक्षा लिएर हामिले पनि प्रबिधिको प्रयोग र बिकासमा यथोचित लगानी गरी  यथेष्ट लाभ लिन कोशिश गर्नु पर्दछ  ।
नेपालको पर्यटनसंग सम्बद्ध संघसंगठनहरु ‐ टान, हान, नाट्टा, नारा, एनएमए लगाएतका अन्य ), सरकारी निकायहरु ‐ पर्यटन मन्त्रालय लगाएत अन्य सरोकार निकायहरु ) र नेपाल पर्यटन बोर्डले पनि आफ्ना सदस्यहरु, ब्यबसायीहरुको क्षमता अभिबृद्धि गराउन, पर्यटकहरुलाई झन्झट रहित सरल र सुलभ सेवा लिन सक्ने बाताबरण मिलाउन प्रबिधिको प्रयोगको लागी लगानी गर्न जरुरी छ । ट्राभल टेक्नोलोजी नेपालले तयार पारेको प्रबिधियुक्त वेबपोर्टलहरु अत्यन्तै फलदायी हुनसक्ने देखिन्छ । नेपाल पर्यटन बोर्डले सिंगापूरको घ म् एबिलभत संगको सहकार्यमा नेपालका पर्यटकीय गन्तब्यहरुको थ्री डाईमेन्सनल स्वरुपमा प्रचार गरेभन्दा ज्यादा यसको प्रभाब पर्दछ भन्नेमा यो लेखक ढुक्क छ । यसैल,े अथाह धनको जम्मा पारेर मख्ख परिरहेका र अँझ धन जम्मा पार्न तँछाडमछाड गरिरहेका यस्ता संगठनहरु, राजनीतिक खिचातानीमा लिप्त सरकारी निकायहरु सबैले सदस्यहरुको, ब्यबसायीहरुको क्षमता अभिबृद्धि हुने र समग्रमा नेपालको पर्यटन जगत नै २१ औं शताब्दि सुहाँउदो तरिकाले प्रतिस्पर्धि हुने क्षेत्रमा लगानी गर्नतिर लाग्ने की रु
८ बस्ताकोटी पर्यटन उद्योसंग सम्बन्धित हुनुहुन्छ ।

Nepal Culture Tour

Nepal's culture is rich with traditions of various ethnic groups. A culture tour to Nepal will familiarize the visitor to the opulent cultural heritage that Kathmandu is blessed with.

Best Time to Visit: Round the year
Duration:13 days / 12 nights 
Destinations Covered: Kathmandu Valley - Nagarkot - Daman - Chitwan - Lumbini - Tansen - Pokhara - Gorkha - Kurintar - Kathmandu

Itinerary 
Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu

Day 02: Sightseeing tours to Pashupatinath temple, Bodhnath stupa and Budhanilkantha.

Day 03: Kathmandu-Nagarkot.
Sightseeing tours to Bhaktapur and Changu Narayan temple. Drive to Nagarkot for overnight stay.

Day 04: Nagarkot-Kathmandu
Early morning Sunrise view over the Himalayan Panorama. Drive to Patan for sightseeing tours. Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

Day 05: Kathamandu

Sightseeing tours to Kirtipur, Dakshinkali and Chobhar. Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

Day 06: Kathmandu-Daman
Drive to Daman (75km) along the Tribhuvan Highway. Overnight stay in Resort.

Day 07: Daman- Chitwan
Early morning spiritual sightseeing of the Himalayan paranoma.

Day 08: Chitwan-Lumbini
After breakfast, you will drive to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, who is the founder of Buddhism. 

Day 09: Lumbini-Tansen
After a 4 hour drive along a rough hilly roads, you will arrive at Tansen, a pristine hill town which is yet untouched by mass tourism. It is situated at the altitude of 1371m.

Day 10: Tansen-Pokhara
Full day sightseeing tour to Pokhara valley. That includes visiting temples, caves, gorges and waterfalls as well as boating in lakes.

Day 11: Pokhara-Gorkha.
Enjoy the excellent views of the temple complex at Gorkha.

Day 12: Gorkha-Kurintar.
From Kurintar, you will take a breathtaking cable car ride to famous Manakamana Temple. Visit the Manakamana Temple to have an insight to the faith of Hindu devotees for their goddess.

Day 13: Kurtinagar (Kurintar)-Kathmandu .
Transfer to airport for departure.

Through the Foothills of the Annapurna Range

Heather

The town of Pokhara in Nepal is famed as a starting point for many brave adventurous hikers, so some may have been surprised to find a group of 20 teenage girls clad in newly bought hiking gear, with no mobiles in sight, ready to start the day.

Although some faces were slightly worried looking around at the impressive scenery the Himalayas has to offer I would say there was a general appetite for adventure among the group.  As the day went on the sun crawled out behind its cloud and everyone soon felt the heat; refuge was found in the scarcest bits of shade from towering greenery and in cool clear mountain streams.
After a peaceful night in one of these lodges we woke to pouring rain, we went in Monsoon season and I had expected this decision would haunt us sooner or later. It was the worst rain I have ever seen and I live in England! Everyone was tired but being surrounded by friends and a group made an unbeatable support system, during the day each individual had to adapt to cope with the situations. I can tell you that walking uphill through monsoon rain being completely soaked to the skin is a world away from the normal daily life we all had at home.
However, we did manage to bring some of home to Nepal by all singing in unison popular chart songs. We all decided that ‘man I feel like a woman’ by Shania Twain (let’s go girls) was the theme tune for the whole trip.  There were many relieved faces when at the end of the day the lodge was in sight, and although there was no way to post the thought on Facebook, we all felt like we had achieved something.
On our third day, the weather finally calmed down after we had experienced both extremes of weather. We were really able to stop and appreciate the view, the nature, the waterfalls and all the mesmerizing things there were to see.
A highlight and a most extraordinary sight was when we saw a small Nepalese man carrying his wife in a basket that was being supported solely by his head. The phrase we had recently discovered to explain all the strange things we saw was used again ‘only in Nepal.’

In times of intense heat everyone, even the vainest of teenagers turned desperate; the khaki hats made an appearance and the hair was scraped back. We soon discovered what leeches looked like and even though they were a lot smaller than we had imagined, we all remained tense and quiet as we waited for the first victim.

Despite the heat and temptation to literally bathe in the paddy fields, everyone admired the amazing landscape. All of the locals we met passing through villages were heartwarmingly friendly and all quick to spread a smile. All along the trek there are lodges that are tourist friendly, and at the end of each trekking day we stayed in one of these lodges. The lodges are all quite similar in style, all being basic and comfortable with a similar menu and helpful staff.

Kathmandu Valley Bunda

JES SAXTON

With the narrow streets still thick with weaving pedestrians and motorbikes, it takes a moment to realize what is missing. That is, until you come onto a main road and see the near deserted pavement.

A bunda (strike) has seized Kathmandu Valley. Save for motorbikes and pushbikes, no vehicles are allowed on the roads until the bunda ends at 6pm, by rule of a political party protesting against the upcoming election.

Emergency vehicles and a few tourism vehicles (with their signifying green plates) plod carefully through the empty streets. Some children make the most of the day off by playing badminton or football in the streets, while parents who cannot find transport to work watch on.

For local business owners and tourism operators, the day's business seems bleak.  Along the usually bustling streets of Thamel, only one shop in ten is open, most rolling down their doors for the day. Many cafes, restaurants and tourism offices  also stand empty, overlooking the quiet streets.

"It's difficult for us to provide a service to our travelers," said Alliance Treks and Expedition Managing Director Kul Bahadur Gurung, "we are able to operate some  vehicles with the green tourism license plates but it is difficult."

Australian medical volunteers Kayleen Gaston and Allan Churchill were amongst those who were affected by the earlier strikes. "Our placement was to provide pro bono health care to remote villages, but we were forced to cut it down by a few days due to strikes creating difficulties getting there and again coming back," Kayleen said. Dr Allan Churchill added that due to their minimal time, they were forced to miss out a visit to one very ill client.

"It's an issue for local people," Mr Gurung said, "who are unable to get to work, school or move freely around their city, and an issue to tourism, one of our country's biggest incomes."

"It's not fair for our [tourism] industry," he continued, "this is our voice. It is the beginning of the season or us, so we are operating with higher numbers and the strike on top of that makes it very difficult."

"The strike does make it quite difficult for us to transport our travelers, and sometimes we have to alter the itineraries," agreed Mountain Delights Sales Manager Panisha Dungana.

While for some tourists and travelers, the strike can mean no transport from flights or accommodation or a change in their itineraries, some take the day in their stride. Many tourists within the centre of Kathmandu Valley are happy to spend the day wandering through the quiet streets, a welcomed reprieve from the usual traffic frenzy.

"We are enjoying the chance to see the area with little traffic," said a Chinese traveler Rosa, who is spending a week in Kathmandu with her friends for a joint honey-moon. "We met a friend living near Swayambhunath, who was able to help us get into Durbar Square to explore."

"We don’t mind a walk," agreed Italian travelers Peter Larpi and Titti Maistro, "it is better to see local culture by walking, with the smells and sounds and people to meet."

Some, like American traveler Wasyl Wakaruk, have seen many Nepali strikes and demonstrations before, and take one more as just 'being in Nepal'.

"It's not uncommon, the strike," said Mr Wakaruk , who has returned to Nepal over five times, spending almost two years here collectively. "This is mild compared to some of the strikes and protests I've seen here before."

By the next day, the roads were back to their loud, hectic and usual selves. Buses dodged motorbikes, who slipped between throngs of cars and taxis, dodging cows and pedestrians. Businesses and shops reopened their doors and tourists again filled the streets of Thamel, but the affect of the constant Bunda's is still evident in the community fatigue of having to deal with the constant interruptions to daily business and income.

Caption:

Tourists within walking access to the city centre enjoy a moment of quiet on the usually busy streets, while shop owners and businesses struggle to provide a service with little transport options and few customers.

मन्त्री श्री दामकुमार

  अहिले देशमा मनोनितहरु मन्त्री भाका छन । एउटा गजबको अवस्था छ देशमा । प्रधानमन्त्रीको सट्टा देशले अहिले मन्त्रीपरिषदका कार्यकारी अध्यक्ष पाएको छ । धरैले अहिलेको मन्त्रीपरिषदका सदस्यहरुलाई चिठ्ठा मन्त्री भन्ने गर्छन । यिनै चिठ्ठा मन्त्री मध्ये एकजना छन पुरै फिल्मी स्टाइलका मन्त्री रामकुमार श्रेष्ठ । लटरीमा यिनको भागमा संस्कृति, पर्यटन तथा नागरिक उड्डयन मन्त्रालयको पटरी परेको छ । मन्त्रालयको नाम अनुसारकै यिनको महिमा पनि लामै छ । सपथग्रहण लगत्तै यि क्रसर काण्डको नामले बैङ्क ठगीको मुद्धामा तानिए । तर, यिनले त्यो मुद्धालाई पुरै फिल्मी स्टाइलमै मिलाइदिए । क्रसर उद्योग आप्mनो नाममा नभएर श्रीमतीको नाममा भएकाले बैङ्कले आप्mनो नाम मुछनु गलत भएको उनले वकालत गरे । उद्योग पो आप्mनो हो , नाम त श्रीमतीको छ नि । त्यसैले यसमा उनले दायित्व बहन गरेनन । बैङ्क डुब्यो , यि मालामाल । धन्न यिनले आप्mनी श्रीमतिको दायित्व चाहिं हालसम्म बहन गरिरहेको सुन्नमा आएको छ । त्यसमा चाहिं यताउता नहोस भन्ने कामना मात्र हो ।
 अब कुरा गरौ, यिनको अर्को महिामाको । एउटा संस्था छ देशकै सफल र सबल, राम्रोको नाम कमाएको नेपाल एकेडेमी अफ टुरिजम एण्ड  होटल म्यानेजमेण्ट (नाथम) । नाथम पर्यटन मन्त्रालय अन्र्तगतको संस्था हो । यो अहिल बढी व्यवहारिक शिक्षा दिने संस्था भएको नाताले सधैं बिज्ञ व्यक्ति कार्यकारी प्रमुख बनाउने चलन छ यसको । यसमा पनि मन्त्रीज्युलाई के झोक चल्यो कुन्नि  ? मन्त्रीज्यू एकाएक फिल्मी स्टाइलमा मुस्काउदै डिसिजन लिनु भो । ‘एउटा सरकारी संस्था भएर पनि प्राइभेट भन्दा राम्ररी चलाउने ? मन्त्रीलाई दाम त प्राइभेटले राम्रो बुझाउछन नि । त्यसैले यो संस्थामा आजबाट बिज्ञ हैन, आप्mनो मान्छे प्रमुख बनाउने हो, त्यसमा पनि करौडौं रुपैयाँको होटल बनाउँदैछ नाथमले यसो दाम संरक्षणका लागि पनि आप्mनो मान्छे चाहियो नि,’ । मन्त्रीज्यूले नाथममा एकाकएक आप्mनो जिल्लातिरका मास्टरलाई ल्याएर प्रमुख बनाइदिए । मास्टर हेर्या हेर्यै । यही हो फिल्मी स्टाइल ।
अब कुरा गरौं यिनको पछिल्लो महिमाको । यिनले अनुमति खारेज भएका सात वायुसेवाको अनुमति खारेजीको निर्णय पनि फिल्मी स्टाइलमै खारेज गरिदिए । त्यसमा पनि मन्त्रीज्युले गोप्य रुपमा निर्णण् लिनु भाको रे । मन्त्रीले यस्तो निर्णय पनि खुला रुपमा पत्रकार सम्मेलन गरेर लिन्छन त ? यसो बिचार गरौं त सात वायुसेवाको खारेजी निर्णय उल्ट्याउदा मन्त्री ज्यूले कति सकस बेहोर्नु भो होला । ‘सात वायुसेवाले चढाएको नजराना मात्र व्यवस्थापनका लागि उहाँले गरेको मेहनत सम्झ्यो भने उहाँ कति मेहनती मान्छे हो भन्ने कुरा स्पष्ट हुन्छ’ उहाँकै मन्त्रालयका एक शुभचिन्तकले उहाँको दुख सम्झेर एक दुई थोपा आँशु नै झारे । बिचरा मन्त्री ज्यू कति इमाँदार हुनुहुन्छ भने त्यो निर्णय गर्दा अरुले चलखेल गर्लान भनेर एक्लै, गोप्य निर्णय लिनु पर्यो रे उहाँले । मन्त्रालयका एक जना हाकिम अहिले सम्म मन्त्रीजी सँग रिसाका रछन । ‘खान पनि कसरी सकेको हो एक्लै, हामीले त सुँघ्न सम्म पनि पाएनौं, अब यिनको नाम राम हैन दाम राखौं । मन्त्री दामकुमार,’ उनले गुनासो गरे । यस्तो गुनासो  धेरै छन मन्त्रालयमा अहिले । जे पनि मन्त्री एक्लैले भ्याइदिने । बलिउडको हिरोजस्तो ।
हिरो भन्दा एउटा कुरा याद आयो । मन्त्रीज्यू पनि हिरो भन्दा कहाँ कम छन र ? यसो कुनै कार्यक्रम तिर जानु पर्यो भने दौरा सुरुवालमा चटक्क परेर हिड्छन । आखाँमा कालो गगल्स । शायद रेवान होला । एउटा कार्यक्रममा मन्त्रीज्यूलाई देखेर एउटा पत्रकारले कानेखुसी गरे ‘हैन हो यो देशको मन्त्री जस्तो मान्छे, के दौरासुरुवालमा कालो गगल्स लाएर हिडिरहेको होला सधैं, जोकर जस्तो फिल्मी पारामा,’ । अर्कोले भन्यो ‘ह्या छाडदे न जे लगाए पनि, उहाँ त सानैदेखि हिन्दी फिल्मको हिरो बन्ने चाहना भाको मान्छे रे के’ ।  अब मैले बुझे यि मन्त्री किन फिल्मी स्टाइलवमा काम गर्छन । मन्त्री श्री दामकुमार ।

AUTHENTIC NEPALI TESTE: Muktinath Thakali Kitchen

Santosh Pokhrel

Miktinath Thakali Kitchen is famous for Thakali food and authentic Nepali cuisine. This restaurant started from 2000 AD is specially known for Nepali food. This restaurant is serving domestic and foreign tourist with Nepali food. We can get the real taste of Thakali food in a restaurant that is started by one of the local of Thakkhola, Induprasad Gauchan. Besides, you can also choose the continental and Indian dishes according to your choices.

Location

Muktinath Thakali Kitchen is located at Thamel which is the main commercial tourism centre of Nepal. This Thakali Kitchen is in the same building of Bamboo club and Funky Buddha Restaurant, which is near the Baishali Hotel. This restaurant is just in front of the BK's palace restaurant. For exact location, you can see the map as well.

Food and drinks

We can get the local taste of 'Dhindo' that is made up of buckwheat brought from the Thakkhola of Mustang or Marpha Brandy of Mustang at Muktinath Thakali Kitchen. Likewise, most of people come here for the special pickle of potato. This restaurant is servicing many Nepali and foreign tourist with it's special Nepali food and Thakali food since eight years. Restaurant is popular for Thakali food as its name. The special sets of this restaurant are Nepali Daal Bhat set, Dhindo of buckwheat and meat of local chicken, potato's pickle, pickle of Bhatmaas and Gundruk, and Jhaneko Local alcohol. Likewise, we can also get the continental and Indian dishes according to our choices. Similarly, Chawomen, Thukpaa, Fried Chicken, fish fry are also some of the popular dishes of Muktinath Thakali chicken.

Main attraction of Muktinath Thakali kitchen

-          Special Muktinath Thakali Khana set                         Rs 300/-

(Rice, Curry, Daal, Pickle, Potato's pickle, Fish, Ghee, Curd, Gundruk and Mutton or Chicken)

-          Thakali Potato's pickle                                                    Rs 100/-

-          Mutton, chicken, Fish Dhindo set                                   Rs 220/-

-          Veg. Thakali Khana set                                                   Rs 140/-

-          Chicken drumstick                                                          Rs 200/-

-          Pork chilli                                                                       Rs 190/-

-          Mustang Marpha Brandy                                               Rs 100/-

Choose your place

For the customer's comfort, there is a choice of place as well. Mainly, there are three different places i.e., Cottage, Graden and upper storey in restaurant. You can sit anywhere according to your choice. It is according to your choice whether you want to enjoy your food at garden with sunrays during the winter or want to stay with your friend in cottage during the summer. In addition, you can also stay at upper storey with your family and friends where there is a long hall. It might the good chances for foreigners to enjoy Nepali food in a typical way.

Bar

For customers, it has also managed a bar. You can get there the taste of different imported drinks like Whiskey, Rum, Brandy, Wine and Local Nepali alcohol and brandy. We can get the alcohol made up of apple of Mustang and wine as well. At the same time, this bar also satisfies it's customers with imported beer and Nepali beer.

Environment

This restaurant is peaceful as it is inside from the main road. Every customer find the family environment inside this restaurant. The employee of this restaurant is always ready to serve the customers. Likewise, the owner of this restaurant, Induprasad Gauchan and Sushila Gauchan are always present at the restaurant because of which if some problems arises, it will be solve quickly. This restaurant can serve almost 50 customers at one time and it is suitable for the birthday celebration, and farewell party. Similarly, this place is also perfect for the family dinner. This restaurant uses mineral water to cook food so that we can enjoy our food without any hesitation.  We can also visit the kitchen of this restaurant directly if we want. In addition, this restaurant is open from 10 am in the morning to 10pm. There is also a facility of motorbike parking inside the area ofrestaurant. Moreover, this restaurant does not take any extra service charge and tax.

Commitment

Induprasad gauchan

Owner

Muktinath Thakali Kitchen is continuously working for the welfare of the Nepali food since 10 years. Our main aim is to satisfy and to service those Nepali and foreigner customers according to their choice. We have taken it as our first responsibility. In our restaurant, many tourists from more than 100 different countries have tasted Nepali food that came here with their different purpose and thanked us. Here, we have always committed to provide the healthy and proper Nepali food according to our customer's choice.

Pleasant  environment, Great taste

Nadia Persaud

 London, United Kingdom

My first taste of authentic Nepalese dhal bhaat came on my second night of my six week stay in this beautiful country. Driven on the back of a motorbike to the Muktinath Thakali Kitchen, it was explained that every region has a different approach to making dhal bhaat, but that the people who run this restaurant  came from a region famed across the Nepalese for the taste they achieved.

Greeted at the reception desk with a massive smile and a hearty Namaste from the owner, I was excited to see that the restaurant was quite busy with local patrons. I’ve always believed that if local people are using a restaurant then the food must be good. Seated in the picturesque garden, the dhal bhaat arrived on a huge plate, delivered with another smile from the friendly staff which only added to the pleasant environment.

A generous portion of rice in the middle and an assortment of pickles, curried vegetables and dhal surrounding it, this food was as attractive to look at as it was tasty to eat. Delicately spiced and cooked to make you want more – staff attentively wait to provide refills of any item on your plate that finishes -the meal is healthy and nutritious but equally tasty and delicious. This is now my last week in Nepal and I have eaten at the Muktinath Thakali Kitchen four times, and I’m planning to enjoy it one more time before I leave!

test

Why Tenzing is the greatest Everest climber

I’ve just been reading an article called The 5 Greatest Mount Everest Climbers. It was probably quite an easy one to write, as four of the climbers pretty much pick themselves. Everest without George Mallory would be like Popeye without Bluto – the fate of both is inextricably linked. Not only was he the first to explore the mountain, but he was the most determined and best-known of the early climbers, and his disappearance on the Northeast Ridge in 1924 is an important part of Everest history and continues to fascinate to this day. As the first two men to climb the mountain and return alive in 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's names are equally linked with Everest and deserve their place on the list. Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler became the first people to climb Everest without supplementary oxygen in 1978, but Reinhold Messner’s solo ascent by the North Face in 1980 broke the mould in three ways. Not only was it oxygenless, but it was by a new route and the first time anyone had climbed the world’s highest mountain solo and completely unsupported. If Mallory, Hillary and Tenzing were the early pioneers who broke new ground, Messner more than anyone else took climbing Everest to a new level by doing things nobody had believed possible. Once he even spotted a yeti, and ended up writing a book about it.

देशकै नम्बर एक कम्पनीको लक्ष्य

योगराज शर्मा कँडेल
महाप्रवन्धक,  सिम्रिक एयर


कामप्रतिको लगाव र धैर्यताले मेहनतको पथमा लम्किरहने व्यक्ति सफलताको चुलीमा पुग्ने विश्वास राख्छन् योगराज शर्मा कँडेल । १३ वर्षदेखि नेपालको हवाई क्षेत्रमा क्रियाशील कँडेल सिम्रिक एयरका महाप्रवन्धक हुन् । १० वर्षदेखि सिम्रिक एयरमा आफ्नो वहुमूल्य समय लगानी गरिरहेका मेहनतका साथ काम गरिरहेका शर्माको एउटै लक्ष्य छ, सिम्रिकलाई नेपालको न. १ हेलिकप्टर कम्पनी बनाउने । कामप्रतिको लगनशीलता, आत्मविश्वास र इमान्दारीताले नै सफलताको शिखरमा पु¥याउने उनको व्यवस्थापन मन्त्र हो ।
सेवा, सुविधा र गुणस्तरले सन् २०१५ सम्ममा नेपालको नं १ हेलिकप्टर कम्पनी बनाउने योजना बनाएका कँडेल दिनरात सोही लक्ष्यमा । जनचाहना अुनसारको सेवा, नयाँ–नयाँ गन्तव्यको खोजी, व्यापारिक रणनीति र लगानीका क्षेत्रमा उनले बनाएको योजना अनुसार नेपालको उत्कृष्ट हेलिकप्टर कम्पनी बन्न सक्ने दाबी गर्छन् कँडेल । उनको कम्पनीसँग अहिले २ ओटा बिके ११७ हेलिकोप्टर र एउटा अत्याधुनिक सुविधा सम्पन्न नयाँ मोडलको एएस ३५० बी ३ प्लस हेलिकप्टर रहेको छ । सन् २०१२ भित्रमा थप दुईओटा नयाँ मोडलका साना हेलिकप्टर ल्याउने तयारीमा जुटेको सिम्रिक एयरले आफ्नो लक्ष्यप्राप्तिलाई थप हेलिकप्टरसँग पनि जोडेको छ ।
वि.सं २०५६ को भाद्र महिनामा कस्मीक एयरमा कनिष्ठ सहायकबाट हवाई क्षेत्रमा प्रवेश गरेका कँडेलले सो कम्पनीमा करीब ८ महिनासम्म काम गरे  । सो अवधिमा वरिष्ठ सहायक   भएका कँडेल वि. सं २०५७ मा स्थापना भएको नयाँ विमान कम्पनी स्पेस एयरमा जुनियर म्यानेजर भएर प्रवेश गरे । करिब ८ महिना मात्र सञ्चालन रहेको सो एयरलाइन्सको सम्पूर्ण स्वामित्व सिम्रिक एयरले लिएपछि उनी सोही कम्पनीमा म्यानेजर पदमा रहेर काम गरे । आफ्नो कामप्रति प्रतिवद्ध रहने कँडेल करीब ६ बर्षदेखि सिम्रिक एयरमा महाप्रवन्धकको जिम्मेवारी सम्हालिरहेका छन् ।
कामको दौरानमा हुने कमी—कमजोरी पहिल्याएर सुधार गर्दै जाने स्वाभाव हरेक कर्मठ व्यक्तिमा हुनुपछ भन्ने उनको मान्यता छ । समय अनुसार गुणस्तर कायम राख्न सकिएको खण्डमा पछाडि फर्केर हेर्नु नपर्ने धारणा छ । कम्पनीले स्थायित्व कायम गर्न सकेमा मात्र त्यसले दीर्घकालीन लाभ दिनसक्ने हुँदा यस विषयमा सदैव सचेत रहनुपर्ने कँडेल बताउँछन् । समय र परिस्थितिले मागे अनुसारको सेवा प्रदान गर्नेकै लागि सिम्रिक एयरले एमआई १७ हेलिकप्टर विस्थापन गर्दे सानातर्फ लागेको छ ।
गुल्मी दिगाममा ३८ वर्ष अघि जन्मेका कँडेल नेपाली हवाई सेवाका क्षेत्रमा बिज्ञका रुपमा समेत परिचित छन । छ कक्षासम्म गाँउमा नै अध्ययन गरेका उनले आफ्नो एसएलसी सम्मको अध्ययन भने भारतको वेष्ट बङ्गालबाट गरेका हुन् । त्रिभुवन विश्वविद्यायलबाट एमएस्सी र पूर्वाञ्चाल विश्वविद्यालयबाट एमबीए गरेका कँडेलले अमेरिकाबाट एभिएसन म्यानेजमेन्टको एक वर्षे कोर्स समेत पूरा गरेका छन् । उनले फ्लाइट अप्रेसन, सेफ्टी, फ्लाइट डिपाचरलगायतका हवाई क्षेत्रसँग सम्वन्धित तालिम समेत लिएका छन् । उनलाई यी तालीमले हवाई क्षेत्रको प्राविधिक ज्ञानलाई व्यहारमा नै उर्तान सहयोग समेत पुगेको छ ।
कुनैपनि नयाँ कुरा सिक्न नहिच्किच्याउने स्वभाव भएकै कारण उनले आफूलाई सधैं अपडेट राखिरन्छन । आफूले सिकेको नयाँ अनुभवलाई परिक्षण गर्न रूचाउने कँडेल ज्ञानले हरेक मानव लाई सफलता उन्मुख गराउने बिचार व्यक्त गर्छन । कुनै पनि काम गर्न सकिदैन भन्नुभन्दा पनि काम गर्ने प्रयास गर्नुपर्छ भन्ने भावनाले नै सफलता प्राप्त हुने उनको अनुभव छ ।
समय र परिस्थित अनुसार नयाँ प्रयोग गर्ने उनको धारणाले सिम्रिक एयरले विदेशी मात्र नभएर आन्तरिक पर्यटकलाई पनि केन्द्रीत गरेर आफ्नो योजना ल्याएको छ । यसले आन्तरिक पर्यटकले पनि हेलिकप्टर चढ्न सक्ने प्याकेजलाई प्राथमिकताका साथ अगाडि बढाइरको छ । युवा जोश र जाँगरका साथ सिम्रिक एयरको भावी योजनामा तल्लीन कँडेल हरेक मानवमा केही गर्छु भन्ने भावना हुनैपर्ने बताउँछन ।

Tharu cultural show

Anne_Esswein

The Tharu people have a handful of good reasons to be proud. Not only because they are the only people, who could live around Chitwan, because of their malaria resistance. Still their traditional life seems to fascinate the foreign people.

The Tharu cultural show is always good visited. Around 100 people are watching the expression of their culture in dances in the main seasons. A funny, very British speaking moderator leads trough the evening and explains the backgrounds of their dances.
Ten, white dressed boys present for example the stick dance, which used to scare wild animals, dances with torches or the colour festival dance. At the end there is even a huge peacock dancing, which is presenting the national animal. Around one hour is filled with an entertaining program of dances, songs and drum plays. Finally the audience is even invited to learn a dance. And a lot of people follow this offer till the stage is crowed.
The show takes place every evening at 7.30 pm in Sauraha. The entry costs 50 Rupies. It’s a good evening program to relax and get more in touch with the Tharu culture, through watching their dances.