Manaslu Base Camp, 4800m, trek has always been a fascinating route for trekkers and climbers. Also dubbed as an untouched paradise, it has been one of the most popular trekking destinations in Nepal.
Officially opened in 1992, the base camp route is considered as an adventure trek for travelers.
In fact, Manaslu trek offers an absolute view of the mountain peaks, rich cultural heritage, breathtaking panorama as well as rural civilization. To add more, it has an incomparable beauty blended with the natural assortment.
The majestic Mt. Manaslu, 8163m, which is one of the eight tallest mountains in the world, stands tall with its name “The Spirit-Mountain” in the local language.
The sunrise view of Mt. Manaslu Main 8163m (L) and East pinnacle 7992m (L), seen from the renowned village Samagoan (3520m) of Gorkha.
Trek to the Manaslu Base Camp can be a blend of an unforgettable experience and wonderful adventure.
Trek to the Manaslu Base Camp begins from Sotikhola Bazar to Budhi Gandaki passing through steep yet picturesque valleys.
Magnificent view of Birendra Tal seen on the way to the Manalsu Base Camp.
The Manaslu base camp trek begins from Kathmandu to Arughat in Gorkha district. The 18-day trek will lead a traveler through the banks of the Budi Gandaki River passing through scenic valleys, green hills, ridges, jungles, prayer flags, Buddhist monasteries, typical villages, and what not!
The best time of Manaslu trekking begins from September, October and November or March, April and May. Trekkers are usually not recommended to go for trekking from June to August, which is a monsoon season.
A man with a mule heading toward Manaslu basecamp (4800m). Donkey and mule are the major transportation means in the Manaslu Region.
Two local women carrying loads to the Manaslu Base Camp.
Tents at the Manaslu Base Camp (background is the Panpoche Peak 6620m). Climbers stay at the basecamp using tents for more than 30 days during the entire expedition. Each year more than 500 climbers climb the peak.
Man carry water from the source of melting ice at the basecamp.
Lit up tents seen at the basecamp of Manaslu (4800m)
Man Marshaling helicopter at the basecamp. Some of the climbers chose to return to Kathmandu by helicopter after the climb. Helicopters are also used for rescue operations.
A chopper is seen at the Manaslu Base Camp.
Helicopter and crows at the basecamp.
Sherpas preparing to go to the higher camp.
Climbers hiking towards Camp I from the base camp.
Climbers on the way to Camp 1.
KATHMANDU: The country has seen an influx of over 200,000 tourists in two months alone, a 33 percent up as compared to the same period last year, according to the Department of Immigration. Altogether, 216,214 tourists visited the country in January and February (91,793 in January and 97,694 in February).
A total of 163,694 tourists had visited the country in the same period last year. The tourist inflow in the two months saw a rise by 92.5 per cent in Indian tourists as compared to the same period last year. Likewise, SAARC tourists surged by 85 per cent, and Chinese tourists by 5.3. Tourist influx from European countries including the United Kingdom, Germany and France increased 8.7, 27.9 and 7.6 per cent respectively. In February alone, 7,133 tourists from the United States of America visited Nepal, which is five percent increment than last year.
Dipak Raj Joshi, chief executive officer of the Nepal Tourism Board, credited it to various promotional activities carried out by the Board and the private sector for the increment. Additional tourism promotional program would be launched to make the government’s announced ‘visit Nepal year 2020’ a success, he said.
KATHMANDU: The government has set an ambitious campaign to attract 2 million international tourists in 2020 with a view to branding Nepal as a major tourist destination. However, for Suraj Vaidya, National Coordinator of Visit Nepal 2020, and his team, fulfilling the government’s target could be a challenge, if not a daunting task.
The team, entrusted to accomplish the ambitious target, could feel pressurized with every tick of the clock since there is nothing like a ticking clock to get people to snap into action.
National Coordinator Vaidya and his team, including the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), however, is enthusiastic to make it happen since they have already fastened their laces.
Tourism is one of the Nepal’s vital engines of economic growth. Considered as one of the best holiday destinations due to its exotic natural beauty, majestic Himalayan peaks, amazing multicultural aspects, and varied topographical features, the Visit Nepal year 2020 can be an opportunity to showcase Nepal as a unique destination offering sports, adventure, religious tourism and other exotic socio-cultural experiences.
Nepal, dubbed as an amphitheater for adventure enthusiasts, witnessed a significant rise of foreign tourists in 2018 with a total of 1 million 173 thousand 702 visitors coming to Nepal as per the NTB data.
Tourism Minister Rabindra Adhikari expounds the truth when he says, “Nepal has a competitive advantage due to its varied topographical features, and biodiversity.”
Nepal, dubbed as an amphitheater for adventure enthusiasts, witnessed a significant rise of foreign tourists in 2018 with a total of 1 million 173 thousand 702 visitors coming to Nepal as per the NTB data. The figure was 940,281 in 2017. “With positive signs looming, and views flooding with promising assurances from across the world, we are very much optimistic to meet the target,” Vaidya told khabarhub.com referring to the significant growth of international visitors.
However, challenges remain. As Nepal markets its destinations, it needs to ensure that it delivers a safe, flawless, and inimitable experience to the international visitors. The government, coordinating team and the private sectors need to work both on physical and digital infrastructure development such as: roads, connectivity, hotel rooms, air and land service, including maintaining cleanliness, and controlling pollution ensuring that the visitors do not get into trouble. The construction of the Gautam Buddha Airport in Bhairahawa, and the expansion and beautification of the country’s only international airport, Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, and the reconstruction of the major heritage sites destroyed by the 2015 devastating earthquake remains a challenging task. However, tourism minister Adhikari is hopeful that the Gautam Buddha Airport would be completed by mid-August.
Obviously, less than 300 days is not enough time to accomplish all the tasks. Vaidya, however, feels VN 2020 is going to be great since Nepal can attract three types of tourists – religious tourists, adventure/sports tourists, and investors from different countries, including India, China, Japan, among others.
“Religious tourism is increasing in countries such as India, China, Thailand, Japan, and Sri Lanka. Lumbini can be a major attraction for this category,” Vaidya suggests. According to NTB, India ranked the top with 200,438 tourists visiting Nepal in 2018 followed by China with 153,602 visitors, the United States with 91, 785 tourists, the United Kingdom with 63,086 visitors. The second category is the adventure tourists. “Nepal has plenty of adventure tourism spots to bring them here. We just need to market them,” he adds.
According to NTB, the arrivals from Sri Lanka have increased by 55.7 percent in 2018 in comparison to the last year. The arrivals from SAARC members registered a sturdy growth of 26.4 percent over the same period last year with 301,963 total tourist arrivals. “The figures are encouraging,” Minister Adhikari said.
Likewise, the third type of tourists that Nepal is looking for from different countries is investors, who can have the opportunity to invest in areas such as hydropower, tourism, among other sectors, according to Vaidya. Despite all odds, Nepal holds an aura of a mystical nation filled with temples and hospitable people.
It is high time that the government and the campaigners turned up the heat challenging the limited time into making VN 2020 a success!
Galeshwor: Efforts are underway to protect a rare species of snake called ‘king cobra’ found in the Koshepani forest at Ghatan of Beni municipality-9. The spot of the rare species of reptile has drawn a growing number of visitors to take its glimpse.
Side by a side, the Road Division Forest Office held an extensive interaction on public awareness for the protection of animal with the participation of locals. The office decided to take an intervention for its conservation after some people tried to chase away the reptile by setting fire.
Students and teachers of Rastriya Secondary School, people’ representatives and locals were imparted information and knowledge about the ecological importance of snake and the ways for its conservation. The awareness programme was facilitated by Chairman of Snake Conservation Society Nepal Mahendra Prasad Katila, Division Forest Office assistant forest officer Bimala Lamsal and Division Forest Officer Harish Chandra Sapkota.
Zoologist and teacher at Tribhuvan Multiple Campus Palpa, Keshab Chokhal, first spotted the cobra king in the Koshepani forest. According to him, one of the rarest in Nepal, the king Cobra, was seen in the mid hilly areas of late. Efforts from the government and community levels are needed to protect it, he asserted. In Nepali, it is known as Kalinag or ‘Rajnag’.
Snake expert and research officer at Himalayan Nature Jiban Thapa confirmed the found snake as the king cobra. The snake, listed in the IUCN Red List of threatened species, is protected by Nepal’s law.
King cobra (Ophiophagus Hannah) which is commonly found in Tarai and protected areas, is lately migrating to mid-hilly areas largely due to climate change, said Chokhal. The snake is found in 16 countries of South Asia and South East Asia. The snake, which preys on the snakes of the species, is rarely found elsewhere except in Thailand forests, said Thapa.