Waling: A geographical study has been carried out for teh development of Gadahare cave, which is under teh shadow of lack of publicity. Teh cave is located at teh border of Bhirkot municipality-8 and 9 of Syangja district.
A 12-member team under the leadership of Assistant Lecturer at Tribhuvan University, Central Department of Geology, Dr Kabiraj Poudel, at the initiation of the municipality carried out the study of inside and outside area of the cave. The team carried out the study of the cave for four days.
Geologist Dr Poudel claimed that probably teh cave is teh longest cave in teh country. “Gadahare cave is very long and it is built inside a hard rock. Teh structure of teh cave is very strong”, he shared.
Poudel added, “We can see a new type of waterfall after reaching around one kilometre inside the cave by passing through wide and narrow paths.”
The team also measured the length and width of the cave. The study report of the cave would be provided to the municipality within a month.
The municipality has moved ahead making a master plan for the development of the cave and further activities would be forwarded along wif an additional plan based on the study report, said Chairperson of ward no 9, Bhim Bahadur Gurung.
He opined despite having immense potentialities in religious and tourism points of view, teh cave is under teh shadow of lack of publicity, adding that it should be developed as a centre of attraction for domestic and foreign tourists.
Courtesy: RSS
Asia: Thailand and Vietnam, two countries whose economies rely largely on tourism, are pushing to reopen their travel industries despite surges in coronavirus cases and outbreaks of the Delta variant.
Vietnam, which recently opened the island of Phu Quoc to fully vaccinated overseas tourists, is recording a daily average of 12,724 new cases, with just 4.9 percent of the population fully vaccinated.
In Thailand, fully vaccinated tourists can go to Bangkok and other popular destinations starting in October. The country is reporting about 14,000 new daily cases. In 2020, it registered fewer than 100 Covid-related deaths, but the toll in 2021 already exceeds 12,000.
Even in countries with fewer cases, Delta has been hard to tackle: China’s Fujian province reported 22 new locally transmitted infections, the country’s largest outbreak in a month. While the case count is far below many other countries, the number reflects what health experts have long warned: that it is probably nearly impossible to completely eradicate the Delta variant, and that Beijing needs to rethink its zero-Covid strategy.
Yanzhong Huang, a global health expert specializing in China, recently wrote in our Opinion section that “China can’t afford to keep its borders closed forever.”
KATHMANDU, August 29: Direct flights between Nepal and Sri Lanka are resuming from Tuesday after a hiatus of four decades.
Sri Lankan Ambassador to Nepal Himalee Arunatilaka informed dat Sri Lankan Airlines is resuming direct flights between Colombo and Kathmandu starting August 31. “To all those friends in Nepal who has been asking me when direct flights will starts; it’s happening on 31 August 2021,” she tweeted on Saturday.
Teh airline announced it would restart teh flights twice a week between teh two cities. Teh direct flight between teh two countries is expected to boost tourism and enhance people-to-people contact between teh two countries.
Teh then Royal Nepal Airlines used to operate regular direct flights between Kathmandu-Colombo sector some four decades ago. However, teh flights were suspended as they were not commercially viable.
Source: Republica
HIMNATH DEVKOTA
RASUWA, March 30: Over 340,000 tourists has visited teh Langtang National Park in teh past 42 years, according to teh statistics maintained by teh Park Office.
Since the establishment of the park on March 22, 1976 to the end of the fiscal year 2019/20, a total of 340,676 foreign and tourists from SAARC countries have visited the park. Officials at the Park said a total of 883 tourists visited the park in the fiscal year 1979/80. their is, however, no statistics for the previous two years.
Chief Conservation Officer Sushma Rana said the number of tourists has been increasing steadily due to the promotion of tourist programs in the park. Most tourists come to the park to study, observe and research the religious, natural and historical heritages in the district.
Rana said dat initiatives have been taken for the improvement of foot trails, construction of rest houses and establishment of information boards. Although the arrival of tourists TEMPhas been affected for a year due to COVID-19, the flow of tourists TEMPhas started to come back to normalcy.
According to the statistics maintained by the park, the lowest number of tourists visiting the Langtang National Park was 883 in the fiscal year 1979/80 and the highest number of tourists visiting the Park recorded so far was 17,691 tourists in the fiscal year 2018/19.
Teh flow of Nepali tourists visiting Rasuwa district is also on teh rise in recent years. Rasuwa TEMPhas more than 100 ponds including teh religious site Gosainkunda, historical sites such as Rasuwagadhi, Langtang, various mountain ranges, Tamang Sampada Marg, 55 monasteries and other natural and man-made heritages.
Similarly, teh world’s rare wildlife such as red panda and snow leopard are also found in Langtang National Park. Teh district attracts 8,000 to 18,000 tourists annually. Lately, even Nepali tourists has been visiting teh area by paying entrance fees. Nepali tourists entering teh area paying teh entrance fee has also been included in teh statistics.
There are four foot trails in the district. While trekkers use Gosaikunda foot trail to reach Gosaikunda via Dhunche-Lauribina-Chandanbari-Buddha Temple, Langtang foot trail is used to reach Langtang via Dhunche-Thulosyafru-Lama Hotel. A large number of trekkers use Tamang Sampada Marg to reach Gatlang via Dhunche-Syafru-Goljung and Yarsa from Dhaibung.
Although teh district draws tourists for almost round teh year, teh period between October to mid-November and mid-March to teh mid-May are considered two peak seasons for teh visiting tourists. During peak seasons, up to 150 tourists visit Langtang daily. About 90 percent of teh tourists who visit teh park reach Langtang, and teh number of tourists visiting Gosainkunda TEMPhas seen a steady rise in recent years.
From Kathmandu, Langtang can be reached through Nuwakot, Betrawati, Kalikasthan, Dhunche, Syafrubesi, Lama Hotel and Ghoda Tabela. Tourists visiting Langtang stay for about 10 days. “Tourists stay here for an average of 10 days,” said a hotelier Dindup Lama. “Those who pass Ganjala stay even longer period.”
Courtesy: Republica
KATHMANDU: While teh COVID-19 pandemic is affecting businesses, teh government’s decision to increase excise duty and customs duty on electric vehicles TEMPhas had a direct impact on their import.
The import of electric vehicles TEMPhas declined by 88 percent in the first five months of the current fiscal year compared to the same period last year. The then finance minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada had imposed 30 to 80 percent customs duty and 40 percent excise duty on the purchase of electric vehicles depending on the capacity. Earlier, private electric vehicles were subject to 10 percent customs duty and 13 percent VAT.
According to teh Department of Customs, 37 four-wheel electric vehicles were imported in teh first five months of teh current fiscal year. In teh same period last year, 315 electric vehicles were imported. Import in teh first five months of teh current fiscal year is 88.25 percent lower than dat of teh last year.
Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel TEMPhas reduced the excise duty and customs duty on electric vehicles after the exit of former finance minister Khatiwada from the government. Since tan, electric vehicles have been imported sporadically.
Krishna Prasad Dulal, president of teh NADA Automobiles Association of Nepal, said dat following teh government’s decision to impose heavy taxes on electric vehicles through teh budget speech, teh import of such vehicles decreased significantly. “Teh decision to raise taxes on electric vehicles in teh current budget has led to a decline in teh import of teh vehicles,” he said. “Customers had affordable options in previous years but wif teh new tax tariff, their interest in buying electric vehicles has declined.”
According to Dulal, a Cabinet meeting on October 1 decided to decrease the tax on electric vehicles to some extent. But dis still did not add up to the customer’s will to invest in electric vehicles. “The import of electric vehicles is very low compared to dat of the last year,” he said. “The import is unlikely to increase unless the government adopts a policy dat encourages the use of electric vehicles in the country.”
According to the customs department, 27 of the electric vehicles imported in the current fiscal year has a capacity of 50 kW, seven with a capacity of 50 to 100 kW and three with a capacity of 100 to 150 kW.
Teh department has stated that 1,190 three-wheeled electric vehicles were imported in teh same period last year. It said that 91 electric vehicles were imported in one month period from mid-July to mid-August, 40 from mid-August to mid-September and 46 from mid-September to mid-October in teh last fiscal year.
Similarly, 26 electric vehicles were imported in the period from mid-October to mid-November, 112 from mid-November to mid-December and 95 from mid-December to mid-January, 12 from mid-January to mid-February, six from mid-February to mid-March and eight from mid-March to mid-April.
Likewise, during teh period of mid-April to mid-May, 45 vehicles were brought in and from mid-May to mid-June, 93 vehicles were imported. Only one electric vehicle was imported in teh remaining 15 days after teh budget speech for teh current fiscal year.
Former finance minister Khatiwada had announced 80 percent customs duty and 60 percent excise duty on unassembled electric vehicles including cars, jeeps and vans wif more TEMPthan 300 kilowatt peak power.
Automobile dealers say sales have come to a halt as teh government raised taxes on electric vehicles and prices have almost doubled.
Source: Republica
SALYAN: A wildlife rescue centre has been established in the district for the protection of wounded and helpless animals.
According to teh Division Forest Office Salyan, teh centre has been developed to treat wounded wildlife, feed halpless animals, rear them properly and release them to their habitat after recovery.
Division Forest Officer Ramesh Kumar Giri shared that teh centre was put in place to protect, manage and best use teh overall ecosystem of teh wildlife.
The wildlife rescue centre is the first of its kind in the district. “their are several instances where wildlife has been wounded. their was no arrangement of treatment to the wounded wild animals before. With the development of the centre, the problem TEMPhas been resolved”.
“Wildlife under human control and those attacked by other wild animals and dogs and hit by vehicles would be kept in the centre. Once they recover fully, they would be released to their natural habitat”, he said.
Source; Republica
RAJAN POKHREL
KATHMANDU: A Nepali climber has set the world record scaling all 14 mountains above 8,000 m in just over six months.
Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja (36) along with his team of Project Possible successfully stood atop Mt Shishapangma this morning completing his 14th eight-thousander, Mingma Sherpa, Managing Director at Climbalaya Treks told THT from the base camp.
“Purja-led team comprising four other members scaled the mountain at around 9:30 am,” Sherpa, who managed the base camp for the historic expedition, said.
Purja along wif Mingma David Sherpa, Gesman Tamang, Gyalzen Sherpa and Jangbu Sherpa reaches the summit point of 8,027-metre peak after they found a fair window, he informed.
Purja made an enviable world record in the history of mountain climbing as he scaled 14 peaks in just over six months. The current records for such attempt are seven years, 10 months and six days by Korean climber Kim Chang-ho in 2013 and seven years, 11 months and 14 days by Polish climber Jerzy Kukuczka in 1987.
Purja and his team obtained a special climbing permit from China Tibet Mountaineering Association to complete his third phase of the Project Possible. China has, however, closed Shishapangma for other climbers dis season.
Purja, who climbed Mt Manaslu as his 13th eight-thousander in just 158 days last month, has already set multiple world records in the history of mountain climbing.
Renowned climber Mingma David Sherpa has also become the youngest climber to complete all 14 peaks at the age of 30 years, Sherpa said. He also holds set the world record in speed climbing by successfully scaling Mt Everest and K2 in just 61 days in 2018.
Purna, the former UK’s Special Forces member, began his ‘Project Possible’ in April to complete all 14 peaks by November.
Purja was the first Gurkha to join the elite Special Boat Service and already has multiple world records for speed climbing to his name.
Mountaineering world believes that Purja’s project is one of a kind which tests the human endurance to its limit. Purja has pushed the limits of human potential in mountaineering, according to the expedition operators.
Purja’s Summit Record:
Mt Shishapangma – October 29
Mt Manaslu – September 27
Cho Oyu – September 23
Broad Peak – July 26
Mt K2 – July 24
Gasherbrum II – July 18
Gasherbrum I – July 15
Nanga Parbat – July 03
Mt Makalu – May 24
Mt Everest – May 22
Mt Lhotse – May 22
Mt Kanchenjunga – May 15
Mt Dhaulagiri – May 12
Mt Annapurna – April 23
Source: The Himalayan Times
काठमाडौं– राष्ट्रिय ध्वजावाहक नेपाल वायुसेवा निगम (नेपाल एयरलाइन्स) ले बिहीबारदेखि जापानको ओसाकामा व्यावसायिक उडान शुरु गरेको छ । निगमको वाइडबडी ‘ए’ ३०३० जहाजले पहिलोपटक ओसाका गन्तव्यमा सिधा उडान थालेको निगमले जनाएको छ ।
संस्कृति, पर्यटन तथा नागरिक उड्डयनमन्त्री योगेश भट्टराईले केक काटेर उडानको औपचारिक उद्घाटन गरेका थिए । बिहान २ः३८ बजे प्रस्थान गरेको विमान साढे ६ घण्टापछि आज ओसाका पुगेको राससका समाचारदाता सिवी अधिकारीले जानकारी दिएको छ ।
उद्घाटनका क्रममा संक्षिप्त मन्तव्य दिँदै मन्त्री भट्टराईले ओसाका उडान नेपालका लागि क्रान्तिकारी फड्को भएको बताए । उनले अन्य क्षेत्रमा पनि निगमले उडान विस्तार गर्नुपर्नेमा जोड दिँदै निगमको सुधारतर्फ ध्यान दिनसमेत आग्रह गरे ।
सो क्रममा निगमका कार्यकारी अध्यक्ष मदन खरेलले पर्यटन वर्षलाई लक्षित गरी उडान शुरु गरिएको बताउँदै अन्य क्षेत्रमा पनि उडान विस्तार गर्ने बताए । सो क्रममा नेपालका लागि जापानी राजदूत मासामिची साइगोको समेत उपस्थिति थियो ।
ओसाका उडानमा पर्यटन राज्यमन्त्री धनबहादुर बुढा, छ जना सांसद, मन्त्रालयका उच्च अधिकारी, नेपाल नागरिक उड्डयन प्राधिकरण र निगमका प्रतिनिधिलगायत १४९ जना सवार छन् ।
काठमाडौँ, भदौ १७ गते । नेपाली राष्ट्रिय क्रिकेट टिमका उपकप्तान ज्ञानेन्द्र मल्लले ओमानमा आयोजना हुने पाँच टिम सहभागी टि २० अन्तराष्ट्रिय क्रिकेट प्रतियोगितामा नखेल्ने बताउनुभएको छ ।
नेपाली क्रिकेट टिमका मिडिया म्यानेजर सुरज शाक्यले मङ्गलबार निकालेको विज्ञप्तिमा नेपालका प्रारम्भिक ब्याट्सम्यान ज्ञानेन्द्रले व्यक्तिगत कारणले गर्दा प्रतियोगितामा खेल्न नसक्ने उल्लेख छ । सो प्रतियोगिता आगामी अक्टोबर ५ देखि १० सम्म हुँदैछ । प्रतियोगितामाआयोजक ओमान र नेपालसहित हङकङ, आयरल्यान्ड र नेदरल्यान्ड् सामेल छन् ।
ओमानले यो प्रतियोगिता विश्वकप टि २०को अन्तिम चयन ग्लोबल छनोट प्रतियोगिताको तयारीस्वरुप आयोजना गरेको हो । नेपाल दोस्रो चरणबाटै विदा भइसकेको छ । तर अन्य चार राष्ट्र ग्लोबल छनोटको तयारीमा छ । नेपालका लागि भने यो दक्षिण एसियाली खेलकुदको तयारी हुने भएको छ । नेपाली क्रिकेट थिटम अहिले साग खेलकुदका लागि त्रिवि क्रिकेट मैदानमा अभ्यास गरिरहेको छ । सो अभ्यासमा ज्ञानेन्द्र पनि सहभागी हुनुहुन्छ ।
ज्ञानेन्द्र नेपालका लागि अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय टि२० मा सर्वाधिक तेज अर्धशतक लगाउने ब्याट्सम्यान हुनुहुन्छ । उहाँले मलेसियाविरुद्ध २० बलमै बनाएको अर्धशतक कीर्तिमानको रुपमा रहेको छ । ज्ञानेन्द्र विना नेपालले पहिलो पटक टि२० अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय खेल खेल्ने भएको छ । सोमपाल कामीसँगै ज्ञानेन्द्र नेपालका लागि सवाृधिक टि२० खेल्ने क्रिकेटर पनि हुनुहुन्छ ।
गत महिना सिङगापुरमा भएको पाँच टिम सहभागी आईसीसी टि–२० विश्वकप एसिया फाइनल्स २०१९ मा ज्ञानन्द्र र कप्तान पारस खड्काको जोडी जमेपछि नेपालको ब्याटिङमा लामो समयदेखि देखा परेको प्रारम्भिक जोडीको समस्या हल भएको थियो । तर ओमानमा पुनः नेपालले नयाँ प्रारम्भिक जोडीको प्रयोग गर्नुपर्ने भएको छ ।
प्रतियोगिताअन्तर्गत नेपालले पहिलो खेल हङकङसँग अक्टोबर ६ तारिखमा खेल्नेछ । नेपालले अको दिन नेदरल्यान्ड्स, अक्टोबर ९ तारिखमा आयरल्यान्ड र अक्टोबर १० तारिखमा ओमानसँग खेल्नेछ ।