PURE AS PARADISE

 Nepal's tourism capital, Pokhara, is hosting its inaugural International Balloon Festival from December 24, 2024, to January 2, 2025.  The nine-day event, held in the scenic Pame region, features participants from 30 countries and over 20 international pilots.  With daily hot air balloon flights offering stunning views of the Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, and Dhaulagiri ranges, the festival aims to boost tourism. It spans 3 kilometers, offering around 500 commercial flights and 300 non-commercial flights.  Organizers expect to host 3,000 passengers and estimate the event will cost Rs 68.3 million, helping to revitalize Pokhara’s tourism post-pandemic.

The vibrant and exciting second edition of the  Nepal-China Friendly Dragon Boat Race Festival  has officially begun at the picturesque Fewa Lake in Pokhara. The festival is set to strengthen the cultural and grassroots ties between Nepal and its neighbour China, while also boosting Nepal’s tourism sector. " With the collaborative efforts of local government bodies and the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, the Dragon Boat Festival promises to enhance Nepal’s international visibility while celebrating the power of sport and culture. " This year’s event, which will run through Monday, has attracted a diverse group of participants from Nepal, China, and Singapore. A total of 20 teams are competing, with 129 players from Chengdu, China, having flown in on a chartered flight on December 26 to join the festivities. The festival is a collaborative effort between the  Gandaki Provincial Government ,  Pokhara Metropolitan City , the  Chinese Embassy in Nepal , and the  Nepa...