Nepal to connect its tourist hotspot with India through air

Debaprio D Choudhury
Pokhara (Nepal), Nov 22 (PTI) Nepal is planning to link
its major tourist destination, Pokhara, through air with
Indian cities like Lucknow, Kolkata and Patna, in a bid to
attract more visitors from the neighbouring country.
The initiative is also aimed at easing travel hazards
of pilgrims to Muktinath Dham, a shrine of Lord Vishnu,
besides boosting local trade.
"There have been talks about establishing direct air
connectivity between Pokhara and some cities like Lucknow,
Kolkata, Patna and Varanasi. As of now, Lucknow has been
almost confirmed.
"If plans have their way ahead, Pokhara would be in for
more Indian arrivals which would add vigour to trade in the
town," Shradha Shrestha, a senior official of Nepal Tourism
Board, Pokhara, told PTI.
Under its ambitious 'Nepal Tourism Year 2011' project,
the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has envisaged promotion of
Pokhara, a picturesque valley town 200-km west of Kathmandu,
as a hot destination for three-pronged tourism in adventure,
pilgrimage and air-sports.
"We are promoting Pokhara as a pilgrimage centre,
especially to attract Indians. The valley is the gateway to
Muktinath Dham. Thousands of pilgrims from southern parts of
India and Kolkata flock the town every year," Shrestha said.
However, maximum Indian arrivals are from Delhi and
National Capital region which includes Gurgaon, Noida,
Faizabad and Ghaziabad, the official added.
In context to air sports, Pokhara is the only place in
the Himalayan nation to host paragliding, mountain biking and
Ultra-light aircraft, which gives a feeling of flying like a
bird.
"Air sports activities are only available in Pokhara.
Capitalising this, we would be focusing on their promotion and
development," Shrestha said.
The valley has great potential to become an adventure
tourism hotspot, as major trekking route in Nepal starts from
here. Besides, rivers Seti and Kali Gandaki are sought-after
waters for rafting and kayaking.
Many tourists visit the valley as a gateway for trekking
of the Annapurna range of the Himalayas, said Shrestha.
Hotspots like Devi's Falls, International Mountain
Museum, Annapurna Museum, Caves and World Peace Pagoda also
are frequented by travellers.
Pokhara attracts about 1,25,000 tourists a year with
maximum arrivals from the UK, Japan, China and India, which
contribute around 45,000 visitors approx.
Picturesque lakes like Fewa, Beganas and Rupa are the
favourites among foreign visitors.
Though air sports is popular among Indian youth, very
less are seen to go for extreme adventure activities like
trekking and rafting, the NTB official added. PTI DDC
ANU