Adventure Mountain Flight

For those who are restricted by time or other considerations from going trekking, there are mountain flights that offer a panoramic encounter with the highest peaks on earth. The plane departs from Kathmandu and flies along-side the Himalaya to give you eye-level views of the snow peaks and then brings you back in one hour. Cruising close to the awesome massifs of rock and ice, the flight presents a mind-boggling sight.

As the aircraft takes off and heads towards the east, you don’t have to wait too long to find out what’s in store for you. First to your far left, you see Gosaithan, also called Shisha Pangma, standing at the majestic height of 8,013 m. Immediately to the right of Gosaithan, there appears Dorje Lhakpa (6,966 m), a mountain that looks like the number 8 lying down and covered with snow. To the right of Dorje Lakpa is Phurbi-Chyachu, which looms over the Kathmandu Valley.

As the plane glides along, the mountains come closer and closer. Next on the vision is Choba-Bhamare, the smallest one of the lot at 5,933 m but singularly stubborn as it has never been climbed. Then appears the mountain that is not only prominent in sight but also in spirituality - Gauri-Shanker. Lord Shiva (Shanker) and his consort Gauri are said to protect this mountain, at the proud height of 7,134 m, and the summit had a history of unsuccessful attempts till 1979. Gauri-Shanker is sharp and very conspicuous during the mountain flight. As the plane moves towards the land of the rising sun, the eastern Himalaya, a succession of glorious mountains follow. Melungtse, a plateau-like mountain, stretches up to 7,023 m. Chugimago at 6,297 m is still a virgin, waiting to be climbed. At 6,956 m, number mountain resembles a breast, the maternal source in the sky providing pure milk to the Sherpas of the Solikhumbu. Next is Karyolung, an intensely white mountain that at 6,511 m gleams with the rising sun. Cho-Oyu is the eight highest mountain in the world. Reaching a height of 8,201 m, it appears stunningly beautiful from the aircraft.

Next on the menu is Gyachungkang, at a majestic height of 7,952 m, considered an extremely difficult climb. To the right of Gyachungkang is Pumori (7,161 m). As you get closer to Everest, there’s Nuptse (7,855 m), which means West Peak, signifying its direction from Everest. Finally, there’s Everest (8,848 m) itself, known as Sagarmatha by the Nepalese and Chomolungma by the Tibetans. Much has already been written about Everest, but to actually witness it face to face during a mountain flight is something else. Even while it looms there in front of the eyes, it remains an enigma, this highest spot on earth.

Jungle Safari

While the high Himalaya makes up Nepal’s northern region, the sourthern lowland known as the Terai is covered with dense tropical jungles teeming with diverse wildlife and exotic birds. Here you will find some of the most exciting safari destinations in the world. You will be going into deep jungle on elephant back or four-wheel drive vehicle to view wild animals in their natural habitat. Other thrills are canoe rides on the jungle rivers, nature walks, bird watching excursions and village tours.

There are 14 national parks and wildlife reserves in the Kingdom (seen following chapter). They provide one of the world’s major habitats for endangered species like the one-horned rhino, Royal Bengal tiger, snow leopard, blue clouded leopard, red panda, blue bull, blue sheep and the long-snounted fish eating gharial crocodile. The Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park and the Royal Chitwan National Park are listed as World Heritage Sites.

The country boasts almost 10% of the world bird species with over 800 varieties of wet land, migratory and resident birds. They include koklas, giant hornbills, red-headed trogons, paradise flycatchers, herons, kingfishers, Tibetan snow cocks and many species of pheasants, herons, egrets, warblers and babblers.

The Rolwaling Eco-tourism Development Project

By A Staff Reporter

In remote mountain regions, where the local agriculture cannot longer support the population, tourism provides a valuable source of income, contributing towards the improvement of the living conditions of the local people and helping to prevent out migration. Planned tourism development creates jobs and can help to preserve the local culture and environment.

Separated by just one pass from Sagarmatha National Park, the most highly developed and second most popular trekking area in Nepal, the Rolwaling Valley has long been almost totally ignored by tourists. For many years it was designated by the Nepalese government as restricted area, accessible for expeditions with a special permit only.

Hardly any individual visitors found their way to this attractive and interesting area, and only a few fully organized treks bring tourists here. The lack of infrastructure means that all staff and provisions have to be brought in from outside, and until now the local people have hardly been involved in tourism at all.

By improving the infrastructure to enable individual trekkers to visit the area, many local people could derive from small scale tourism.

The Rolwaling Eco-tourism Development Project is based on the principle of susceptibility and aims to make a major contribution towards quality tourism and ecological sound development. Sustainable improvement of the living conditions of the people of the RETP area.

* Creating jobs in tourism as a contribution towards extending the subsistence economy and to reducing the out migration pressure.

* Generating income for the local population.

* Implementing ecologically oriented tourism programmes.

* Promoting ecologically and socially responsible tourism in the project region.

* Intensive co-operation with the local villagers by establishing Community Development Committees (CDCs).

* Training in community building, hygiene and sanitation, ecology and infrastructure development.

* Improving the drinking water supply, construction of toilets, bridges and trails.

* Waste disposal.

* Construction of one model lodge in Simigaon and a RETP building in Singati, which both will be used as training centers for CDC programmes.

Literacy courses for adults, English classes. Local crafts improvement, marketing of local products. Community lodge management, private lodge and guestroom management, cooking, sanitation and hygiene in places visited by tourists.

Awareness programmes for ecological and sustainable tourism to enable the communities to carry on without outside assistance.

* Improving the housing situation by introducing alternative fuels and smokeless stoves.

Nursery for vegetables, fruit trees and cash crops, a model kitchen garden.

Promotion of and training for kitchen gardens.

* Improving the tourism infrastructure: Development of eco-friendly community campsites and community lodges.

Improving the few existing lodges.

Study tours.

Training for local porters and guides.

Training for maintenance of trails, bridges and drinking water systems.

Eco-Himal is an Austrian non-governmental organisation with its headquarters in Salzburg and Kathmandu. In Nepal it is an INGO registered with HMG’s Foreign ministry. Eco Himal is dedicated to improve the living conditions of the people of the Himalayas, focusing on ecological, social and cultural aims. Eco Himal believes in a participatory approach towards development through the involvement of the local population, local NGOs and experts into the project planning and steering as much as possible. Besides the Rolwaling Eco Tourism Development Projects (RETP) in northern Dolakha district Eco Himal supports a rural development project in the Arun Valley, the Thame Village Development Project in Solu Khumbu, the Mountaineering School in Thame, the restoration of the Keshar Mahal Garden in Kathmandu, and a cultural exchange project between Nepal and Austria as well as projects in Tibet.

Radisson, new pinch!

By A Staff Reporter

Radisson Hotel & Resorts now has a new “brand identity”. The paintbrush “signature” complete with a fluorescent slash underlining it is symbolic of Radisson’s vitality and optimism for the future. Another notable change is that the group has been renamed Radisson Hotels and Resorts to emphasise the importance of its operations in the leisure segment, pointed out Hotel’s General Manager Ian Barrow at a press meet here yesterday.

The brand image on Radisson is changed on the basis of “public opinion” that the logo needed to adopt a more contemporary, stylized look. Radisson, a division of the Carlson Group that also owns the Regent, Country Inns and TGIF brands, has grown spectacularly establishing itself as a major global presence.

The change is signage is backed by a very significant revamp of their service standards which is very personalized.

Radisson has recently added properties in Mauritius, South Africa, Oman, Turkey, Uruguay, and Aruba in the Caribbean. Radisson now has 400 properties in 53 countries.

Radisson seems to be putting on a fresh face at the perfect time, drawing attention to its growing global structure and new commitment to resort operations. The group is confident that their “genuine hospitality” philosophy will make a marked difference that is genuine.