Hotel industry gearing up for NTY 2011

Red Rose Apartment Hotel

The hotel industry in Nepal, which had suffered much during the decade-long insurgency, is back in full shape. The industry started recovering with the start of the peace process in the country in 2006. More international airlines began flying to the country bringing in more visitors from across the world and also spurred domestic tourism. The increasing movement of tourists encouraged hotelier to invest more. But they cautiously waited for the initial few years and waited for the ripe moment. The declaration of the Nepal Tourism Year 2011 (NTY 2011) opened the floodgates and entrepreneurs are investing on hotels not only in the capital but all over the country.
The decade-long insurgency was harsh for the Nepal tourism industry and it was even cruel for the hotel industry. Nepali tourism industry passed through one of the worst recessions in its history of five decades. The deteriorating security situation in the country during the period not only led to the decline in tourist arrival but also triggered curtailing of price rates, displacement of trained hands, and closure of travel trade enterprises. Hotels, having big investments and often on bank loans, were the first ones to resort to price undercutting. Even five star hotels started selling their rooms at a very low rate. Such was the scale of price undercutting that some tour operators even say that five star hotels even robbed Thamel-based lodge owners of their business.
According to Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), the apex body of hotels in Nepal, there were 11 four star hotels in the country in 2003 AD. These four star hotels were providing 987 rooms per night. But with the closure of four four-star hotels and upgrading of two four-star hotels into five-star category, the number of rooms available in the four-star category has reduced to just 430 rooms per night. Because of the recession, the tourism industry lost more than 500 rooms per night in four-star category. 

But the end of conflict and declaration of the year-long tourism promotional campaign has encouraged investors and more and more people are investing in hotel business. According to Tourism Industry Division under the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA), 38 new hotels were registered in the capital in fiscal year 2009/10. According to the Tourism Industry Division, a total of 736 hotels have been registered across the country, including 422 in the capital alone. Of them 10 are five-star hotel -- eight in the capital and two -- in Pokhara and two with four-star rating. Similarly, there are 17 three-star hotels, 31 two-star hotels, 37 one-star hotels and 639 tourist standard hotels. These hotels produce 14,272 rooms per night. Private sector has invested about Rs 150 billion in the hotel industry, according to HAN. 

Two new four-star hotels in the capital:
Two new four-star hotels are beginning operation in the Valley right on the eve of Nepal Tourism Year 2011. Implementing Expert Group (IEG) – the investment group of businessmen and professionals involved in international trade – is preparing for the grand opening Red Rose Apartment Hotel at Pulchowk and Airport Hotel near Tribhuvan International Airport in December. The group is spending more than Rs 1 billion in the two projects. This is the biggest investment in Nepali hotel industry after the Hotel Hyatt Regency more than a decade ago.
Airport Hotel, which is located just in front the Golden Gate of Tribhuvan International Airport, will have 55 rooms in five floors. The hotel plans to cater people traveling to and from Tribhuvan International Airport. Similarly, Red Rose Apartment Hotel at Pulchowk will have 11 apartments and 30 rooms upon completion. The hotel aims to cater travelers needing accommodation for more than a week. The group is also planning to establish exotic restaurants and shopping areas in both the hotels.

Article @ http://imagenepal.com.np/TNDcovst.html

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Nepal Visa Information

Visa Information:

Planning a trip to Nepal is not as easy as planning a vacation in Hawaii or Europe. Nepal is one of the most distant destinations on Earth if you are starting your trip from North America, and it takes almost 2 days just to get there. A trip to this Himalayan kingdom requires a great deal of advance planning. You should set aside plenty of time to make all the necessary arrangements to ensure your journey is as enjoyable as possible.

When should I go? How do I get there? What do I need to pack? Where should I stay? What kind of restaurants are there? What should I see? 

The single-most-important thing to know about flying to Nepal is that with relatively few flights into the country, seats book up months in advance during the peak trekking seasons. Try to make reservations at least 6 months in advance, especially if you want to fly on Thai Airways or Singapore Airlines. By July or August, you'll find that nearly every flight into the country during this period is wait-listed. Royal Nepal Airlines, which is infamously unreliable, is usually the last airline to fill up.

There are no direct flights from the United States to Nepal, so unless you fly Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, or Pakistan International Airlines, you're going to have to change airlines somewhere en route, usually in London or Delhi if you are eastbound or in Bangkok or Singapore if you are westbound. You'll also have to spend a night somewhere en route-Bangkok, Singapore, Karachi, and Delhi are the usual overnight stops.

If you are traveling through Delhi, it's a good idea to have an Indian visa, even if you aren't planning to leave the airport. We've had reports of people being refused onward passage because they didn't have a visa, even though they were only transiting through the airport.

Entry: Tourist entry visa can be obtained for the following duration from Nepal Embassy/ Consulate or Mission offices abroad, or at the following immigration offices in Nepal:

• Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu

• Kakarvitta, Jhapa (Eastern Nepal)

• Birganj, Parsa (Central Nepal)

• Kodari, Sindhupalchowk (Northern Border)

• Belhiya, Bhairahawa (Rupandehi, Western Nepal)

• Jamuna, Nepalgunj (Banke, Mid Western Nepal)

• Mohana, Dhangadhi (Kailali, Far Western Nepal)

• Gaddachauki, Mahendranagarv(Kanchanpur, Far Western Nepal)

Visa Facility	Duration	Fees
Multiple Entry	15 Days	US$ 25 or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple Entry	30 Days	US$ 40 or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple Entry	90 Days	US$ 100 or equivalent convertible currency

Tourist Visa Extension: 

Visa extension fee for 15 days or less is US $ 30 or equivalent convertible currency and visa extension fee for more than 15 days is US$ 2 per day.

Tourist visa can be extended for a maximum period of 150 days in a single visa year (January - December).

Gratis (Free) Visa: Gratis visa for 30 days available only for tourists of SAARC countries.

Indian nationals do not require visa to enter into Nepal

Transit Visa: Transit visa for one day can be obtained from Nepal's immigration offices at the entry points upon the production of departure flight ticket via Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal, by paying US $ 5 or equivalent convertible currency.

Download Your Visa Form Here

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Travel Guide to Nepal

Planning a trip to Nepal is not as easy as planning a vacation in Hawaii or Europe. Nepal is one of the most distant destinations on Earth if you are starting your trip from North America, and it takes almost 2 days just to get there. A trip to this Himalayan kingdom requires a great deal of advance planning. You should set aside plenty of time to make all the necessary arrangements to ensure your journey is as enjoyable as possible.

When should I go? How do I get there? What do I need to pack? Where should I stay? What kind of restaurants are there? What should I see? These are some of the questions that this section will answer.

The single-most-important thing to know about flying to Nepal is that with relatively few flights into the country, seats book up months in advance during the peak trekking seasons. Try to make reservations at least 6 months in advance, especially if you want to fly on Thai Airways or Singapore Airlines. By July or August, you'll find that nearly every flight into the country during this period is wait-listed. Royal Nepal Airlines, which is infamously unreliable, is usually the last airline to fill up.

There are no direct flights from the United States to Nepal, so unless you fly Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, or Pakistan International Airlines, you're going to have to change airlines somewhere en route, usually in London or Delhi if you are eastbound or in Bangkok or Singapore if you are westbound. You'll also have to spend a night somewhere en route-Bangkok, Singapore, Karachi, and Delhi are the usual overnight stops.

If you are traveling through Delhi, it's a good idea to have an Indian visa, even if you aren't planning to leave the airport. We've had reports of people being refused onward passage because they didn't have a visa, even though they were only transiting through the airport.

Security.

Nepal is generally very safe with one of the lowest crime rates of all countries. Travel with children in Nepal, yet with a bit of planning it is remarkably hassle free

 

Shopping.

 Despite Nepal's lack of raw materials, shopping here is quite advanced. Curio arts, Garment and Carpets are head the export list. Nepal's carpet industries are world renowned.

 

Currency.

The unit of the Nepalese Currency is the Rupee. Nepali Rupee notes come in Rs. 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000 denominations.

 

Banks.

Banks are open between 10:00 A.M. to 2:30 P M. from Sunday to Friday. They are closed on Saturdays and other holidays.

 

Credit Cards.

Major credit cards are widely accepted in Kathmandu and Pokhara hotels, restaurants and shops.

 

Currency Exchange.

There are plenty of Currency Exchange Counters in Kathmandu and Pokhara

 

ATM’s.

Visitors can withdraw money through Visa /Master Card from the different ATM machines at several locations in Kathmandu and Pohkara.

 

Electricity

 220 Volts, 50 Hz

For Detail Information: Click here

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Nepal Tourism Year 2011 " Together for Tourism"

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal today officially launched the national campaign, ‘Nepal Tourism Year 2011’ during a huge gala at Army Pavilion, Tundikhel. Lets come “Together  for tourism” the PM said, urging all to join hands for the most anticipated national campaign NTY 2011 that could “trigger the economic revolution”.

The PM inaugurated the campaign by lighting the peace torch at 3:00 pm at Nepal Army Pavilion. The centrally located peace torch that measures eight feet was first lighted at Eternal Peace Flame in Lumbini Sacred Garden by Olympian Bimala Rana Magar on February 21 and was brought to Kathmandu on February 24.

Representatives from political parties, tourism, economic sector, private sector, sports, entertainment and ethnic communities participated in the rally and the inaugural ceremony. Along with the PM, 18 political parties, including Nepali Congress, CPN UML, UCPN-Maoist, RPP and representatives from FNCCI, NCC, HAN, NATTA, FCAN, NRNA, BAN showed their commitment by pledging to make the campaign a big success and avoid any kind of bandh or strike in 2011 to maintain peace and security.

To show their commitment towards the national campaign’s official launch, up to 40,000 people from different walks of life participated in rallies from City Hall, Lainchour Scout, Academy Hall, Stadium and Basantpur Durbar square to converge at Nepal Army Pavilion, Tundikhel.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, the PM said tourism was the only sector that could increase employment opportunities and earn more foreign currency.

“NTY 2011 can revive the nation and help rebrand its image in the international arena,” he said. Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sarat Singh Bhandari lauded the overwhelming response of the private sector to promote NTY 2011 and insisted on maintaining peace and stability while the national campaign was on.

Yogendra Shakya, programme implementation committee national coordinator, hoped that the national campaign would be helpful enough to rebrand Nepal as a peaceful country. Billed as the most ambitious national project, NTY 2011 targets to attract one million tourists.

Article By: Eliza Manandhar

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Makalu Barun National Park

High in the heart of the eastern Himalayan, seven valleys radiate from Mt. Makalu, the world's fifth highest peak. These valleys, particularly the Barun valley, treasure some of the last remaining pristine forest and alpine meadows of Nepal.

From the bottom of the Arun valley, at just 435 m above sea level, the Himalayas rise to the snow-capped tip of Makalu 8463 m within a 40 km distance. Within this wide range of altitudes and climates, the Makalu-Barun area contains some of the richest and most diverse pockets of plants and animals in Nepal, elsewhere lost to spreading human habitation.

Click the link to find about Trekking in Makalu Base Camp Trek

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Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park

Sagarmatha National Park covers an area of 1148 square kilometers in the Khumbu region of Nepal. The Park includes the highest peak in the world. Mt. Sagarmatha (Everest 8848 m.) and several other well known peaks such as Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Pumori, Ama Dablam, Thamerku, Kwangde, Kangtaiga and Gyachyung Kang.

As Mt. Sagarmatha(Everest) and the surrounding area is of major significance not only to Nepal but to the rest of the world, its status as a national park since 1976 is intended to safeguard its unique cultural, physical and scientific values through positive management based on sound conservation principles.The Himalaya were uplifted at the end of the Mesozoic Era, some 60 millions years ago. The resulting young mountains of this region are still rising and the net growth is a few centimeters per century.

Vegetation in the park varies from pine and hemlock forests at lower altitudes, fir, juniper, birch and rhododendron woods at mid-elevations, scrub and alpine plant communities higher up and bare rock and snow above tree line. The famed bloom of rhododendrons occurs during the spring (April and May) although much of the. flora is most colorful during the monsoon season (June to August).

The wild animals most likely to be seen in the park are the Himalayan tahr, goral, serow, musk deer and Himalayan black bear. Other mammals are weasels, martens. Himalayan mouse hare (Pika), jackals and langur.

The park provides a habit for at least 118 species of birds. The most common birds to be seen are the Impeyen pheasant (the national bird of Nepal), blood pheasant, cheer pheasant, jungle crow, red billed and yellow billed coughs and snow pigeon. Fairly common birds are the Himalayan griffon, lammergier, snow partridge, skylark and many others.

Thinking of Traveling to Everest Region ?? Follow the Link for More detail:
Everest Region Trekking

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Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park stands today as a successful testimony of nature conservation in South Asia. This is the first national park of Nepal established in 1973 to preserve a unique ecosystem significantly valuable to the whole world. The park covering a pristine area of 932 sq. km is situated in the subtropical inner Terai lowlands of southern central part of Nepal.

The park has gained much wider recognition in the world when UNESCO included this area on the list of World Heritage Site in 1984. The park consists of churia hills, ox-bow lakes, flood plains of Rapti, Reu and Narayani rivers. The Churia hill rises gradually towards the east from 150 m to over 800 m. The lower but most rugged Someshwor hills occupy most of the western portion of the park. The flood plains of Chitwan are rich alluvial. The park boundaries have been delineated by the Narayani and Rapti rivers in the north and west, and the Reu river and Someshwor hills in the south and south-west. It shares its eastern border with Parsa Wildlife Reserve.

The Chitwan valley is characterized by tropical to subtropical forest. 70% of park vegetation is predominantly Sal ( Shorea robusta ) forest, a moist deciduous climax vegetation type of the Terai region. The remaining vegetation types include grassland (20%), riverine forest (7%) and Sal with Chirpine ( Pinus roxburghii ) (3%), the latter occurring at the top of the Churia range. The riverine forests mainly consists of khair, sissoo and simal. The simal is with spiny bark when young and develops buttress at the bottom in older stage. The grasslands form a diverse and complex community with over 50 species. The Sacchrum species, often called elephant-grass can reach 8 m in height. The shorter grasses such as Imperata is useful for thatch roofs.

There are more than 43 species of mammals in the park. The park is especially renowned for its protection of the endangered one- horned rhinoceros, tiger, and gharial crocodile along with many other common species of wild animal.

The estimated population of rhinos is 400. The park also secures populations of endangered species such as gaur, wild elephant, four horned antelope, striped hyena, pangolin, Gangetic dolphin, monitor lizard, and python. Some of the other animals found in the park are sambar, chital, hog deer, barking deer, sloth deer, common leopard, ratel, palm civet, wild dog, langur and rhesus monkeys. There are over 450 species of birds in the park. Among the endangered birds are the Bengal florican, giant hornbill, lesser florican, black stork and white stork. A few of the common birds seen are peafowl, red jungle fowl, and different species of egrets, herons, kingfishers, flycatchers and woodpeckers.

The best times for bird watching are in March and December. More than 45 species of amphibians and reptiles are found in the park, some of which are the marsh mugger crocodile, cobra, green pit viper and various species of frogs and tortoises. The park is actively engaged in the scientific study of several species of wild flora and fauna.

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Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve

Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve lies in Rukum, Myagdi and Baglung Districts in the Dhaulagiri Himal range in West Nepal. Putha, Churen and Gurja Himal extend over the northern boundary of the reserve. Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve was established in 1983 and was gazetted in 1987. Management objectives of the reserve allow sports hunting and preserve a representative high altitude ecosystem in West Nepal.

The reserve extends over an area of 1,325 sq. km and is the only hunting reserve in the country to meet the sports hunting needs of Nepalese and foreign hunters of blue sheep and other game animals. The higher elevations remain snow capped throughout the year. Altitudes vary from 3,000 m. to more than 7,000 m. The flat meadows above tree line (4,000 m), locally known as Patan, is divided into six blocks for hunting management purposes.

The reserve is surrounded by villages on all sides except the north. Local people depend on the reserve to meet their requirements for wood, fuelwood, fodder, and pasture. The refugee camp near the reserve headquarters has put more human pressure in the forest. Every year livestock grazing activities begin from February and last until October. More than 80,000 livestock enter the reserve.

The majority of people belong to the Mongoloid race, including Magar. Thakali, and Gurung, Amalgamation of different ethnic groups has resulted in a mixed pattern of cultures. Dhorbaraha, a Hindu religious place on the banks or Uttarganga River near Dhorpatan, is in Fagune bloc. Every year on the day of "Janai Purnima" in August, a religious fair is held here which is attended by many local devotees. The magnificent view of Dhaulagiri Himal from Barse. Dogari and Gustung blocs are exceptional. Snag and Sundaha bloc are rich in wild animals.

The reserve is characterized by alpine, sub-alpine and high temperate vegetation. Common plant species include fir, pine, birch, rhododendron, hemlock, oak, juniper and spruce. Pasturelands occupy more than 50% of the total area of the reserve at higher elevations. The reserve is one of the prime habitats for blue sheep, a highly coveted trophy. Other animals found are : leopard, goral, serow, Himalayan tahr, Himalayan black bears, barking deer, wild boar, rhesus macaque, langur and mouse hare. Pheasants and partridge are common and their viable population in the reserve permits controlled hunting. Endangered Animals in the reserve include Musk deer, Wolf, Red panda, Cheer pheasant and Danphe. A hunting license is issued by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife conservation.

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Royal Suklaphata Wildlife Reserve

This wildlife reserve is situated in the extreme south-west of Nepal. The name of the park is derived from the largest of these grasslands which is known as Sukla Phanta. The park area is 155 sq kms. and would be 305 sq kms. after the completion of its extension. Sukla Phanta's grassland is one of the last remaining habitat for such threatened animals as the hispid hare and the pygmy hog. Besides these, Sukla Phanta is the stronghold for another endangered animal, the barasingha, or swamp deer.Other wildlife of the park included spotted deer, also seen in large numbers, hog deer, nilgai, wild dog, jackal, porcupine and otter. The park and the adjoining for-est is the territory of small number of tigers which because of open terrain, are not uncommon to sight on the prowl. Wild elephants have also been sighted in the park.A stop at the Rani Tal is a must. This small lake attracts birds and animals alike. Herons, ducks, storks, kingfishers and egrets vie for food and swamp deer wallow at the edges. From a nearby machan one can watch while thousands of water fowl mingle on the lake surface while it is not uncommon to see hundreds of swamp deer grazing at the water-edge in the evening light. The experience is unique. Other ways to view wildlife in the park is by driving in landrovers near the lake and river and on nature walks with trained tracker.

Predominant sal (Shorea robusta) forest is associated with asna (Terminalia alata), semal (Bombaxceiba), and karma (Adina Cordifolia). Khair, (Acacia catechu) and sissoo (Dolbergia sisso) forest is found along the river side. The main grass species of the phantas are Imperata cylindrica and Saccharum heteropogon which are extensively used by the local people for thatching.

The reserve provides prime habitat for swamp deer (Cervus duvauceli). An estimated population of 2000 is found in the reserve. Other wild animals in the reserve are wild elephant (Elephas maximus), tiger (Panthera tigris), hispid hare (Caprolagus hispidus), blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus), leopard (Panthera pardus), chital (Zxis axis), hog deer (Zxis porcinus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa).

A total 268 species of birds has been recorded in the reserve. Many grassland birds along with the rare Bengal florican can be seen in the phantas. Marsh mugger crocodile, Indian python, monitor lizard and snakes like cobra, krait and rat snake have been recorded in the reserve.

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Parsa Wildlife Reserve

Parsa Wildlife Reserve occupies parts of Chitwan, Makawanpur, Parsa and Bara districts in central Nepal. The reserve headquarters is situated at Adabar on the Hetauda-Birgunj highway and the Reserve covers 499 sq. kms. and established in 1984.The dominant landscape of the reserve, the Churiya hills ranging from 750m. to 950m. run east-west of the reserve. The reserve has sub-tropical monsoon climate. The forest is composed of tropical to subtropical forest types with sal constituting 90% of the vegetation. In the Churiya hills Chir pine grows and along the stream and rivers Khair, Sissoo with silk cotton tree occur. Sabai grass a commercially important grass species grows well in the southern face of Churiya hill.

The reserve supports a good population of resident wild elephant, tiger, leopard, sloth bear, gaur, blue bull, wild dog. Other common animals are sambar, chital, hogdeer, barking deer, langur, striped hyena, ratel, palm civet, jungle cat etc.There are nearly 300 species of birds in the reserve. Giant hombill, peafowl, red jungle fowl, flycatchers, woodpeckers etc. are few other common birds found in the reserve. Many kinds of snakes like king cobra, common cobra, krait, rat snake, pythons are found in the reserve due to hot tropical climate.The dominant landscape of the reserve are the Churia hills ranging from 750 m to 950 m, which run east-west. The soil is primarily composed of gravel and conglomerates making it very susceptible to erosion. The hills present a very rugged face with numerous gullies and dry stream beds. As the foothills are very porous, water flows underground and surfaces at a distance of about 15 km from the hills base.

The forest is composed of tropical and subtropical forest types with sal (Shorea robusta) forest constituting 90% of the vegetation. In the Churia hills chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) grows and along the streams and river khair (Acacia catechu), sissoo (Dalbergia sissoo) and silk cotton tree (Bombaxceiba) occur. Sabai grass (Enlaliopsisbinata), a commercially important grass species, grows well on the southern face of the Churia hills.

The reserve supports a good population of resident wild elephant (Elephas maxinuts), tiger (Pantheratigris), leopard (Panthera pardus), sloth bear (Melursus ursinnus), garu (Bos gaurus), blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and wild dog (Cuon alpinus). Other common animals are sambar (Cervus unicolor), chital (Zxis asis), hog deer (Axis porcinus), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjac), langur (Presbytes entellus), rhesus macaques, striped hyena (Hyena hyena), ratel, palm civet and jungle cat. There are nearly 300 species of birds in the reserve. Giant hornbill, one of the endangered species, is found in certain forest patches. Peafowl, red jungle fowl, flycatchers and woodpeckers are a few of the other common birds found in the reserve. Many kinds of snake like king cobra, common cobra, krait, rat snake and python are found in the reserve due to the hot tropical climate.

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