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Photo credit: Avia Club, Pokhara, Nepal   MAKE ADVENTURE SPORTS SAFE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE! By  LB THAPA Pokhara has already carved a niche in adventure sports. Domestic tourists and foreign tourists regularly visit Pokhara for the experience of adventure. Some adventure activities like trekking, kayaking, rafting, caving, mountain biking, and boating have been available for years. But over the last few years, ultralight aircraft, paragliding, zip-flying, and bungee jumping have added extra thrill and adventure among adventure-loving enthusiasts.  The promotion of tourism is necessary for the development of tourism, because it is the backbone of the Nepali economy. The tourism industry alone has provided the largest employment after agriculture in the country. In a situation like this, collective effort is utmost necessary for the development of the tourism industry.  However, it is also true that the line between adventure and accident is very thin. If adequate attention and pre

Photo credit: khaptadswami.com.np   How a Medical Doctor Became KHAPTAD BABA By LB Thapa Since time immemorial, the Himalayas and the mountains of Nepal have been the home of many Yogis and Mahatma who meditated here and attained enlightenment. The Himalayan region is the first choice of saints for meditation and penance. According to the holy Hindu scriptures, the Himalayas are the abode of Lord Shiva, one of the prominent Hindu gods.  In this article, I am going to write about a great saint who was born in Kashmir, India, and worked there as a medical doctor. But something happened in his life that brought a sea change to his life. Now the question is: what had happened to him that made him renounce everything and become a sanyasi (mendicant)? After taking sannyasa, he extensively traveled to many parts of India and Nepal and finally decided to reside permanently in Khaptad. He lived in Khaptad for fifty years and became known to the world as Khaptad Swami. Let’s know more about

  A good piece of news for Indian travelers in Nepal By LB Thapa In a recent development, it has now become possible for Indian travelers in Nepal to scan and pay directly from their mobile phones . This facility will definitely encourage Indian travelers to visit Nepal in greater numbers in the future. However, Nepalese travelers have to wait some more time to get the same facility in India.  Nepalese entrepreneurs related to the tourism sector look euphoric at the new developments initiated by the Nepal and Indian governments. This facility has enabled Indian travelers to shop in Nepal and pay the bills on their mobile phones.   Indian bike riders from left, Ajay Tiwari, Bhopal, Jasbinder Singh, Amritsar and Karan Sodhi, Dehradun, India. “This is absolutely a good move by the government. You will see that this very move will have a positive impact on the Nepalese tourism sector. Now it has become much easier for Indian travelers to make their payments in Nepal. They don’t have to e

Photo credit: Sunil Pandey DHORPATAN HUNTING RESERVE Hunter’s Paradise By LB THAPA When we think of a unique place on earth, we may have a few names at our fingertips. But those who have ever been to Dhorpatan will never have second thoughts about naming Dhorpatan the best place in the world. This is not an exaggeration, but a fact. Dhorpatan is replete with pristine, natural beauty, which is abundant in Dhorpatan but may be rare to be found elsewhere. Both the flora and fauna found in this region are of a special kind. The vast land of Dhorpatan has been enriched with such plants as fir, pine, birch, rhododendron, hemlock, oak, juniper, spruce, etc. Dhorpatan is also the home of a wide range of wild animals, which are found and thrive in Dhorpatan alone. As a whole, Dhorpatan is a must-visit place, where adventure in game hunting and breathtaking panoramic views are guaranteed. In brief, if someone loves nature and wildlife, then Dhorpatan must be their first choice.   (All photos by

Photo: LB Thapa DONATE BLOOD AND SAVE LIVES By LB Thapa "If cycling is my passion, then blood donation is my religion," says Tirtha Raj Awashti, founding president of the Nepal Voluntary Blood Donors' Society, Kaski (NVBDS) and currently the secretary of the NVBDS central committee, in Kathmandu, Nepal. To date, he has already donated his blood for 75 times. His entire life revolves around blood donation. He is always on his toes. He visits various organizations, including private offices and schools, and encourages them to donate blood. He always tells the youth to celebrate their 18th birthday by donating blood.  Photo: Read 2B Happy. "Whenever I get a little time off from my pharmacy, I waste no time and immediately mount on my mountain bike to find potential blood donors. I make a list of private and government organizations and visit them regularly. I try my best to convince them about blood donation, and most of the time I succeed. Many times it happened w