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  Karma Lama is one of the most skillful artisans of Sauraha. His skill of carving beautiful wooden rhinos and elephants is commendable indeed. Photo-LB Thapa REVIVING THE ART OF WOOD CARVING By  LB THAPA Flocks of tourists visit Chitwan National Park throughout the year. The park is a treasure trove of amazing stock of nature’s beauty that lures one and all. The park is rich in flora and fauna, which has helped grow the handicraft market in Sauraha. Most of the handicraft items found in Sauraha are not brought from outside but rather made in Sauraha itself. These handicraft items are locally marketed by the villagers and shopkeepers. Of the several kinds of handicraft items found in Sauraha, the wooden rhinos and elephants are the cynosure of all eyes.   Most of the visitors to Sauraha do not only buy rhinos but also a pair of elephants Photo-LB Thapa Artisans are always respected all over the world because what they can do is not everybody’s cup of tea. History is a...

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 adequat...

Popular Nepali TV actor and actress Dipak Raj Giri and Dipashree Niraula donated Rs.2 Lakh for the MRR Group. All photos by the MRR   THE MRR GROUP: WORKING FOR A CAUSE By LB Thapa Call them CRAZY boys, AMAZING boys or STUPID boys, no matter how you call them. They won’t mind, for sure. But one thing is pretty certain: you cannot ignore them. These boys, who crave no name, but believe in service and only service. Selfless and unassuming, their group works without hierarchy. In their group, everyone is equal, as there are no seniors or juniors. Guided by the spirit of benevolence, these boys, who call themselves Men’s Room Reloaded, want to keep their profile low-key. However, the body of work these boys have done can surprise any sane person of wit.   MRR activists with Nepali flags. Do you want to know more about the Men's Room Reloaded group and their unbelievable works? Here they are. Men’s Room Reloaded was the brainchild of four young boys in 2011. Gyan Malla Thakuri,...

All photos are provided by Laxmi Magar.   LAXMI MAGAR The first Nepali female cyclist of international fame By LB Thapa Those who have an interest in cycling must have heard Laxmi Magar’s name. Her incredible stamina and phenomenal cycling skills only materialized the other day when Laxmi Magar came to Pokhara to participate in the 5th GREAT HIMALAYAN FESTIVAL organized by the International Mountaineering Association (IMA), which has earned her a huge name and fame at home and abroad.   For a long time, I wanted to meet her, but it could not materialize until the other day when Laxmi Magar came to Pokhara to participate in the 5th GREAT HIMALAYAN FESTIVAL organized by the Mountaineering Association (IMA). The competition was organized on the occasion of International Mountain Day.   Leaving her competitors behind, Laxmi completed the 28-kilometer distance in two hours and bagged the 5th GREAT HIMALAYAN FESTIVAL title. After winning the race, she said, “I’m happy t...

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 mo...