An interaction on National Strategy Action Plan 2015-2024 with high officials of UNWTO, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Nepal Tourism Board and representatives of private sector on March 12, 2015 at Nepal Tourism Board.

With a 40-pound camera system and a mission to photograph the world, Google takes us to the Himalayas for a closer look at the Sherpas who call the mountains home.

Google published more than 45,000 panoramas to create this interactive Street View experience, which is available today. Hauling the Street View Trekker—a 40-pound, GPS-enabled external frame pack with a spherical 15-camera, omnidirectional “eye” that protrudes a foot above the hiker’s head—the team captured all 38 miles from the town of Lukla to Everest Base Camp. They also side-tripped up the Bhote Kosi River to the town of Thame, home of the Thame Dechen Chokhorling Monastery, which overlooks the village.

The result is a step-by-step virtual tour of the trek most people make to Everest Base Camp. But the project also went further, taking the mapping indoors to the region’s cultural sites. Typically called “business view” in Google-speak, the team added a layer of panoramic photos from cultural and residential sites.

Project manager Raleigh Seamster, whose background is in international development, says that delivering 360-degree views from within monasteries and Sherpa homes pushes up against the boundaries of mapping, journalism, art, and human understanding. “We consider this project to be part of our program’s commitment to giving knowledge and resources to these non-profit organizations like Story Cycle and Apa Sherpa Foundation,” Seamster told me, “so that they can use this imagery and they can use the maps in order to visualize their cause and tell their story and share these places with the world through Google Maps.”

The interior panoramas produce a kind of spacial awareness that’s not quite like being there, but helps you put the place in a context that’s less abstract than looking at a disembodied photo alone. It’s also just a cool way to procrastinate for an hour or two.

Nepal participated ITB Berlin

The 2015 edition of ITB Berlin concluded on March 8, 2015 with the visit of 115,000 trade visitors. Nepal’s participation in the fair was led by Secretary of the Ministry for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and Chairman of Nepal Tourism Board, Mr. Suresh Man Shrestha. The Nepalese delegation included Mr. Kashi Raj Bhandari, Director of NTB, Mr. Lila Bahadur Baniya, Senior Manager of NTB, Mr.Vinod Gautam, Officer from the Ministry for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Mr. Kundan Sharma, Officer of NTB and 21 Nepali Travel Trade companies.
ITB Berlin featured 10,096 exhibitors from 186 countries in 26 display halls showcasing a spectrum of tourism products and services from all the world over.
During the fair, NTB team interacted with international travel trade professionals and media and disseminated tourism information about Nepal. NTB’s representatives also met with top-notch tourism officials from Europe and different parts of the world. Among the top visitors to Nepal’s stand were Mr. Jurgen Klimke, Member of Parliament, Bundestag, Germany and The Secretary of Tourism of Maldives.
Several visitors to the stall showed keen interest to include Nepal in their holiday packages. Individual visitors sought information for personal and family visits and there were a tremendous amount of general queries on travelling to Nepal. As usual the Mt. Everest, the Himalayas and Lord Buddha were the subjects of prime interest. There were also a considerable amount of inquiries and interest shown on Eco friendly or responsible tourism. The general queries of visitors hovered around the best places to visit for first time visitors, security concerns, travel information, trekking information, hotel information, visa rules of Nepal, etc.
Nepal stand with a space of 152 sq. meters successfully depicted the unique tourism products of Nepali culture, nature and adventures. A Statue of Lord Buddha was placed in the middle of Nepal Stand and it was of prime interest to visitors. Visitors flocked to the stall to take pictures of Lord Buddha.
About ITB Berlin
During 5 bustling days between 4 and 8th of March 2015, some 115,000 trade visitors (2014: 114,000) travelled to the ITB, Berlin. The share of trade visitors from abroad increased to 43 per cent (2014: 40 per cent) in comparison to the figures of 2014. According to an estimate by Messe Berlin, the organizer of the show, the volume of sales at the world’s leading travel trade show increased from around 6.5 billion euros in 2014 to 6.7 billion euros.The ITB Berlin Convention registered record levels of attendance with almost 175,000 total visitors attending the fair this year. Decision-makers and opinion-formers debated the key topics concerning the travel industry at a total of 200 events which took place in eight auditoriums. Around 5,180 accredited journalists from 75 countries and some 350 bloggers from 29 countries reported on events at ITB Berlin. Politicians and diplomats from Germany and abroad were also present at the show.
ITB is a global platform for the worldwide travel trade professionals to meet, network, negotiate and conduct tourism business. As per the ITB’s official press release, the exhibition ground at Messe Berlin was fully booked with overwhelming participation segments like Travel Technology and Adventure & Sustainable Travel in addition to the regular travel exhibitors.
According to the post event press release of ITB, Dr. Christian Göke, CEO of Messe Berlin said, “More than ever ITB Berlin fulfills the function of the world’s leading think tank and a shop window for the travel industry. This is where the opportunities and risks are debated and the potential impact of the sharing economy on the international travel industry is analysed. Over the past few days ITB Berlin has provided further evidence of how important personal exchanges and meetings between people are for an industry that is increasingly dominated by the digital transition”.
The first 3 days from March 4-6 were reserved for trade encouraging business-to-business sessions among the participating travel trade counterparts while the last two days were open for public. The exhibition presented a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to German, European and other international tourism professionals.
Mongolia was the partner country of ITB 2015. The mileage Mongolia got because of being Partner Country was incredible. Nepal should also contemplate on showcasing its tourism strength by hosting as a partner country at the ITB in the near future.

10 Amazing Places to Hike before you Die

Roys Peak Track

For all the hiking lovers out there, here's a list of some of the most amazing and beautiful places in the world to hike. If you are not a hiker, maybe now is a good time to get your butt off the couch and start exploring this amazing world ... pull on your hiking boots and start by putting one foot in front of the other ... you'll see it's not hard at all :-)

1. Nepal

Everest Base Camp Trek

Trekking in the majestic Himalayas is high on most hikers' bucket list. Just imagine walking a trail offering stunning views over the snow capped peaks of the world's highest mountains ... A trek in the Himalayas is without any doubt an epic experience.

Everest Base Camp Trek

There is a wide range of trek options available in the Himalayas, starting from 3-day treks to 26 days or even longer. The most popular treks are the Annapurna Base Camp Trek and the Everest Base Camp Trek. We did the Everest Base Camp Trek last April and it was for sure an experience of a life time, I will never forget that feeling of achievement upon reaching Base Camp.

2. New Zealand

Mt. Tutoko Glacier, Fiordand NP

New Zealand's divers and astounding landscapes makes it the perfect destination for hikers. Do you want to hike on glaciers, cross some challenging mountain passes, hike through wilderness area, explore the beautiful golden beaches on the coastal tracks or maybe even hike through volcanoes? New Zealand has it all!

Routeburn Track

New Zealand has an extensive network of superb hiking trails going from day hikes to multi-day hikes to the 3,000km long Te Araroa Trail, one of the longest hiking trails in the world. New Zealand also has 9 "Great Walks" whereof the Milford Track, Routeburn Track, Tongariro Northern Circuit and the Abel Tasman Coastal Track are the most popular ones. Roys Peak Track (see first photo of this article) and Rob Roy Glacier Track are both highly recommended day hikes. We were in New Zealand last month and really enjoyed the endless hiking possibilities and the unique, divers and stunning landscapes.

3. Patagonia - Chile, Argentina

4. Alps, Europe

Austria

This 1.200 km long magnificent mountain range crosses Austria, Slovenia, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, France, Italy and Monaco. So plenty of trail options ... from day hikes to ... pretty much anything! One of my favorite hiking destinations is the Alps in Austria.

5. Peru

Machu Picchu

The Andes Mountains in Peru is another bucket list item for many fervent hikers. The Lares, Salkantay and traditional Inca Trail to Machu Picchu are the most popular treks here although there are lots of other trek options as well.

6. Iceland

Iceland

The astonishing beautiful nature in Iceland makes it the ideal country for hikers. Iceland offers many hiking opportunities; all trails offer stunning unique scenery. We for sure enjoyed our stay in fairytale Iceland. One of the most popular trails in Iceland is the 55km long Laugavergurinn Trail. You can do an extension of about 22km via the Fimmvörðuháls pass. This trail guides you through a magical landscape of volcanoes, glaciers, lava fields, hot springs, waterfalls ...

Svartifoss Waterfall by Laura and Lance from Travel Addicts

7. United States

Arches

The United States has some serious long distance trails, the longest one being the American Discovery Trail - better known as the Coast-to-Coast trail. This 10,900km long trail passes through 14 National Parks. The most popular long distance trails in the US are the Pacific Crest Trail (4,271km), the Appalachian Trail (3,518km) and the John Muir Trail (340km). Also the National Parks in the US are the perfect place for anyone craving for a good hike through stunning scenery. We hiked through quite a few National Parks in the US and all were amazing. Also in Hawaii you'll find some spectacular trails, the most famous one probably being the Kalalau Trail on the Na Pali Coast in Kauai Hawaii.

8. Scotland

Scotland

Also Scotland has a system of Great Trails providing the opportunity to explore the best of Scotland's nature. Some people claim Scotland is the most beautiful country in the world. So hiking through the rugged and romantic Scottish Landscape containing Highlands, Lochs, old fortresses, forests, mountains ... doesn't sound bad at all.

9. Greece

Santorini

Also Greece and the Greek islands are a hiker's paradise offering a well-organized system of mountain, ancient roads or cliff trails to choose from. The Meteora trail, Mt. Athos trail and Mt. Olympus trail are popular options in Greece. Recommended trails on the Greek islands are the White Mountains trail on Crete, the Corfu Trail on Corfu and the cliff hike from Imerovigli to Oia in Santorini.

Monastery in Meteora Greece by Alex from Finding the Freedom

Alex blogging at Finding the Freedom, hiked in Meteora Greece and says:

10. Morocco

Valley Hike Morocco

When people think about Morocco, many will think about a nice beach vacation, shopping in the souks, visiting a fairytale city like Marrakech ... hiking would not be the first thing on most people's mind. Nevertheless Morocco offers some great hiking treks.

Bonus 1: Poland

Tatra Mountains, Poland

There's a network of about 24,000km of marked trails for hikers in Poland. Popular trails in Poland are the trails in the Slowinski National Park (a beautiful place rich of lakes, forests and dunes), the majestic Tatra Mountains (the natural border between Poland and Slovakia), the Sudety Mountains (a region filled with castles and caves), ... and lots of other options.


Ania blogging at Hitch-Hikers Handbook says:

The Polish Tatra Mountains are often overlooked by all the rankings of the best hiking trails in the world, but in my opinion this spectacular mountain range is highly under appreciated and definitely deserves more attention.

One of my favorite routes in the Polish Tatras, is hiking up Mount Kościelec (2,155m) where you can marvel at numerous charming alpine lakes glittering in the sun. This hike will take you through a thick evergreen pine forest and up a challenging rocky crest from where you will be able to see sky-piercing bone-white peaks of neighboring mountains. It is a relatively difficult route if you decide to go all the way up to Mt. Kościelec but if you don't feel you have enough energy or motivation, you can descend earlier without missing out on the jaw-dropping alpine lakes.

This 15km long picturesque route starts in the village of Kuźnice where you can get to by bus from Zakopane. In Kuźnice follow either the blue or the yellow trail for about 1,30 hour until you reach the Przelęcz Miedzy Kopami (1,492m) mountain pass. Following the path for another half an hour you will reach a vast meadow called Hala Gąsienicowa with a popular mountain shelter "Murowaniec", which is the crossroad of all the trails in the vicinity.

Bonus 2: Spain

Charles

Spain is without any doubt a hiker's paradise ... the imposing mountains and deep ravines of the Picos, the endless hiking opportunities in the Sierra Nevada mountains or the Pyrenees, the famous path to Santiago the Compostela and of course El Caminito del Rey - a trail pinned along the steep walls of a gorge - also known as one of the most dangerous hiking trails in the world.

BIT visitors in Italy

NEPAL TRAVEL BOOK, KATHMANDU: 

Nepal offers nature, culture and adventure to BIT visitors in Italy

Nepal Tourism Board along with four travel trade companies participated in the 32nd edition of BIT - Borsa International Tourism held at Rho Fiera Milano from 12th-14th February 2015 in Milan, Italy. This year’s edition of BIT was largest ever travel event of Italy, with introduction of Luxury and Mice sections for travelers along with specific focus on new destinations.
BIT Milan had over 2000 participants from around 100 countries and from all over Italy representing various regions with their tourism attractions. The fair witnessed a substantial inflow of leisure and holiday travelers, business travel decision makers and travel trade members. Over 3 days, BIT witnessed the footfall of over 60000 visitors, with approx.35000 visiting on the last day of the fair, being it a consumer day. It also provided Italians with a one-stop opportunity to make their national and international travel and holiday plans. Being the biggest trade event, the fair had 10-15% growth over last year in size and number of participants which fetched an impressive response in terms of visitors.
Apart from the trade visitors, Nepal stall received the continuous flow of individual travelers specifically asking about the prominent tourist attractions within the country such as Kathmandu, Pokhara, Nagarkot, Lumbini and jungle safari of Chitwan.
During the fair, Nepal, particularly highlighted the soft adventure options such as sky diving, bungee jumping, Paragliding and ultra-lite flights, rafting, etc. In addition, the Nepalese travel trade companies promoted their special packages focusing on culture and heritage along with trekking. The major queries during the fair were regarding the flight connectivity from Europe and the best season to travel. Many expressed the airfare was a major component to decide on the destination and at the same time, many were also aware of the better connectivity through Turkish Airlines. The last two consumer days saw students from schools to Universities showing lots of interest in visiting Nepal to experience festivals as well as short treks including other general tourist attractions. Travel trade operators around Milan also showed lots of enthusiasm towards Nepal and inquire about various itinerary options for different segments such as youth and family.
Nepal delegation was led by Mr. Bharat Mani Subedi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation. Nepal Tourism Board was represented by Mrs. Ujjwala Dali, Senior Manager – Tourism Marketing & Promotion along with four travel trade companies Sampurna Aventura Travel & Tours, Wonderland Travels Nepal, Snowy Horizon Treks & Expedition, Global Asia Tours & Travels from the travel trade sector.

Nepal at FITUR 2015

NEPAL TRAVEL BOOK: Nepal participated the FITUR Travel Trade Fair held in Madrid, Spain from January 28 to February 1, 2015. The participation at FITUR was jointly organized by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Nepal Association of Tour & Travel Agents (NATTA) with sixteen private participants from travel and hotel sector of Nepal.

The 35th annual edition of the FITUR brought together 9,107 companies from 165 countries and the presence of around 200,000 visitors from around the world, of which 120,000 were professionals. FITUR is regarded as the second biggest tourism fair in the world after ITB Berlin. The first 3 days of the 5 day long fair were dedicated to travel trade and the last 2 days were opened to the general public seeking new destinations to travel.


The objectives of Nepal`s participation were to deal businesses, to strengthen distribution channels among tour operators, to increase trade contacts, to study the various competitive and complementing markets; and more importantly to position brand image and to promote Nepal as a destination.

The participating companies at the Nepal Pavilion were able to secure good business deals and establish professional contacts which strengthened the trade networks. The deliberations and discussions made with the travel media at the Nepal stand provided good opportunities to position Nepal`s tourism brand image among the trade and consumers.

8eyes Travel & Tours, Asian Adventure Treks & Expedition, Blue Sheep Adventures, Destination Nepal Treks & Expedition, Highlander Trekking & Expedition, Himalayan Glacier Trekking, Hotel Annapurna/Fishtail Lodge, I-Tour Int'l Travel Services, Makalu Adventure Travel & Tours, Nepal Social Treks, Royal Mountain Travel, Sampurna Aventura Travel & Trekking, Snowy Horizon Treks & Expeditions, Tourism Management Travel and Trekking, Vista Travels and Yeti Travels exhibited under Nepal pavilion. Mr. Sudarshan Prasad Dhakal, Director General of Immigration Department (Board Member of NTB), Mr. Rohini Prasad Khanal, Sr. Officer and Mr. Khadga Bikram Shah, Sr. Officer represented NTB at the Fair.

Shopping Malls and Departmental Stores

NEPAL TRAVEL BOOK, KATHMANDU, FEB 04 2015: Nepal is fast becoming a shopping paradise with new malls opening up every now and then with an assortment of products ranging from branded cloth wear to household items. Shopping malls and departmental stores have become indispensable feature of the urban lifestyle due to the quality and affordability. Even though shopping malls and departmental stores are gaining popularity in bordering towns of Nepal like Biratnagar, Bhairawa, Nepaljung, and so on larger ones are found in Kathmandu and Pokhara where you can shop for items like electronic appliances, music system, kitchen-wares, branded garments, jewelry, perfume, watches, children toys, fitness equipment and household items. Popular shopping centers in Kathmandu are New Road, Putali Sadak, Kumaripati, Tangal, Lazimpat, Sundhara, Tripureshwor, Jawlakhel; and in Pokhara they are lakeside and Mahendrapul bazaar areas among others. You can shop both local items as well as branded stuff. Periodic sale with as much as 50 percent seasonal and festival discounts on selected items are provided.
www.nepaltravelbook.com

Bamboo Crafts

NEPAL TRAVEL BOOK, KATHMANDU, FEB 04 2015:

Other items suitable to take home as gifts or souvenirs:

Books in Nepal

NEPAL TRAVEL BOOK, KATHMENDU, FEB 04 2015:  Books that dwell on a wide array of subjects are aplenty in the tourist hotspots of Kathmandu and Pokhara. Books on different subjects, beautiful picture books of the Nepali people and far of Himalayan and Terai landscape, information about the ancient Nepal or the Nepali people, trekking information and travel guides as well as latest books on national and international contemporary issues, and popular fictions are available in bookstores of Thamel, Kantipath and other tourist areas of Kathmandu valley and Lakeside area of Pokhara.
www.nepaltravelbook.com

Masks in Nepal

NEPAL TRAVEL BOOK, KATHMANDU, FEB 04 2015: Masks have always been popular among the Hindu of Kathmandu valley and are an important part of the cultural performance in festivals and rituals. Masks of different religious deities are worn by performers during Lakhe dance on Indra Jatra day. Masks of Bhairav ( god of terror) and Ganesha ( Elephant god) and other deities are very popular. Interesting masks are available at most tourist junctures like Thamel and the three Durbar Square areas of Kathmandu Valley.
www.nepaltravelbook.com

Shaligram (Holy Rocks) in Nepal

NEPAL TRAVEL BOOK, KATHMANDU, FEB 04 2015: Shaligram is fossial rock found on the banks of River Kaligandaki of Central Nepal. These fossil rocks have Chakra (disk like formations) made by a river worm called Vajra-Keeta which takes shelter in Shaligram. As per Hindu mythology, these fossil rocks are believed to be the manifestation of Lord Vishnu, the Preserver of the world. It is believed that worshiping Shaligram, chanting Shaligram mantra and washing the holy fossil will protect us from evil and bring material reward and spiritual prosperity. Shaligram is also very popular among Hindus and can be found in premises of the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, in lakeside area of Pokhara and in many Hindu temple premises.
www.nepaltravelbook.com

Root art in Nepal

NEPAL TRAVEL BOOK, KATHMANDU, FEB 04 2015: Figures of animals, reptiles made from the root of trees are gaining popularity in Nepal. These can be purchased in Thamel, the popular tourist hub of Kathmandu.
www.nepaltravelbook.com

Woolen Carpet in Nepal

NEPAL TRAVEL BOOK, KATHMANDU, FEB 04 2015: Carpet weaving started as a household occupation in the mountains of Nepal from the 1960's. Hand knotted carpets are available in Nepali and Tibetan themes with both traditional and modern designs in a great variety of colors, sizes and knots. Nepali carpets are very popular in Europe and America. These bright colored floor decoratives and wall hangings can be purchased in special carpet stores in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
www.nepaltravelbook.com

Wood Carving in Nepal

NEPAL TRAVEL BOOK, KATHMANDU, FEB 04 2015: The Newar of Kathmandu valley are endowed with the ingenuity of wood carving which constitute items like intricately carved windows, ornate doors, photo frames, jewelry boxes and household items. Peacock window of Dattareya Square in Bhaktapur is the finest example of excellent workmanship of wood carving in ancient Nepal. This legacy has indeed been carried forward through the generations of talented artisans also make figures of religious deities, door panels, temples, stupas, window frames, tables, lamp stands, photo frames, assorted furniture and kitchenware. The places to look for wood and metal carvings are Bhaktapur Durbar Square and other heritage areas of Kathmandu Valley.
www.nepaltravelbook.com

Rudraksha (Rosary) in Nepal

NEPAL TRAVEL BOOK, NEPAL, FEB 04 2015: Rudraksha are the dark berries of the evergreen Elaeocarpus ganitrus tree. In Sanskrit Rudraksha consists of two words Rudra and Aksha. Rudra is another name of Lord Shiva and Aksha means eye in Sanskrit. The holy beads of Rudraksha are used to make prayer rosaries and have clefts on the surface known as Mukhis ranging from one face to 21 faces. The Rudraksha rosary is often worn by many Hindus and used during meditation. It is believed that on holding or wearing the Rudraksha rosaries with faith and devotion, a person is able to experience the bliss of Rudra and absolve himself from the stains of earthly sins. These are very popular among Hindus and can be bought in the premises of the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, in the lakeside area of Pokhara and in many Hindu temple premises.
www.nepaltravelbook.com

Sculpture in Nepal

NEPAL TRAVEL BOOK, LALITPUR, PATAN, FEB 04 2015: Sculptures of different Hindu and Buddhist deities are very popular among Nepalis as well as tourists. While Nepalis place them in the Puja room to worship, tourists carry them back home to add to their collection of souvenirs. Copper, brass and bronze statues are made by pouring molten metal into baked earthenware which covers wax image in exact size and details of the desired product. After the molten metal cools and hardens, the earthenware is cast away and the statue is intricately carved and polished. These items are found in most tourist areas in the valley, however, the best place to buy the metal sculpture is the Patan Industrial Estate.
www.nepaltravelbook.com

NEPAL TRAVEL BOOK,KATHMANDU, FEB 04 - Chinese carrier Sichuan Airlines has been granted permission to operate flights to Nepal. It will be the fourth airline from the northern neighbour to serve Kathmandu when it begins flights in March.

Sichuan Airlines will be operating a daily service on the Chengdu-Lhasa- Kathmandu sector from its base in Chengdu. It possesses an all-Airbus fleet of 93 aircraft. “The Chinese carrier has been issued the operating authorization while the ministry is processing the documents of Colombo-based carrier Mihin Lanka,” said Pramod Nepal, under-secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

At present, Air China and China Eastern operate daily scheduled flights to Nepal, while China Southern operates double daily flights. China Southern links Kathmandu and Guangzhou while China Eastern and Air China link Kathmandu with Kunming and Lhasa respectively.

Government officials said that booming China’s outbound to Nepal appears to have largely encouraged Chinese carriers to link up with Nepal.

The country has been witnessing a constant growth in Chinese arrivals since June 2009. The number of Chinese visitors to Nepal crossed the 100,000 mark in 2013 reaching an all-time high of 113,173, largely due to improved air connectivity between the two countries. Official statistics show that air arrivals jumped 55.3 percent to 62,616 and overland travellers surged 44.7 percent to 50,557. Arrivals from China in 2012 amounted to 71,861 persons.

Chinese government officials have projected that the number of Chinese tourists to Nepal would reach 250,000 within a couple of years with the increased flight frequency between the two countries and land connectivity through Rasuwa and trans-Himalayan roads.

The rapid growth in Chinese arrivals is illustrated by the recently revised air services agreement (ASA) between

Nepal and China. The new ASA permits Chinese carriers to operate 56 flights weekly with any type of aircraft. Earlier, Chinese airlines were allowed to operate 14 flights weekly.

Meanwhile, the ministry said that the proposed revision of the ASA with Malaysia was likely to take place by the end of February.

As the air seat demand has outstripped the supply of Malaysia-based airlines, the Malaysian government has requested Nepal to revise the bilateral ASA that allows carriers to operate 21 flights per week. Malaysia has asked the Nepal government to raise the frequency to 42 flights per week.

As the allocated frequency for Malaysia-based airlines has been consumed, the ministry has permitted them to operate seven additional flights under a temporary operating permits scheme.

New entrant Malaysia-based Malindo Air will fly the Kathmandu -Kuala Lumpur route from February 6 with Boeing 737 aircraft. It will be the third carrier from Malaysia after Air Asia X and Malaysia Airlines.

Travel trade entrepreneurs said that the entry of Malindo into the Kathmandu -Kuala Lumpur sector would further intensify the airfare war. This route has emerged as one of the most lucrative sectors for airlines with a continuous surge in the number of Malaysia-bound migrant workers.

Metal Wares in Nepal

NEPAL TRAVEL BOOK, KATHMANDU, FEB 03 2015: Metal carving is very popular in the Newar community of Kathmandu valley. Carving images of deities and divines and the dexterous chiseling on bronze and copper mould could be one of the finest piece of souvenirs. Beautifully carved replicas of temples and stupas, and decorative items like singing bowl, bell, cymbals, wine jars, cup etc. are made of copper, bronze or brass and are popular for their aesthetic values, funtional use and religious purposes. Metal craft in household items like jars, plates, bowls, spoons, ladles, hanging oil lamps, flower vase are also very popular. Karuwa ( traditional water jar usually made of brass and sometimes silver) which used to be a common way to drink water in the old days is still a popular item in Nepali household and is often used during special occasions. Karuwa made in Palpa is considered the Most authentic among all. Metal wares and items are found in most tourist areas in the valley, the best place to buy being the metal art work area at the Patan Industral Estate.
www.nepaltravelbook.com