Friday, November 20, 2009

Himalayan White water Challenge 2009 : Nepal Rafting

Introduction:



Nepal, with its bountiful water flowing from the peaks of the Himalayas and the high passes from the Tibetan plateau, possesses some of the finest whitewater rivers in the world. Additionally, Nepal is also home to one of the strongest and largest river tourism communities in the global industry. Comprised of approximately 61 companies, Nepal's river tourism industry employs thousands of native Nepalese and is entirely Nepali owned, operated and supplied, a fact which makes it unique among other forms of tourism development in the Himalayan kingdom (and indeed, in the world!). However, whitewater rafting in Nepal, while well known among several specialist river running communities across the world, has had relatively little publicity and as such is an extremely valuable yet little appreciated and publicized form of sustainable development for the country of Nepal. 
 

The Event:
With this in mind, the Nepal Association of Rafting Agents has developed a proposal for the introduction of a river running event that has the potential to stimulate interest in Nepal as a tourist destination in general and Nepal's rivers in particular as one of the world's premier river running tourism destinations. Himalayan Whitewater Challenge in Nepal is a multi discipline one boat event that combines extreme slalom / river running skills with down river speed and freestyle action to find an overall whitewater champion. This event, which will combine state of the art forms of extreme whitewater slalom, head to head down river racing and amazing displays of freestyle rodeo maneuvers into one world class competitive event. Additionally, this event will also allow for a competitive display of Nepal's rafting history as there will be a down river raft race in which Nepal's original Nepali raft guides, the current company owners, will guide rafts filled with their companies' best guides in a head to head race down the Bhotekoshi river to claim the honor of 'Top OG' (Original Guide). As such, this event promises to be not only a world class competitive affair, but also an opportunity for Nepal to demonstrate its long standing tradition of whitewater rafting expertise among its citizens. 

Event Size and Expected Economic Benefits to Nepal's Tourism Industry



 

The event's organizer expected to attract to approximately 100-150 foreign competitors and approximately 100 Nepali participants, in addition to nearly 200-250 spectators, all of whom will help spread the world of Nepal's awesome whitewater tourism potential to those that they know aboard. Additionally, the foreign participants will all ply into Katmandu's Tribhuban International Airport, many of Nepalese air couriers Royal Nepal Airline and then stay in Katmandu's hotels and guesthouse. Where they will shop for good and eat and local restaurants, helping to bolster the country's critical tourism industry that has taken such hard blows in 2001 due to both national and international crises. Additionally, experience has shown that these participants will travel throughout Nepal after the events to paddle many of Nepal's world class rivers and as such will help to benefit other areas throughout the country economically. Further, as a by-product of the is event, publicity about Nepal as a safe and secure tourism destination will be disseminated helping to stimulate other non whitewater bases sectors of Nepal's tourism industry as well.


Himalayan White Water Challenge-2008 concluded:
Himalayan White water Challenge-2008 organized by Nepal Association of Rafting Agents (NARA) in partnership with Peak UK Kayaking, promoted by Nepal Tourism Board & supported by Nationally and Internationally water sports private company successfully concluded in Trisuli, one of the world class river located in Chitwan district of Nepal on November 2008 with the theme "Lets save Trisuli River". The objective of this challenge was to promote adventurous sports tourism activities in Nepal. About 80 participants from USA, UK, Iran, Ireland, Sweden, Germany, France and 30 participants from Nepal enthusiastically took part in three days long challenge from 17 to 19 November 2007. The challenge was divided into different events like Nepalese Junior Kayak (Men), Senior Kayak (Men) and Rafting Competition. At the Same time the prize was also distributed to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd position sponsored by verities of the water sports company their produced that hold 1st, 2nd and 3rd position on this event respectively.


Source: raftingassociation.org.np

Friday, October 2, 2009

Mount Choyu Expedition Nepal

The name Mount Cho Oyu is called 'Goddess of Turquoise'. As goddess is 'chomo' in Tibetan language and turquoise is 'yu'. Hence, 'Chomo Yu' has changed into Cho Oyu in course of changing civilization generation after generation. It is also reported that Cho Oyu is also called 'Mighty Head' meaning 'god's head'. On a clear weather, the view from the summit plateau of Cho Oyu is breathtaking. One can view the entire panorama of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Chamlang, Ama Dablam and other peaks of the Khumbu.
Cho Oyu stands high above the Tibetan plains on the boarder of Nepal with its mighty height 8,201m above the sea level. The expedition is an ideal choice for mountaineers ready to test themselves on the eight thousanders. 



Cho Oyu, the world's sixth highest mountain at 8,201m, is located just west of Everest and Lhotse along the Nepal-Tibet border. Cho Oyu is a straightforward climb and not technically demanding, from the Tibetan Side. This is an excellent mountain for climbers wanting to scale their first 8,000m peak.

Our expedition group makes a spectacular flight into Lhasa, from Kathmandu, over the great Himalayan mountain chain. On arrival to Lhasa we will make a sightseeing tour of "Lhasa" in Tibetan means "the land of Gods" including winter and summer residence of Dalai Lama, Jokhang monastery, Sera monastery and Barkhor square. After a 3 days tour in Lhasa we will begin our expedition toward Mount Cho-Oyu thorough Tibet's scenic landscapes crossing several passes and visiting the fortresses of Gyantse and Xigatse, the second largest city of Tibet

The Expedition continues toward Cho-Oyu base through Tingri, which is an old Tibetan settlement with typical clustered Tibetan styled housing at the foot of small hillock. A short exploration in the settlement can expose you a typical remote Tibetan lifestyle. Right from the roadside of Tingri, you can see the Mt. Everest, Makalu, Gyan Kung and Mount Cho-Oyu.

Final expedition preparation including, rope management, final checking of technical equipment, group discussion, rest, acclimatization etc will done in Chines Base camp, before making our accent to advanced base camp at 5700m. After all the preparation advanced base camp will be set and the expedition begins with our climbing Sherpas, most of the rope fixing will be done by our climbing Sherpas. The C3, the base to the summit, will be set at 7500m. on the north-east face. During the period of the setting of the Camp Three, all climbing member will have done up and down several times for a proper acclimatization. Date of the summit will be fixed depending on the condition of physical fitness and weather condition.

Buddha was born in Nepal

WIKIMAPIA OVER LUMBINI BIRTH PLACE OF BUDDHA
Where was buddha born?





Although India has been claiming that Budda was born in their land, King Ashoka who visited Nepal centuries ago himself has left certification that Buddha was Born in Lumbini, Nepal. This claim of india isn't new as as it even claims that Everest of Nepal and Karakorum Mt. K2 of Pakistan to be theirs.