The Narayanhiti Palace, the throne and resident of the former Shah kings of Nepal, has been converted into Narayanhiti Durbar Museum on June 15, 2008. An official ceremony was held at Narayanhiti in the presence of the then interim Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, where a formal declaration was made to that effect. Prime Minister Koirala himself announced the conversion of the palace into a museum along with the hoisting of Nepal’s national flag in the palace building. The ceremony was attended by foreign dignitaries and high level government staffs from the government.

Narayanhiti Durbar Museum

In a bid to attract more trekkers in the controlled areas, the government has revised permit fee in different controlled areas of the country. The notice regarding the revision of permit fee was published in Nepal Gazette (Volume 58 No 10) and the revised permit fee will come to effect from 16 July 2008

New visa rule is applied for tourist in Nepal effective from 16 July 2008. Tourists who visit Nepal must hold valid passport and visa.

A. 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, Mahendranagar (Kanchanpur, Far Western Nepal)

Tourism ministry announced a 76 year old man from Nepal, Mr. Bahadur Sherchan climbed Mount Everest in good health. Previous record was set last year by 71 year old Japanese teacher Katsusuke Yanagisawa. Veteran mountain climber Appa Sherpa also broke his own record after climbing the mountain for the record 18^th time. Two Australian Cheryl and Nikki Bart became the first mother and daughter to climb Mount Everest. After base camp blackout due to security concerns over the Olympic torch relay, good weather made favorable condition for climbers to ascent Mount Everest. On May 22, 2008 record 86 mountaineers reached the summit. Till to date, about 2,500 people have successfully ascent the Mount Everest and more than 200 deaths have been recorded. 

On May 8, 2008, Chinese climbers reached the top of the world at local time 0120 GMT with an Olympic flame. The historic moment was telecasted by China’s state television. This is the first time in Olympic history that an Olympic torch lit on top of the Mount Everest, world’s highest mountain. The event was surrounded by controversies after China’s crackdown on the recent unrest in Tibet, which started in March with violent demonstrations against Chinese rule. The ascent of Olympic flame was given heavy security in both Tibetan and Nepalese side of Everest to prevent any kind of disturbances. Nepal faced heavy criticism on its ban on media and climbing expedition during the flame’s ascent period. After the successful ascent of Olympic flame, Nepal lifted the ban and mountaineers at Everest base camp are now moving towards the summit.

Olympic torch relay, London 

The Ministry of Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation, Nepal, announced reduction on royalty fee for mountain climbing from fifty to seventy five percentage during different seasons. To make Nepal more competitive in tourism industry and attract more climbers and mountaineers, the Ministry will make royalty-free climbing for mountains located around central and far western regions. The ministry is also promoting new mountain climbing program with “Nepal for all season” slogan from new fiscal year.

The increasing trend in tourist arrival to Nepal continued to increase in the month of March recording a growth rate of 17.30% against the arrival figure of same period last year. According to statistical figure disseminated by Nepal Tourism Board Q.{TB), a total of 40,032 foreign visitors came to Nepal via air in March 2008.

Expect some Asian countries; arrival figures of all market segments were very encouraging in the month of March. The arrivals from India, which had been dwindling for the last few months, recorded a growth of 9%.

Eco Everest Expedition 2008, announced that Dawa Steven Sherpa has arrived at Everest Base camp to begin his expedition and he will be conducting field test at base camp and on the mountain. Furthermore, expedition is raising funds to fund further research on monitoring and early warning systems for glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). The trust fund has been set up and will be managed by ICIMOD (International Center for Integrated Mountain Development).

To contribute: Eco Everest Expedition 2008

Expedition Video of Mr. Dawa Steven Sherpa

Photo by:Michael Lewis

The decision has come in effect following the sad demise of Sir Edmund Hillary in January 11, 2008. Government of Nepal has finally given a go ahead to change the name of the famous Lukla Airport to Tenzing Hillary Airport in memory of the two legendary mountaineers and the contribution Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary made for the development and promotion of tourism. The airport closest to Mount Everest, previously known as Lukla Airport, will now be called Tenzing Hillary Airport.

In another occasion the government of Nepal has also declared May 29, the day when Hillary and Tenzing climbed Mount Everest in 1953, as International Mountain Day. This is something that will definitely be welcomed by mountaineering community and the world at large.

Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa are considered the heroes of Everest and of Nepal. Hillary in particular had been involved in numerous humanitarian works in Nepal including the building of schools, hospitals and helping backward community to uplift their socio-economic standards. Sir Edmund Hillary died last month; Tenzing Norgay died in 1986.