An Ultra-light aircraft named ‘Danfe’ built by a team Nepali students successfully completed its test flight in Pokhara, Kaski district on Saturday. The test flight led by Russian Pilot, Alexander Maximov, lasted for about a minute covering the distance of  about 1.5km.

Minister for Science and Technology, Ganesh shah, with other high ranking officials within the crowd gathered to view the maiden flight cheered as soon as the aircraft was airborne. 

The team led by Bikash Parajuli and Ganesh Ram Sinkemana spent about Rs1 million (US $ 12500) and used locally available materials to built the aircraft.

The aircraft is powered by an Austrian Engine with a total take-off weight of 400kg with a speed of 200km per hour, says Mr. Parajuli.

The research team comprising eight students –Bikas Parajuli, Ganesh Ram Sinkemana, Anil Maharjan, Baburam Kharel, Dipesh Poudel, Ramesh Ranabhat, Rabindra Shrestha and Prasant Malla of Pulchowk Engineering Campus, IoE, took nearly two years for research and documentation.

Word Elephant Polo Championship is held every year at Tiger Tops, Nepal.This years’ title went to Air Tusker from Britain defeating a Scottish Team Chivas Regal for 6-1 goals. For the third place Nepal’s National Park thrashed Pukka Chukkas of Britain for 13-6 goals.

Likewise, Civas cup is won by Tiger Tops of Nepal defeating American team New York Blue for 6-5 goals. All together there were eight teams competing for the title.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has nominated 15 new cultural and religious sites of Nepal into the tentative list of World Heritage Sites (WHS). As reported, the sites were registered on January 30 and the information of the same has been handed over to the Department of Archaeology.

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.