The rescue team consists of members from:

• Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA)
• Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA)
• Nepal Army (NA)

Earlier, a team of 12 rescuers led by Bijay KC, member of Trekking Agents’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), had returned empty-handed on January 19, 2020, as they could not carry out any rescue operations due to adverse weather conditions.

Bijay KC said that it will take several weeks to rescue the victims as the rescue operations seem difficult until and unless the snow melts.

Four South Koreans and three Nepalis went missing after being struck by an avalanche in the Annapurna trekking route on January 17, 2020.

According to TAAN, they include:

• South Koreans: Jeong Pil Bong, Lee Min Su, Choi Hyowon, Kim Sookja
• Nepalis: Saroj Pariyar, Chhiring Bhote, Min Bahadur Lama

Till date, around 130 trekkers have been rescued and were under medical treatment.

Although the Nepali Government has declared only 7 trekkers are missing, there are speculations that the number may increase as some trekkers may prefer to go with Free Individual Trekkers (FIT) permit.

Meanwhile, South Korean President Moon Jae-in twitted that their government will support the Nepali Government in the rescue operations to save the missing trekkers.

Also Read:

• Trekking Nepal: Indigenous Peoples Trail – A Journey Less heard of, but Trek-worthy
• 535 Climbers Successful Scaled 25 Mountains during Autumn
• Lumbini Tourist Arrivals in 2019
• ‘Visit Nepal Year 2020’ Kicked Off with a Bang (With Live Video)
• 13th SAG Concludes: Nepal Bags 51 Golds, India Leads!

The post Another Search and Rescue Team for 7 Missing Trekkers appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

The people across the country are observing these festivals with all traditional fervor, devotion and gaiety.

Yomari Poornima is one of the popular festivals observed by Newar people and is celebrated during full moon of December. On this day, people worship Annapurna, the goddess of grains and indulge in eating Yomari, a delicacy made of rice flour.

Dhanya Poornima is observed by the people following Hindu religion to mark the conclusion of the rice harvest season. The people worship their ancestors and the sacred cowshed to ensure plentiful supply of grains.

Udhauli festival is celebrated by Kirant communities by offering thanks to mother nature. On this day, people share their happiness by indulging in a special dance performance called Sakela.

On this auspicious day, President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal has extended their best wishes to all the people of the country.

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Offering a picturesque view of few of the world’s highest mountains Dhaulagiri (8,167), Annapurna (8, 091), Macchapucchare (6,997m), Manasalu (8,163m) and 25 other mountains, Sarangkot gently onlooks the city of Pokhara and Phewa lake that further enhance the beauty of the scenic view.

A walk back in time

Earlier, Sarangkot was a Village Development Committee located west of the Pokhara and has a population of about 5,060 and 1,010 households as per the 1991 census. The region later became part of Pokhara 26 in 2015.

What Makes Sarangkot Special?

Sarangkot is one of the popular Nepali tourism destinations home to paragliders from across the world.

Though these sport enthusiasts thoroughly enjoy what they do, it may become almost impossible for an onlooker to look through the clouds and haze.

They say that the most beautiful view comes after the hardest climb and this is especially true about Sangarkot!

A climb to Sarangkot presents a spell-binding view of the sunrise and sunset over the mammoth, snow-capped mountains. This is where you can experience the breath-taking scene of mountains dazzling in gold, orange and red.

Sarangkot offers an awesome riding experience in the form of the Tandem flight. The bird-eye view from the flight treats nature and adventure-lovers’ with a scintillating picture of the entire mountain range surrounding the Phewa Lake.

Enjoy the thrill of flying high in the company of mighty birds like eagles and vultures!

Life in Sarangkot

This beautiful hill has some traditional village houses, a school and a community radio station 104.6 MHz run by the inhabitants to promote the local culture. Besides, Sarangkot also houses some hotels and rooms that offer stunning views of the mountains. If not trekking, you can also enjoy the beautiful view of the mountains whilst relaxing in the rooms.

Home to National Flower!

Sarangkot is home to the Rhododendron forest. The red rhododendron is the national flower of Nepal. This flower is a genus of 1,024 species of woody plants in the heath family and is found mainly in Asia. Trekkers will find these trees on pathways of their trek.

Other Places of Interest Around

Some of the tourist attractions in and around Sarangkot include the Australian Camp, Phewa lake, Devi falls, Gupteshwar Cave, Begnas Lake, Thani Mai temple, Siddha Gufa and Patale Dvar.

How to get there?

The Sarangkot hill can be reached via taxi, motorcycle, walk or tour, and should be booked a day in advance in case of taxi. A taxi drive will take 30-40 minutes and will have you left at a walking distance of 15-20 minutes from the climb.

Around Sarangkot, you can either hire a driver with a bike or choose to drive a bike alone. A walk to the climb can last for about 3-5 hours and begins from the Baglung bus park or a remote trail from the Phew Tal lake.

Another convenient option is the tour that is mostly arranged by the hotels people stay at, who arrange both your means of transport and provide a guide.

Schedule your long-awaited trip to Sarangkot, leave the baggage of the world behind and reconnect with your spiritual self with the surreal views of the place!

Also Read:

• Pokhara – Tourism Capital of Nepal
• Nepal, The Perfect Tourism Destination
• Sarangkot – The Adventure Lover’s Paradise
• Biratnagar – Industrial Capital of Nepal
• Nepal’s Lumbini Among ‘Best in Asia 2018’
• Kathmandu: Nepal’s City of Glory!

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Did you ever see thousands of manmade caves at a place?

Wish to wander or go for a ride across majestic valleys?

Then Mustang of Nepal could be your right destination! Sleek cliffs, ochre-red lands, deep caves, monasteries and ages-old tradition describe Nepal’s beautiful Mustang region lying on the edge of the Tibetan plateau.

An Overview

Mustang, popularly called Upper Mustang, is a desert region of deep valleys, thousands of manmade caves, amazing lands in combinations of ochre, red and brown colours and the ages-old culture.

Once the independent Kingdom of Lo, Mustang has been part of Nepal since the 18^th century and started witnessing travelers or tourists only since 1991.

Mustang underwent the kingship rule until 2008 when the Government of Nepal abolished the monarchy’s official status with Jigme Singhe Palbar Bista as the last king of the region.

Prince Jigme Singhe Palbar Bista played a key role in preserving culture and art in the region while also promoting tourism potential of the region.

Let’s take a look at some of the exciting tourist destinations of Mustang:

A Hidden Treasure for Explorers

Mustang is home to thousands of manmade caves and monasteries. Do you know? The region hosts more than 10,000 manmade caves that are older than 1000 years.

As one of the popular centres for Buddhist practises, Mustang and its valleys are well-known for their ambience and were one of the key centers for Tibetan Buddhist monks for advanced tantric and Tummo (a form of Tibetan breathing to generate heat at high altitudes), among other yogic practises.

Though most of those caves have turned empty with no indications of the past, some of the caves still showcase the imprints of Tibetan art, Buddhist teachings, carvings, statues of Indian yogis and sacred scriptures, among others.

The Cool and Exciting Side

Not just for serious explorers, Mustang is a beautiful destination in the Nepal-Tibet border set in the between one of the world’s highest mountain Annapurna range and the Tibetan Plateau.

As a region center for core Tibetan culture, Mustang is also a place for those wishing to take a ride across deep gorges and exciting valleys. An amazing ride from south to north of Mustang along the caravan road, the route shaped by the mountains through Kali Gandaki River, takes you through a never-forgettable experience on a journey towards the awe-striking caves and mountains of the north.

Another interesting trail is from Yara to Muktinath at the base of the Annapurna. This route takes you through beautiful sceneries and villages, breathtaking curvy roads and 4,000-meter mountain passes.

It would be more exciting to join the annual multi-stage 200-km trail running challenge held across these routes that offer an everlasting experience!

Also Read: Nepal, The Perfect Tourism Destination for an Unforgettable Holiday Experience

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