While in Bhaktapur ...
Bhaktapur, needless to say, is one of the most popular tourist destinations for tourist who prefer to stay in a peaceful, clean environment and who like to experience and be a part of the Newari culture which has been handed down since the 17th century.
Due to insufficient information dissemination, more that 85% tourists visiting Bhaktapur come for a day or half day sight seeing only. Actually, for tourists who have time, Bhaktapur has so much to offer that they can stay here for weeks without being bored even for a single moment. Apart from observing and admiring the rich art and architecture of the ancient city, here once can actually observe, experience and be a part of the local traditional culture. Walk around the city early in the mornings to notice flocks of devotees visiting temples and shrines in a very spiritual way. Walk around the city in the evenings to enchant oneself with varieties of soothing musical performances, unique form of meditational orchestra that are regularly performed around temples in almost every squares and streets.
For those who wish to see more of the ancient cultural city, Thimi is the next place to visit. About 5 km towards Kathmandu from Bhaktapur. Thimi, in popular for pottery work, medieval life style and is the vegetable garden of the valley.
Nature lovers and adventure travellers are recommended to go bird watching at Suryavinayak jungle, Shipadole. More than 99 different species of resident and migrating birds have been spotted here. Innumerable variety of flora with least human intervention can be observed in this natural jungle area. City leads to a beautiful height, from where the whole valley and the breath taking Himalayan mountain ranges can be viewed in the North. Even a night camping at this height could be arranged and it could be an experience of a kind.
Walk to Changunarayan and then Sankhu or to Nagarkot the most popular hill station – or getting there on a mountain Bike, travelling from Nagarkot to Dhulikhel another natural scenic sport – along the ridge of the hills, trip to Panauti and Namobuddha, trip beyond Nagarkot, visiting villagers, visiting schools and watch the small students, walking to Mohan Manjushree temple, observing farmers, potters, craftsmen, venders all different lifestyles and somany more things to do, while being in Bhaktapur as a tourist. Be there !
BTDC contributed for the 4th Street Festival in pokhara
Restaurant and Bar Association – Pokhara Chapter organized the 4th Street festival at lake side, Pokhara on the occasion of the New Year 2003. The event which was promoted by Nepal Tourism Board was also supported by Bhaktapur Tourism Development Committee.
The extravaganza included number of events like food festival, ethnic cultural dances, live band, tourist race, boat race, paragliding display, avia flying display, handicraft exhibition etc. Almost all of the lakeside Pokhara was colourfully decorated. The crowd of visitors that visited the festival was beyond the organizer’s expectation.
A traditional newar dhime baja played by team of eight ladies members on their
Newah traditional dress – Haku Patasi dominated the festival. This dhime performance was the contribution of Bhaktapur Tourism Development Committee as a co-operative support to the organizers. Intention of BTDC in providing the support was to promote Bhaktapur through its unique traditional culture. It was indeed a successful participation.
A team of BTDC members under the leadership of Mr. Chudamani B. Kayastha represented at the event.
Bicycle Rally Hosted by btdc
4th Jan 2003, Saturday – World Cyclist Foundation of Nepal organized a 32.5 km Valley Bicycle rally with a theme “Let not our happiness be taken away from us”. A well known energetic world cyclist Mr. Pusker Shah lead the rally, in which 92 other cyclists participated including the youngest Mt. Everest climber Mr. Temba Chiring Sherpa.
Vice President of BTDC Mr. Kedar Raj Subadi and secretary Mr. Chudamani Kayastha with other committee members honoured the participants of the rally at Durbar Square, in a typical
newah traditions by offering tika, garlands and local yoghurt-king curd . A gesture to express our belief “guests are as gods for us”.
World Tourism Day 2002 Celebrated
27th September 2002, on the occasion of the World Tourism Day, Bhaktapur Tourism Development Committee organized heterogeneous programmes, jointly with Bhaktapur Municipality, Madhypur Thimi Municipality and Bhaktapur District Development Committee. The first tourists who arrived in Bhaktapur were offered free entrance tickets and welcomed by offering garlands and special gifts.They were also offered with vouchures for free accommodations and lunch at different hotels in Bhaktapur. A procession with traditional music and cultural dance groups accompanied by the tourists were taken around the city from Durbar Square to Dattatraya Square on the occasion.
On the same day, an open bicycle race was also organized by Bhaktapur Tourism Development Committee in co-operation with Bhaktapur District Development Committee, Bhaktapur Municipality and Madhyapur Thimi Municipality for the first time in Bhaktpaur. An open race of 6km started from the Durbar Square of Madhyapur Thimi and ended at Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Among 34 participants Mr. Rajendra Khadka from Nepal Mountain Bike Association stood first. Similarly, Sanjeev Thapa and Prithivi Thapa got second and third position respectively. Chief Guest – Former Parliamentarian Mr. Narayan Man Bijukchhen awarded the winners with Shields and Certificates. During the prize distribution ceremony the Chief Guest stressed the importance of such activities for the promotion of tourism in Bhaktapur. President of Bhaktapur Tourism Development Committee Mr. Neel Krishna Tamrakar confirmed that organizing such kinds of sports activities could be a way of promoting sports tourism in Bhaktapur and hence he further stressed on continuation of such event.
Himalayan Mountain Bike 2002 Series hosted
25th Nov 2002, Bhaktapur Tourism Development Committee hosted the Closing Ceremony & Gala Award Distribution of the third Siemens Actions Asia Himalayan Mountain Bike Race Series – 2002. The three days long race was inaugurated by Hon. Minister of State for culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Mr. Rabi Bhakta Shrestha with a colourful parade at Thamel on the 22nd November.
Athlets from 15 countries participated the championship that took along the route Sundarija – Sankhu – Nagarkot – Bhaktapur. The winner of the open men’s category, Mr. Werner Wagener from Germany; open women’s category, Verena Stitzinger from Germany & the other winners were awarded at the special function held at Durbar Square of Bhaktapur. On the Gala Award Night BTDC hosted and coordinated the closing and award distribution ceremony that included typical Bhaktapurian cultural programmes. The event was to be covered by different national and international media networks like National Geographic, Ten Sports, ESPN, Star Sports, BBC and number of Asian and Western media networks. BTDC hopes to have positive contribution of this programme in promoting Bhaktapur as a cultural capital (a hidden paradise) through out the world.
Food Festival Organized
23rd Aug 2002, in order to promote Bhaktapur as the ultimate destination for its ancient old culture, tradition and customs – Bhaktapur Tourism Development Committee organized Bhaktapur Gai Jatra Carnival and Food Festival at the premises of Shree Padma high school, Durbar Square Bhaktapur. Gaijatra (cow festival), the festival for the deads is a festival celebrated though out the country in different ways. It is significantly different and more exciting it is celebrated in the form of a carnival processions – in Bhaktapur. Many international and domestic tourists visit our city to observe this festival. In order to facilitate these visitors, to promote this festival more and to provide additional attractions for people to visit Bhaktapur during ‘Gai Jatra’, BTDC organized the food festival where hygenic food was served along with entertainment games for children and adults.
The nooks and corners of Bhaktpaur were crowded with Bostarious music and cultural dances. While people were also enjoying the 22 food stalls of
Newah and other dishes Wo, Chatamari, Yomari, Same Baji, continental Food and European delicacies like Italian Pizza & Swiss Ice cream on top of 10 different games parlors. Eating & drinking competitions were conducted continuously for the whole day which kept the environment of the venue exciting.
Free entry, Free Face painting, Fishing at Siddha Pokhari, Boating at Guhya Pokhari were some other attractions of the food festival.
The inflow of the visitors were out the expectation – a very very encouraging participation. Such events will surely add fuel to the tourism promotion in Bhaktapur.
Chief Executive Officer of Nepali Tourism Board Mr. Pradeep Raj Pandya inaugurated the food festival a midst local VIPs and guests. The event was coordinated by Mr. Nawal K. Rajbhandari. A big hand for him. The event was promoted by NTB and Spacetime Publications Pvt. Ltd. separately.
Bhaktapur Night
As an annual event, Bhaktapur Tourism Development Committee organized – Bhaktapur Night – Deepawali special – for the second time on 4th November 2002 with the theme “The cultural event to explore and experience Bhaktapur.” The event was promoted by Nepal Tourism Board and supported by Bhaktapur Municipality as usual. The main concern of the grand event was to promote night tourism in Bhaktapur and preserve, expose and promote age old
Newah traditions, art and cultural richness. The programme was participated by over two hundred guests including 92 international tourists.
On the occasion, Bhaktapur an ancient town was decorated as a new bride. Being on the Deepawali festival day (The festival of lights) streets and houses were full of butter lamps at each and every nooks and corners of the city. Guests were garlanded and welcomed at Bharbacho white gate and roamed through Nasamana, Pottery Squae, Taumadhi Square and finally rounded up at Durbar Square.
Newah traditional activities like – mat weaving, pottery making, traditional distillery process, beaten rice preparation, handloom, etc were demonstrated live at pottery square.
The main event occurred at Durbar Square where all the guests were seated and served with
newah wine and snacks in a traditional ways. Tourists took pleasure, in eating and watching ancient old
newah cultural dances and life style which lasted for over an hour. Finally, at the end, “Jho-Bhoye” – a typical
newah dinner was served to the guests with all the local delicacies in Newah style. Everyone enjoyed the whole event and parised the preparations made by BTDC – we will have this event again in 2003 with much improvements of course. Be there !
Interaction Programme
|
