NEWS: Nepal's alternative to Goa -- Pokhara

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Nepal's alternative to Goa - Pokhara

By Sudeshna Sarkar, Indo-Asian News Service

Kathmandu, Dec 27 (IANS) Taking a leaf out of the Indian state of Goa, Nepal
is attempting to project Pokhara as the hottest destination for travel
junkies.

A unit of the Restaurant and Bar Association of Nepal (REBAN) along with the
Nepal Tourism Board has started the Pokhara campaign.

Patterned on the carnivals of Goa, street festivals are planned in Pokhara,
a five-hour drive from Kathmandu.

The Annapurna mountain range, serene waterfalls and caves are the major
attractions of Pokhara. It is also the starting point for many of Nepal's
trekking and rafting destinations.

Considered to be safer and warmer than the capital Kathmandu, Pokhara boasts
of a divine and long nightlife.

"We've been receiving complaints from tourists that Goa is getting too
crowded and too expensive," said Prozol B. Shrestha, coordinator of the
three-day festival that will commence Monday.

"Besides, during the carnival time in Goa you have to book hotels two months
in advance.

"We thought, if Goa can be a festival destination, so can Pokhara. Here we
are with our very own carnival that has ethnic dances, live bands, contests,
local and international cuisine and fun galore."

But, unlike Goa, where prices peak during festivities, Pokhara is planning
to dish out special discounts to attract tourists.

The street festival hopes to offer a 25 percent discount on food, drinks,
handicrafts and hotels.

An added incentive for adventure lovers is a 30 percent discount on
paragliding and ultra flights - flights in light, single-engine aircraft.

The December-January period tends to be quiet in this Himalayan kingdom with
a slump in the number of tourists. The situation has been aggravated by the
spectre of insurgency hanging over the country for over six years.

With the Maoist guerrillas having called a strike in Kathmandu Sunday and
Monday, the festivities would be affected in the valley.

Kathmandu's loss would be Pokhara's gain. "We hope people will decide to
spend the New Year eve in Pokhara," said Shrestha.

"It may not be good for the country but it certainly is a big mileage for
our festival. Pokhara is considered one of the safest places in the kingdom.
We've never had any violence.

"Last time, we had an unprecedented turnout of over 100,000 people. This
time too we hope it would be the party of a life-time."

--Indo-Asian News Service

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