With the snow-capped Himalayan peaks as a backdrop, the sky above Pokhara changed into a vibrantly coloured canvas for the nation’s first scorching air balloon pageant.
Tourism is a crucial income for Nepal, which welcomed greater than 1,000,000 overseas guests this 12 months following a post-pandemic restoration, and investments are being made in inns and airports to serve vacationers.
“We felt we must always convey a balloon pageant like this to Nepal,” mentioned occasion organizer Sabin Maharjan.
Sizzling air balloons from greater than 10 nations participated within the pageant.
“A trip right here may be very thrilling as you possibly can see mountains, hills and lakes,” Maharjan added. “All passengers inform us they’re very pleased – a pageant like this may increase our tourism.”
The balloons created a mesmerizing show towards the beautiful view of the snow-capped Annapurna vary.
“It’s spectacular,” mentioned American balloon pilot Derek Hamcock, 67. “As quickly as you recover from the little mountain vary right here you see all of the Himalayas. Unbelievable, each time you see them it is unbelievable.”
“You by no means know the place you’re going,” mentioned Diego Criado del Rey, 29, a balloon pilot from Spain. “So it is principally you and nature – not preventing, however being collectively. You go the place nature tells you.”
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has issued a warning for the skies of Pokhara for a interval of 9 days to permit balloon flights.
