By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Feb : 11 In a bid to highlight a variety of tourist attractions the Okhaldhunga district offers, a 42-km Khiji Demba Ultra Marathon 2020 is going to be organised in Khiji Demba Rural Municipality of the district on March 2.

Okhaldhunga Tourism Development Committee (OTDC), in collaboration with Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), is holding the sporting event. This will be the second edition of the marathon.

According to the organisers, a new route has been arranged within Khiji Demba Rural Municipality for the marathon this year.

The organisers have also announced prizes for the winners. The participant securing the first position will get Rs. 70,000. The second and third winners will receive Rs. 55,000 and Rs. 40,000, respectively.

Last year, a half marathon was organised. Starting from Pikey Peak of the southern part of Solukhumbu district, the marathon concluded at Khiji Phalante. The route covered Lhamje Hill, Theledemba Hill and Khiji Demba.

Tourism entrepreneur and President of OTDC Ngawa Ngima Sherpa hoped that the sporting event would help promote Khiji Demba and surrounding areas as a preferred destination for trekkers, other nature lovers and those interested in exploring the culture of different communities.

Sherpa, while speaking at a press conference organised on Sunday in Kathmandu, said that Khiji Demba, Thale Demba, Pikey Peak and neighbouring areas are still suitable for camping treks.

“Another objective of the event is to develop more international marathon runners,” he said.

Member of the Federal Parliament Yagya Raj Sunuwar said efforts were underway to develop the Chandeshwari Airport, located at Khiji Demba Rural Municipality-3 into a transit airport to link

Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Phaplu and Lukla.

Sunuwar said that Okhaldhunga district had witnessed rapid infrastructure development, including roads, over the years.

“We are confident that the district will be able to welcome more foreign as well as domestic tourists once the Chandeshwari Airport is in full operation,” he added.

About two months ago, the airport was inaugurated by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai.

The district is a melting pot of different ethnic communities such as Sherpas, Gurungs, Tamangs, Rais and Sunuwars, and Brahmins and Kshetris.

Appreciating the initiative taken by OTDC to promote the district as a tourist destination, former lawmaker Ram Hari Khatiwada said that the district would benefit from tourism in the future.