Hop on to a Sajha bus and enjoy free heritage ride

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, May 24: Tourist bus service has come into operation in the Kathmandu Valley from Tuesday. 

The tourist bus service has been launched with the aim of providing a visual overview of the heritage sites of the Kathmandu Valley. 

Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Sudan Kirati and Lalitpur Metropolitan City Mayor Chiribabu Maharjan launched the ‘Heritage Round’ bus service from the Tourist Bus Park of Lalitpur on Tuesday.

While inaugurating the bus service, Minister Kirati said that the operation of the bus service was expected to promote the major heritage areas in the Kathmandu Valley.

Minister Kirati also travelled from Pulchowk to Narayanhiti Palace Museum in the bus.

In the inauguration programme, Lalitpur Metropolitan City Mayor Chiribabu Maharjan said that ‘Heritage Round’ bus service would be helpful for tourism promotion. 

He also said that it should be made a success with everyone’s coordination and cooperation.

Senior Director of Nepal Tourism Board Hikmat Singh Ayer informed that the board had launched the service in collaboration with Sajha Bus for the promotion of tourism in the capital valley. 

The coordination and cooperation with private sector organisations and businessmen are necessary to make the operation of tourist round bus service effective, he said. 

Sushil Pyakurel, Executive Chairman of Sajha Yatayat, informed that two electric buses would be operated daily on the tourist round bus route and based on its success, more buses would be added. 

Executive Officer Dhananjay Regmi of Nepal Tourism Board informed that the heritage assets of the Kathmandu Valley would be shown by two electric buses under the management of the board. 

According to him, ‘Hop on Hop off Bus’ has operated from Tuesday as a heritage tour bus service round the heritage sites of Kathmandu Valley listed in the World Heritage List.

Hop on Hop off Bus service will be operated from the tourist bus park of Lalitpur and pass along Kathmandu Durbar Square, Narayanhiti Durbar Museum, Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhhanath and Swayambhu in the initial phase, he said.

“The buses are operating on trial basis. The service will be expanded in Patan, Bhaktapur and Kirtipur areas after we add new buses,” he said.

The heritage bus service will be free for a week and it will charge fares after a week fixing the rates, he added. 

According to the Nepal Tourism Board, the heritage round bus will run from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.