Weather upsets paragliding

By Santosh Subedi,Kaski, Oct. 5: Paragliding in Pokhara has been affected due to bad weather. Tourists arrived visiting Pokhara have been unable to take paragliding flights due to continuous rain for the past few days. 

Krishna Prasad Bhandari, chairman of the Nepal Airsports Association (NAA) Pokhara, said that the weather in Pokhara had not been favourable at the beginning of the paragliding season, directly affecting the business. He added that the flow of tourists had also declined due to the ongoing construction of Pokhara-Mugling road section. 

Bhandari said that in the past at least 40 per cent of tourists visiting Kathmandu used to visit Pokhara. However, due to the construction of the road, paragliding business had been adversely affected since taking flight to Pokhara from Kathmandu is more expensive compared to road transportation. 

He informed that there were 55 paragliding companies in Pokhara. Meanwhile, only 250 of 400 pilots with paragliding license were taking flights at present. He said that the cost was Rs. 12,000 per person for one flight. 

Paragliding flights began in Pokhara in 1996. At present, the fight takes off from Mandredunga and lands on the banks of Phewa Lake. Flights from Sarangkot have also been transferred to Mandredunga. The takeoff point of Mandredunga is at an altitude of 5705 metres above the sea level.