Paragliding in Pokhara expected to get a lease of life with new decision

Pokhara, May 22: The paragliding business, which has been affected by the Pokhara International Airport, has gradually started to regain its activity lately.

The collaboration between the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and the Nepal Airsports Association (NAA) to extend the paragliding time to one and a half hours and the decision to land in Kharpoudi, which has been done before, has raised hopes.

Businessmen and paragliders expect that the decision to extend the landing time in the old location will establish Pokhara as a world-class paragliding destination.

After the Pokhara International Airport became operational, paragliding flights from Sarangkot and Toripani were transferred to Mandredhunga due to security reasons. The paragliding had been landing in Pame.

For this reason, the paragliding business here had became seemingly stagnant while also adding challenges for the entrepreneurs.

Now, it has been decided that the takeoff will take place from Saragadkot Toripani to Bahakot and landing at the previous location at Khapaudi (End of Lake), according to NAA president Anil KC said.

"Before, paragliding business faced challenging times and problems in operation. The allure of Pokhara's sky had disappeared along with the operation of the international airport. It was difficult for us to run the business, and more than 150 parapilots were displaced," he said.

According to KC, the NAA President, the paragliding service will now operate from 11am to 4:30 pm.

Along with this, The NAA President stated that it provides additional time for tourists and pilots to enjoy the scenic views of Fewa Lake and the Annapurna mountain range.

"This time extension will play an important role in increasing the number of flights and making the tourist experience even more exciting," he added.

Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City, Dhanraj Acharya, expressed confidence that this decision, made in the context of the ongoing Pokhara Visit Year 2025, will further support adventure activities in Pokhara.

"This has been a positive effort and it will add momentum to Pokhara's tourism; albeit late, the demands of the business community have been addressed," he said adding that the landing place for the paragliders at the previous landing site and the time extension  will attract more adventure tourists. This will further enhance Pokhara's tourism industry.

NAA President KC informed that plans have also been made to operate solo paragliding and organize an international paragliding competition in the coming days. 

Yogendra Kunwar, the head of air traffic control at Pokhara International Airport, stated that landing rights have been granted at old sites in collaboration with CAAN for sustainable tourism.

"Safety is the first priority. All companies and pilots must adhere to strict safety standards to provide a safe experience for tourists," he emphasized. (RSS)