Pokhara set to host Nepal Open Paragliding Championship

By Phadindra Adhikari,Lekhnath, Mar. 19: Following Sunday’s snowfall, the weather has cleared and the mountains, including Annapurna and Machhapuchhre, are now blanketed in white. Against this backdrop, Pokhara is preparing to host another festival this month, the Nepal Open Paragliding Championship.

The competition, beginning on Thursday, will see participants fly above the city, taking in views of Fewa Lake below and the snow-capped peaks above. 

Competitors will take off from Toripani, Pokhara-18, and land at Pame. Organisers have ensured that regular paragliding flights will continue uninterrupted during the event.

Now in its 21st edition, the championship will run until Saturday, with around 100 participants from seven countries competing in the accuracy category.

Anil KC, chairman of the Nepal Air Sports Association (NAA), said the event would boost recreational activities and promote adventure sports tourism. 

He added that the recent resumption of solo flights has raised hopes that the paragliding sector will return to its previous level.

“Currently, there are around 100 flights per day from Salakhala. We expect the same level of enthusiasm to return now that solo flights are permitted and operations can resume from the original location,” he said. 

Flights previously operated from Toripani were relocated after Pokhara International Airport opened in 2023.

Solo flights, suspended following the death of pilot Nishim Thapa during the 9th National Games in Pokhara, resumed seven months ago. Competition coordinator Sunil Bahadur Bhattarai confirmed that participants selected from this championship would qualify for national and international events.

Pilots have welcomed the return of the competition after a five-year hiatus. Bimal Pahari believes the event will help promote Pokhara and Nepal. “Nepal is one of the best destinations in the world for paragliding,” he said. “This competition will showcase that and attract both domestic and international tourists.”

Maniraj Lamichhane, head of the Nepal Tourism Board’s Gandaki Province Office, described Pokhara as a “city of events”. He added: “It is also a hub for adventure sports. 

This competition offers an opportunity to experience paragliding while enjoying views of the lake and the mountains.”

The championship will feature three categories: men’s accuracy, women’s accuracy and team events. 

The men’s winner will receive Rs 150,000, with Rs 100,000 and Rs 50,000 awarded to second and third place respectively. 

In the women’s category, the winner will receive Rs 75,000, followed by Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000. Team winners will receive Rs 75,000, with Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 for second and third place. The total cost of the competition is estimated at Rs 3 million.

Organisers said participants would be briefed on wind direction, temperature, thermal activity and potential risks. 

Bhattarai stressed that particular attention had been paid to weather conditions and risk assessment, as storms are common in Pokhara during March and April. 

Emergency rescue teams- including volunteers, the Armed Police Force and Nepal Army motorboats- will be stationed at the venue with the necessary equipment. Championship security coordinator Yogesh Bhattarai confirmed that pilots would be instructed on safety measures based on forecasts.

Paragliding has become a defining feature of Pokhara, offering the chance to soar alongside the mountains while observing the Seti River gorge, lakes and the city’s scenic beauty. There are currently 53 paragliding companies operating in Pokhara, with 416 registered pilots, of whom 265 are active.