Nepalgunj Food Fest draws 35,000 visitors

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, Apr. 28: Nepalgunj Street Food and Beverage Festival 2026 attracted 35,000 visitors. The three-day festival, organised in the economic hub of western Nepal, Nepalgunj, was held with the aim of branding Nepalgunj as a city of flavours and has been described as highly successful by the organisers.

The festival, jointly organised by the Hotel Entrepreneurs Association Banke Nepalgunj and HAN Nepalgunj Chapter, had initially set a target of attracting 25,000 to 30,000 visitors. However, exceeding expectations, 35,000 people attended the event.

Bhimlal Kandel, President of the Hotel Entrepreneurs Association, Banke, said, “The food festival we organised for the first time saw a turnout of locals that far exceeded our expectations and greatly encouraged us. It has given us the confidence to continue organising such events in the future.”

Likewise, Diwakar Khanal, President of HAN Banke, said that the festival proved to be highly successful. Although many had requested an extension, it could not be prolonged due to managerial constraints, but he assured that it would be organised regularly in the future.

Keshav Neupane, Co-ordinator of the main organising committee, said that participation beyond expectations made the festival highly successful. He added that visitors enjoyed musical performances as well as a wide variety of food items.

According to the organisers, the festival featured 40 stalls offering hundreds of different quality flavours from various hotels and local traditional cuisines at affordable prices. 

Locals said that the opportunity to enjoy dishes typically served in five-star hotels at much lower prices on the street also added to the attraction of the festival.

National-level artists performed musical programmes throughout all three days of the event.

 The Hotel Entrepreneurs Association said that the three-day street food festival was organised with the objective of promoting tourism, highlighting local cuisine, and encouraging the hotel and restaurant business sector.