Kathmandu: The Embassy of Nepal in India marked International Meditation Day 2025 by hosting a special session featuring distinguished meditation teachers from Nepal’s Jeevan Vigyan and India’s Ishwariya Vishwavidyalaya.

Embassy staff and Indian friends actively participated in the event, engaging in guided meditation sessions that highlighted the benefits of mindfulness and inner peace. The occasion was described as both meaningful and uplifting, fostering a spirit of harmony and well-being among attendees.

Kathmandu: The three-day Cross-Border Tourism Conclave kicked off in Nepalgunj on December 19, aiming to facilitate tourism movement between Nepal and India and increase the arrival of Indian tourists. The event is organized by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and coordinated by the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) Banke Chapter, bringing together tourism professionals, policymakers, security agencies, and stakeholders from both countries.

The conclave was inaugurated by Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City Mayor Prashant Bista, who highlighted Nepalgunj’s importance in religious tourism and stressed the need for coordinated efforts by local authorities, the private sector, and central bodies to attract Indian tourists.

The first panel discussion focused on strengthening cross-border tourism connectivity. Participants, including NTB CEO Deepak Raj Joshi, former Nepalgunj mayor Dhawal Shamsher Rana, Banke Superintendent of Police Angur GC, and former NATTA Banke chairman Shriram Sigdel, discussed challenges such as unnecessary restrictions, lengthy security checks, and other obstacles discouraging tourists. The panel emphasized that Nepalgunj is not just a transit city but a gateway to Karnali and the Far West, highlighting its potential as a tourism hub.

Security officials, led by SP Angur GC, acknowledged border challenges and committed to making police services more tourist-friendly, including plans to digitize border security checks.

NTB CEO Deepak Raj Joshi noted the region’s vast tourism potential, particularly in wedding tourism, wellness, and wildlife tourism, and highlighted improvements in the payment system for tourists. Shriram Sigdel proposed direct Delhi–Nepalgunj flights and emphasized resolving tourism obstacles through cross-border cooperation. Former mayor Dhawal Shumsher Rana underlined easing border issues and promoting Nepalgunj’s tourism potential as key priorities.

Indian tour operators also shared concerns, including overcharging for flights and the need to overcome perceptions of Nepal from the Indian side. Participants suggested developing religious tourism circuits like Pashupatinath–Kedarnath, Janakpur–Ayodhya, and Lumbini–Bodh Gaya to boost tourism.

The conclave features 32 stalls, a B2B session, policy discussions, cultural programs, and a jungle safari in Banke National Park. NATTA Banke Chapter President Dilliraj Regmi described the conclave as an effective platform to promote cross-border tourism and strengthen Nepal–India tourism cooperation.

Kathmandu: A discussion meeting was held at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation involving the Joint Secretary of the Ministry, the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), and a team led by Veronique Lorenzo, Ambassador of the European Union to Nepal.

The meeting focused on issues related to Nepal’s aviation security and air safety, as well as ways to strengthen cooperation in the aviation sector.

The EU Delegation to Nepal said it held a constructive exchange with Mr. Mukesh Dangol, Acting Director General of CAAN, and reaffirmed its readiness to work together on a shared commitment to air safety and support for Nepal’s aviation sector.

Kathmandu: A joint security patrol has begun in the Korala area along the Nepal–China border in Mustang, which borders China’s Tibet Autonomous Region.

Despite extreme cold conditions, security personnel from both countries have regularized the joint patrol. DSP Bheshraj Giri, Chief of the Armed Police Force (APF) 33 Number Company Headquarters in Jomsom, said the patrol aims to prevent cross-border crimes such as smuggling, poaching and other activities that could threaten border security.

He said the joint patrol, which started on Friday, will continue throughout the winter season. The patrol focuses on the Korala border areas, covering border pillars numbered 21, 22, 23 and 24 towards Dolpa.

Security personnel from the Korala-based APF Border Outpost (BOP) and their Chinese counterparts are participating in the patrol. The joint team includes 10 APF personnel led by Inspector Arun Bhandari and five security personnel from the Chinese side.

Along the Nepal–China border, pillars 18 to 23 fall within Mustang, while pillars 25 to 33 are located in Manang district. Border pillar number 14 is designated as a no-man’s land and serves as a transit point.

(RSS)

Kathmandu: Ken Shimizu, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Representative for Bhutan and Nepal, met Madhav Prasad Chaulagain, Minister for Forests and Environment, on December 19.

The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration between the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Ministry of Forests and Environment on forest governance, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and ecosystem restoration in Nepal.