नेपाली सन्देश डट कम | १३ पुष २०८१, शनिबार ०४:३३ 
Kathmandu – The International Balloon Festival has officially begun in Pokhara today. The festival was inaugurated with the launch of balloons from the shores of Phewa Lake.
With the aim of branding Nepal’s tourism sector, Balloon Nepal Pvt. Ltd. has organized the International Balloon Festival in Pokhara, investing NPR 70 million.
Starting today, visitors will have the opportunity to experience a range of activities, including hot air balloon rides offering views of mountains such as Machapuchhre and Annapurna, as well as Phewa Lake, Pumdikot Mahadev, Sarangkot, and Mandredhunga. Additionally, tourists will be able to enjoy paragliding and scenic views of the Pokhara Valley and its surroundings.
This is the first time such a balloon festival is being held in Nepal. The Managing Director of the company, Savin Maherjan, shared that the festival has been organized in collaboration with the Pokhara Tourism Council as part of a plan formulated three years ago.
London-based businessman and social worker, Shrestha, has been involved in this initiative since the registration of Balloon Nepal Pvt. Ltd. in 2018. He is also the international coordinator of the festival. Shrestha emphasized the hard work that went into bringing this unique and adventurous activity to Nepal.
The company has been operating balloon rides in Pokhara for the past six years. According to Maherjan, these rides are available from 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM daily.
The company operates two types of balloons: one with the call sign 9N-AMW, which accommodates 8 passengers in addition to the pilot, and the other with the call sign 9N-NVB, which can carry up to 12 passengers excluding the pilot. The balloons are piloted by captains from the UK and Spain.
On the occasion of the festival’s opening, the launch of the VYC M6 vehicle in Nepal was also announced from one of the balloons.
For those interested in flying in a hot air balloon, the fee is NPR 11,000 for Nepali nationals. For tourists from SAARC countries, the fee is USD 120, and for visitors from other countries, it is USD 150.
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