By Shristi Kafle

December 24, Pokhara-- The first International Balloon Festival kicked off in Nepal’s tourism capital Pokhara on Tuesday with stunning aerial display of colorful hot air balloons over the city’s central attraction Phewa Lake. 

The spectacular event is featuring around 30 balloons from around the world with the participation of international pilots. On the first morning, the perfect wind conditions allowed for flights over the stunning lake and Himalayan ranges in the background, offering a magical experience for attendees.

The scene captivated locals and visitors with the unique shapes and themes of giant balloons flying at the same time, a rare sight both in the city and the country. 

Inaugurating the festival, Chief Minister of Gandaki Province Surendra Raj Pandey remarked that the event is instrumental for tourism development and to boost the local economy. Stating that Gandaki Province has immense possibilities for adventure tourism, the minister shared that he is always ready to extend all sort of support to promote such activities. 

Organized by Balloon Nepal Pvt. Ltd, the nine-day long event is taking place at the scenic Pame area of Pokhara, covering a 3-kilometer stretch from Lauruk area to Changkpur. The festival aims to promote tourism in Pokhara and Nepal at the international level. 

“This is a milestone in Nepal’s adventure tourism, particularly in post-pandemic scenario, as two dozen balloons will soar high over the period of 9 days on the sky of Pokhara. With this, we aim to take the adventure tourism of Nepal to a new height,” Sabin Maharjan, Organizer of Intl Balloon Festival, shared with APD from the site.

During the 40-minute flight, a balloon can offer a panoramic view of the Pokhara valley, including the majestic snow-capped ranges of Mt Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, and Dhaulagiri. 

Maharjan is of view that among others, the view of stunning sunrise and sunset is a major attraction for the tourists followed by balloon glows in the night. He further shared that the festival not only would attract domestic but also the foreign tourists revamping Nepal’s tourism sector to boost the economy. 

The festival has brought together companies from across the globe, including participants from the USA, Spain, Lithuania, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Brazil, South Korea, Malaysia and UK.

“The scenery is absolutely magnificent in Pokhara, and the wind is calm which is perfect for ballooning,” Peter Dunteall, a 66-year-old pilot from Australia told APD. Peter, who started ballooning in 1989, have flown in almost 15 countries. “The temperature here is predictable and people are warm which makes the flight more fun,” he further added.

Besides the balloon ride, the festival has also featured a vibrant lineup of musical performances by top Nepali artists, stalls, games, food fiesta among others to attract the tourists.

This is the first time for Balloon Nepal, which has been operating commercial balloon flights in Pokhara since 2018, to host such international event. 

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)