Everest Base Camp ranked first among Asia's 11 tourist spots

Everest Base Camp in Nepal  has been ranked as the first in the list of Asia's 11 major tourist destinations. The ranking has been made by Venture Magazine, which is published by a UK Based Kumuka Worldwide. This is a leading company that has been specialised in worldwide adventure tours for about two and a half decades.

It may be great pride for Nepal that the top destination (Everest Base Camp) precedes other destinations like Lhasa (Tibet), the Taj Mahal (India), Kettuvalom Cruising (India), Benotta Beach (Sri Lanka) and the Great Wall of China . These destinations have been ranked as the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 8th positions  respectively.  

The magazine writes: Asia has a wealth of riches, among them the world's highest mountains, the oldest civilizations and an unsurpassed biodiversity. From such abundance we have picked a team of attractions that should make it on every traveller's wishlist. We can take you to all of them. But how many have you seen?

Listed on UNESCO's Natural Heritage Sites, Everest Base Camp, which is situated at an altitude of about 5,350m. above sea level, boasts of having unparalleled high mountain scenery on earth.

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Peace accord could be signed today Nov 21 06 :
Following six hours of talks between the talks teams of the government and the Maoists, the two sides have claimed that they have narrowed down their differences over the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA), which they said could be signed on Tuesday. "We are very close to finalizing the peace accord. There are very few differences that now remain and which we hope to clear by Tuesday," said Home Minister and government talks coordinator Krishna Sitaula. Likewise, Krishna Mahara, spokesperson of the Maoists and its talks team coordinator, also added that the talks were moving positively. "Maybe tomorrow we will be able to finalize the deal and then we will start negotiating on the interim constitution," he told reporters after marathon discussion with the government side held at Park Village resort in Budhanilkantha on Monday. As per the November 8 agreement, the CPA should have been signed by November 16 itself. But the government and the Maoists failed to honor that time line. They later postponed the time line till November 21, which is today. The CPA, among others, is expected to officially declare the decade-long armed conflict over. It has provisions about human rights protection as well. nepalnews.com

Peace Accord reached ending decade-long conflict :
The seven-party alliance and the CPN-Maoist reached a historic agreement at 1:15 am on November 8, 2006 ending the decade-old conflict and restoring lasting peace through a six-point agreement According to the agreement reached after over 14-hour-long negotiation between the two sides, the SPA and the Maoists agreed that a peace accord will be signed by November 16 and all the Maoist fighters will go to seven cantonment areas by November 21. As per the agreement, the entire Maoists’ arms will be locked up under the single lock up system with UN monitoring devices attached to each of the camps. The equal number of arms of Nepali Army will also be locked up, according to the agreement. Details of the arms management will be carried out in close consultation with the Maoists, the UN and the Nepal Government. The interim constitution will be announced by November 26 and the House of Representatives and the National Assembly will be dissolved once the existing House declares the announcement of the interim legislature and interim constitution. All the people’s governments and people’s courts run by the Maoists will also be announced to have been dissolved along with the announcement of the interim constitution and interim legislature. The interim government will be formed by December 1. Members of the constitutional council will be appointed by the constitutional council headed by the PM and the chief justice and Speaker of the interim legislature as members. The agreement was signed by Maoist chairman Prachanda on behalf of his party. Likewise, on behalf of SPA, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, NC (Democratic) president Sher Bahadur Deuba, People's Front president and deputy Prime Minister Amik Sherchan, general secretary of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP-Anandidevi) Bharat Bimal Yadav, president of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) Narayan Man Bijukchhe, Leftist Front leader CP Mainali have signed the agreement. The summit meeting ended at 1:15 am on Wednesday.

Enjoy now, pay later :

Foreign travelers and tourist are now required to pay the Tourism Service Fee at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport before their departure. Ther tax is a flat Rs. 565 including VAT. Previously, Foreign visitors were charged a Tourism Service fee of 2% that was added to their hotel, restaurant, tour, trekking and rafting bills. The fee is payable at the counter of Nabil Bank at the airport along with the passenger Service Charge (airport tax). The money collected as Tourism Service Fee goes to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).

Nepal halves climbing royalty for Cho-Oyu :

Nepal has reduced the climibng fee for Mt. Cho-Oyu by 50% for five years (upto Novembber 30, 2009). The decrease follows the govenment's efforts to encourage mountaineers to use the Nepal route while scaling the 8,201m. mountain. The Original royalty for Cho-Oyu for a mountaineering expedition consisting of seven members was US$ 10,000. The Golden Jubliee of the first ascent of the peak, the world's sixth highest, was observed last October

(Source: Himalayan Travel Trade Journal - Vol 5 No. 3 - February-March 2005)

Leaders hail "historic" peace accord:

Leaders of various political parties have hailed the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) signed by the government and the Maoists as historic and said it should be translated in practice to restore sustainable peace in the country.

General Secretary of CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal said, "This historic agreement has not only presented an unprecedented example to the world but has also helped fulfill the desires of the people to restore lasting peace and stability."

Similarly, President of Nepali Congress Democratic Sher Bahadur Deuba said sincere implementation of the agreement will open the avenues for boundless opportunities for the country's prosperity.

Reports quoted Deuba as saying, "I request all not to miss the historic opportunity and internalize the agreement in its letter and sprit."

Chairman of Nepal Workers and Peasant Party, one of the constituent of the Seven Party Alliance, Narayan Man Bijukchhe said that if the agreement was implemented thoroughly it will help for making new Nepal as committed by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist chairman Prachanda.

Leader of Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi-devi) and minister for Industry, Commerce and Supply, Hrideyesh Tripathi said that the agreement is the victory of the democratic people of Nepal and added that it is the historic agreement for restructuring of the state.

Stating that the government is committed to implement the agreement, minister Tripathi said that both the sides should not be deviated from the sprit of the agreement.

Rights Activists Krishna Pahadi, Professor Krishna Khanal and Chairman of Nepal Bar Association Sambhu Thapa also stressed for effective implementation of the pact.

The historic CPA formally ended the 11-year old armed conflict that claimed the lives of more than 13,000 Nepalis. nepalnews.com pb Nov 22 06