Submit your Article

A dry landslide has obstructed the Khandbari-Kimathanka road section of the Koshi Highway this morning.

Chairperson of Bhotkhola Rural Municipality, Wangchhedar Bhote, shared that the dry landslide took place at Dhigdanda section.

The Dhigdanda section lies 109 kilometers away from Khandbari.

The landslide has buried around 30 meters of road on that section.

Vehicles coming towards Bhotkhola Khandbari and heading to various destinations from Khandbari have been stranded following the dry landslide.

The tri-nation tourism expo, 'Nepal, India and China Expo (NICE)-2025', has kicked off for the first time in Pokhara from today.

The expo is organized with an objective of bringing in a maximum number of tourists from neighboring countries—India and China.

There is a participation of more than 600 people including 80 buyers, 70 sellers of the tourism sector and 75 international representatives in the three-day event.

Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter organized the expo in collaboration with Nepal Tourism Board, Pokhara Tourism Council and other government and private sector partners and stakeholders.

It is believed that the exposition would bring together tourism and hospitality stakeholder organizations from public and private sectors of the three nations onto a single platform to facilitate networking and business opportunities along with deep industry insights and inspirational experiences.

Pokhara is becoming the destination for nature lovers as well as those enjoying adventure sports. According to PATA Nepal, the three-day event is organized under the slogan 'NICE for MICE and More' with the aim of promoting Pokhara as the attractive destination for other events too (meetings, conferences, marriage ceremony, other functions and festivals).

PATA Nepal Chapter Chief Executive Officer, Suresh Singh Budal, shared that the expo has been organized with an objective of promoting Nepal's tourism potential and integrated business opportunity in India and China.

On the second day of the event, tourism experts will exchange knowledge on the issues including 'Visa Destination Insights: Supporting the Tourism Ecosystem to Sustainable Hospitality from Construction to Operation'.

Similarly, different sessions--B2B exhibition, business meeting and network expansion would also be organized on the same day. It is expected that the expo would support tourism and integrated trade promotion.

Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City, Dhan Raj Acharya, said gathering of renowned travel agencies of Nepal, China and India, managing the travel of around 200 million tourists for the first time in the context of Pokhara Visit Year 2025, tour operators, tourism experts and international representatives of organizers in Pokhara is an important and historical moment.

He expressed the belief that the international expo would play a significant role in inviting a large number of tourists to Nepal in future, adding this event would further strengthen tourism, business and cultural relations among Nepal, India and China.

Support and participation of all is indispensable to strengthen trade, tourism and partnership, argued Mayor Acharya.

Likewise, Chairperson of Pokhara Tourism Council, Taranath Pahari, shared that the expo would have special importance in tourism promotion of Pokhara which would further highlight the tourism potential of Pokhara.

Young writer Mani Niraula has been awarded the ‘Yog-Hari Poudel Memorial New Creator Talent Award 2025,’ presented by Nawa Sarjak Sahitya Chautari Nepal, Hetauda. The award was conferred during the ‘Second National New Creator Festival and First Central Convention 2025’ in Hetauda, recognizing Niraula as the provincial talent awardee from Koshi.  

Former Chief Minister of Bagmati Province, Dormani Poudel, and award founder, literary figure Prabha Poudel, honored Niraula with a ceremonial scarf, cash prize, and certificate. The Chautari stated that Niraula received the award for showcasing remarkable literary talent at a young age through his published works.  

Prabha Poudel established the award in memory of her grandparents.  

During the event, emerging writers from all seven provinces were honored in various literary categories. Additionally, veteran writer Dr Chudamani Bandhu was presented with the ‘Loknath Neupane Memorial Children’s Literature Award 2081.’  

Niraula made his literary debut with the poetry collection ‘Pahilo Paila’ in 2077 BS and recently released his second book, the novel ‘Gupta Prem’.

Sadhus from various parts of Nepal and India have started arriving at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu to observe Maha Shivaratri festival.

The festival falls on February 26 this year.

The Pashupati Area Development Trust has started decorating the Pashupatinath Temple area for the festival.

Lately, the number of sadhus from various parts of Nepal and India to observe the festival has been increasing.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called a Cabinet meeting on Monday.

The Prime Minister’s Secretariat informed that the meeting has been called at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar at 6 pm.

Though the meeting is regular, a decision can be made on some issues, a minister said.

The federal, provincial and local levels are to establish coordination in the implementation of the National Urban Policy 2081 BS and the Solid Waste Management National Policy 2079 BS.

A meeting of the Urban Development Committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Urban Development Minister, Prakash Man Singh, on Sunday took the decision to this effect.

Ministers from all the seven provincial governments, mayors of municipalities and chairpersons of the rural municipalities, the chairperson of the Kathmandu Valley Mayors' Forum, and heads of the departments under the Ministry of Urban Development were present in the meeting.

The meeting discussed the Bill Related to the High-powered Bagmati Civilization Conservation and Development Committee, the Bill Prepared for Amending the Town Development Fund Act, 2053 BS, the Bill Designed to Amend and Consolidate the Laws Related to Urban Development.

DPM and Urban Development Minister Singh on the occasion underscored on deepening the coordination and interrelations among the three tiers of the government to strengthen federalism.

This is the second meeting of the Urban Development Committee. Its first meeting was held on February 28, 2024.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 500 per tola in the domestic market on Monday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 170, 800 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 170, 300 per tola on Sunday.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 15 and is being traded at Rs 1, 985 per tola today.

Snowfall occurred in Dhorpatan for the first time this year.

After a long spell of drought, snowfall along with rain took place here since Sunday evening. Coldness has increased in the region following the snowfall.

The farmers turned euphoric with the hope that the crops will go better after the snowfall.

Ranger at Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Binod BK informed that Dhorpatan Valley and surrounding areas have turned whitish due to snowfall.

Though the weather was worsening since last Friday, the snow with rain occurred only on Sunday evening, BK said.

Prem Bahadur Gharti Magar, a local of Dhorpatan municipality-9, said that it has become difficult to feed horses and mules due to snowfall.

Gharti also said that the snowfall along with rain will improve the crops.

He said, "There was drought for a long time which caused plants to dry up”.