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The Sayapatri Homestay has been opened in Beni municipality-9 targeting domestic and foreign tourists. With the financial and technical support of an organization called Eco Himal, the homestay has been opened in five houses in the first phase, with a capacity to accommodate 21 people. Sita Khatri, the chairperson of the Sayapatri Community Homestay Group, said that it will expand further in the village with the influx of tourists. Chairperson Khatri said that guests coming to the homestay will be welcomed and original art and culture will be displayed, as well as local products will be promoted as gifts and for sale.

Before the homestay was opened, the villagers were trained to prepare food for the guests by visiting places where Eco Himalaya Kathmandu has excellent homestay programs. Financial assistance of Rs 200,000 was provided to the homestay group and Rs 70,000 to five houses. Narayan Dhakal, the director of Eco Himalaya, said that the structure has been prepared as per the standards of the homestay program.

Beni Municipality Mayor Surat KC said that the operation of homestays in tourist spots within Beni Municipality will help in tourism development. He said that to attract tourists to tourist spots, the first thing to do is to prepare their accommodation and food infrastructure. He believed that the operation of homestays would contribute to the tourism development of Toripani village. He also said that the municipality would provide necessary support for the operation of homestays.

Prof Kurt Luger, Chairperson of Eco Himal Austria, said that tourism development is important for the sustainable development of Nepal. He said that since agricultural production is the main occupation for the development of Nepal and tourism is the second most important occupation, tourism should be developed along with nature conservation.

At the program, TAN Gandaki Chairperson Krishna Prasal Acharya said that the homestay program would be effective for rural tourism development. Acharya said that natural beauty, cultural diversity, as well as being able to offer local products to guests are important for sustainable tourism development. TAN Gandaki also expressed a commitment to support the promotion of tourism in homestays. At the program, Myagdi Chief District Officer Badri Prasad Tiwari, Ward Chairperson Chakra KC and others said that operating homestays would be important for rural tourism development.

Toripani village, located 9 kilometers north of Beni Bazaar, can be reached in 30 minutes by vehicle. From Toripani village, located at an altitude of 1,750 meters above sea level, one can observe the beauty of Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri and other mountains. The cultural diversity here, the structure of the Baise Chaubise Kalin state at the head of Toripani village are attractions for tourists. Dholthan, the then capital of the historical Parbat Ravya, can be used to learn about history. The base camp of the world’s seventh highest mountain, Dhaulagiri, and the Dhaulagiri Century Trek are attractive trekking routes for tourists.

Vegetable farming, poultry farming and animal husbandry are being carried out to provide local organic products to domestic and foreign tourists. Toripani village is a famous village for sichuan pepper production that is sold worth millions of rupees every year. The pepper was previously sold for Rs 300 per kilo, and is now being sold for Rs 3,000.

Rashmi Chokhal, a local homestay operator, said that when domestic tourists return from their homestays, they can bring the paper along with hemp seed, soybeans, ghee and vegetables as gifts, which is being produced organically  in the village. Beni Municipality-9 Toripani village is famous for sichuan pepper production.

Cases of tourist deaths are increasing in the high Himalayan region due to avalanches during trekking.

Several fatalities have been reported in the Manang area, where trekkers ascend rapidly from low-altitude cities such as Kathmandu and Pokhara.

The traditional 21-day Annapurna Circuit trek has been shortened to about a week because of the road network.

However, this rapid ascent has increased the risk of avalanches and related deaths. Rabin Kadariya, head of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), advised against moving directly from low to high altitudes, stressing that ACAP has been issuing notices and alerts to raise awareness among trekkers.

According to ACAP, 18 tourists died in the region during the fiscal year 2025/26, including six Nepalis, eight Indians, one American, one Korean, one German, and one Swiss. In 2023/24, 20 tourists lost their lives, including five Nepalis, 11 Indians, one British, two Malaysians, and one Ukrainian. Data shows Indian tourists have accounted for the highest number of fatalities.

Experts point out that Indian pilgrims, in particular, face health risks as they climb directly to altitudes of around 3,700 meters for religious purposes. Gandaki Provincial Assembly member Bikal Sherchan said he would raise the issue at the policy level, adding that awareness materials should be placed along the Annapurna Circuit to inform trekkers of the risks.

On Wednesday, a discussion was held in Pokhara on ensuring tourist safety in high-altitude areas, particularly against altitude sickness. The program was organized by Mustang-based Gharpajhong Rural Municipality in coordination with the Hotel Association Pokhara Nepal.

Tourism entrepreneurs highlighted growing concerns as tourists from Nepal’s Tarai and neighboring Indian cities increasingly travel directly to Muktinath in a single day, often returning without staying overnight. They warned that this practice not only increases health and safety risks but also reduces the duration of tourist stays.

Mohan Singh Lalchan, chairperson of Gharpajhong Rural Municipality, emphasized the dangers of ascending rapidly to altitudes above 2,800 meters. He urged tourists to acclimatize properly, take rest breaks, and wear warm clothing.

Similarly, Maniraj Lamichhane, head of Nepal Tourism Board Gandaki, recommended distributing informational booklets and placing safety boards at key locations. Krishna Prasad Acharya, chairperson of TAAN Gandaki, stressed that the mandatory use of Tourist Information Management System (TIMS) cards would enhance tourist safety.

A bird census focusing on pheasant species, including the Himalayan monal (Danfe), has been conducted in the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) area within Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality of Kaski. 

The census was jointly organized by the Biodiversity Conservation Society Nepal (BIOCOS Nepal) and the World Pheasant Association, in collaboration with the ACAP. It covered regions such as Pilicho, Pipar, Khumai, Korchon, Lubrachhu and Chichimle in the Machhapuchhre Himal area. Researchers recorded 146 Danfe (Himalayan monals, 148 Satyr tragopans (Munal), 170 Hill partridges (Pyura) and 19 Kolass pheasants (Fokras) during the census.

In total, over 200 bird species were identified, according to Paras Bikram Singh, Director of BIOCOS Nepal.

Nineteen researchers and assistants conducted the census in teams across various locations. Previous surveys, carried out intermittently since 1976, have documented 314 bird species in this region. Nepal is home to 899 bird species, representing about eight percent of the world’s total. Despite its small size, the country’s ecological diversity—from the Himalayas to the Tarai—makes it rich in global biodiversity. Annapurna Conservation Area alone is home to 518 bird species.

The Machhapuchhre area is one of the few places globally where six pheasant species coexist, making it an exceptional site for birdwatching. However, experts say tourism infrastructure in the area remains underdeveloped. The region is particularly known for the Pipar Sanctuary, which has drawn ornithologists and researchers—especially from Britain—long before the ACAP was established, said Laxman Paudel, Chairperson of BIOCOS Nepal.

Dr Hum Gurung, Senior Asia Partnership Manager at BirdLife International, said Nepal has the potential to become a top bird watching destination in the world. "Nepal has 42 important bird areas. The Annapurna Conservation Area is one of them," Dr Gurung said. "Bird tourism can generate significant economic benefits for the local people if birds are protected, rather than hunted."

Traps threaten birds

Poaching, however, has emerged as a significant threat to bird conservation in Annapurna Conservation Area.

During the recent census, researchers discovered traps set to kill pheasants. “We found birds dead in some traps, while others were rescued and released,” said researcher Pawan Rai.

To combat poaching, BIOCOS Nepal and ACAP have implemented a mobile app-based patrol system known as SMART. Likewise, cameras have been installed on different trails to strengthen surveillance. Plans are also underway to install real-time spy cameras in high-risk poaching zones, said Dr Rabin Kadariya, chief of ACAP. “This will help us identify poachers and bring them to book,” he said. “Local communities will continue to play a key role in anti-poaching patrols.”

Killing a Danfe, the national bird, carries a prison sentence of up to three years, while killing other birds can result in fines of up to Rs 30,000.

ACAP has strengthened conservation efforts in partnerships with Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality, Great Machhapuchhre Trail Committee and other community groups to protect and increase the population of native pheasants, and help establish the Machhapuchhre region as a premier destination for bird tourism.

Note: The photo used in this news is taken by photographer Sherpa French Pemba in Dobate, Ilam. The photographer's name was mistakenly omitted in the previously published news, which has now been corrected.

Researchers have successfully tracked an Egyptian vulture’s 200-kilometer journey from Pokhara to Ayodhya, India, using satellite technology. Few months ago, they started a satellite tagging project to track the migration, behavior and threats faced by the endangered Egyptian vulture. As part of the study, satellite tags were attached to five Egyptian vultures in Pokhara. Among them, a two-year-old vulture stayed in Ayodhya for about a week before flying back. 

The study aims to identify challenges faced by vultures and their movement patterns. According to researcher Krishna Bhusal, the vulture stopped at Jatayu Restaurant in Gaindatal and Lumbini during its journey to Ayodhya. On its return, it passed through Kapilvastu and Syangja, covering the distance back to Pokhara in a day.  

The tagged vultures include one juvenile and four adults aged between four and five years. Satellite tags, powered by solar energy, record data every two hours, allowing researchers to monitor the birds’ movements, roosting sites, flight altitudes, and potential threats in real time.  

According to Bhusal, Ayodhya is a suitable habitat for vultures due to the availability of food near cow shelters. White-rumped vultures from Pokhara have also flown to Ayodhya in the past. 

Similar studies recorded long-distance travel by other vulture species, including the white-rumped vulture reaching Jammu and Kashmir (1,100 km) and the Himalayan vulture traveling over 5,000 km to India and China.  

Egyptian vultures and slender-billed vultures, however, show relatively limited movement compared to these species.  

Bhusal, who has been involved in conservation and research of vultures for a long time, is conducting this study as part of his doctoral research. Of the six native vulture species in Nepal, five have been studied using satellite tagging. The current study, initiated in late August, is the first to focus on identifying threats to Egyptian vultures.  

The satellite tags help researchers monitor the birds’ health and location. If a tagged vulture falls sick, is injured, or dies, its movement data can aid in timely rescue or post-mortem analysis.  

Nepal is home to an estimated 1,000 Egyptian vultures, with Pokhara hosting around 50 percent of the population. Tanahun and Arghakhanchi districts are also the preferred habitat of this species. 

These vultures play a vital ecological role by consuming carrion and small organic waste, helping maintain a clean environment.  

Most Egyptian vultures in Nepal nest on cliffs in mid-hill regions, with some also nesting on trees in the lowlands. 

The study is expected to provide valuable insights into their breeding patterns, lifespan, and the challenges they face, according Ankit Bilas Joshi, program head of vulture conservation at Bird Conservation Nepal. 

Conservation activists in Pokhara have used satellite tags on endangered Egyptian vultures to study their migration patterns and movements, and identify threats.

Five Egyptian vultures in Pokhara have been fitted with satellite tags and released in the wild. This study aims to examine the activities of these tagged vultures to identify the problems and threats they are facing.

Krishna Bhusal, a vulture expert who has been studying and working in the conservation of vultures for a long time, is conducting this research as part of his PhD study to identify the threats to Egyptian vultures. Previously, satellite tag studies have been conducted on five of the six resident vulture species found in Nepal. Bhusal stated that this is the first time a study to identify threats to Egyptian vultures has been initiated.

The satellite tags allow researchers to track where the vultures go. Researchers can study their flight times, locations visited, nesting sites, and flight altitudes, among other details. According to Bhusal, the study will also reveal their main resting and feeding sites. If tagged vultures become sick or injured, they can be located and rescued based on their movement patterns. Even if a tagged vulture dies, a post-mortem examination can be conducted to determine its physical condition, Bhusal explained.

It is estimated that there are about 1,000 Egyptian vultures in Nepal. Unlike other vultures that primarily feed on animal carcasses, Egyptian vultures also consume small meat scraps and insects that grow on waste, thus helping to clean the environment. Studies have shown that Pokhara has the highest concentration of Egyptian vultures in Nepal. According to Bhusal, Pokhara is home to about 50 percent of the total Egyptian vulture population recorded in the country. After Pokhara, Tanahu district and Arghakhanchi also have significant populations of Egyptian vultures. This species nests on cliffs in the mid-hills and occasionally in trees in the Terai region.

Ankit Bilas Joshi, the Vulture Conservation Program Chief at Bird Conservation Nepal, said that the study will provide information on the breeding rate and lifespan of Egyptian vultures, as well as identify the threats they are facing.

All nine species of vultures found in Nepal can be observed in Pokhara. The Pokhara Valley, nestled in the lap of the Annapurna Himalayas, is considered a paradise for vultures. Six species—Himalayan Griffon, Bearded, Slender-billed, White-rumped, Red-headed, and Egyptian vultures—are resident in Nepal. The remaining three species—Eurasian Griffon, Cinereous Vulture, and Indian Vulture—are winter visitors. All nine species of vultures found in South Asia can be seen in the Pokhara Valley. All six resident species of vultures nest and breed in Kaski district.

The Egyptian vulture subspecies found in Europe, Africa, and Central Asia differs from the subspecies found in India and Nepal. The European, African, and Central Asian subspecies migrate during winter, while the subspecies found in Nepal and India have not been studied in detail. This is why the study of migration patterns, movements, and threat identification for the Egyptian vultures found here has been initiated, said Bhusal.

Vladimir Dobrev, a vulture scientist from Bulgaria, expressed his happiness at being able to directly observe and participate in vulture conservation and research work in Nepal. He came to Nepal after learning about the satellite tagging of Egyptian vultures to observe the process firsthand and exchange experiences.

Bird enthusiasts from various countries come to Nepal to observe, photograph, and research vultures, raptors, and water birds.

Ramji Gautam, who holds a PhD in white-rumped vultures, suggests that Pokhara could be developed as a bird tourism destination while conserving all bird species and the region's biodiversity.

Farmers in Lower Sidhane of Pokhara-23 in Kaski are staring at a around 70 percent drop in millet production due to stem and root rot disease.  Sidhane is considered a pocket area for millet production in Pokhara Metropolitan City.

Local farmers are worried as the disease has begun to affect production in this key growing region. 

After observing the disease's impact in Sidhane, a technical team from Pokhara Metropolitan City Office collected samples for testing at the Crop Protection Laboratory. Manohar Kadariya, chief of the Agriculture Division at Pokhara Metropolitan City Office, confirmed that the tests identified stem and root rot disease.

Farmers are expecting a huge loss this season as the problem has appeared in the grain filling phase. In Lower Sidhane alone, millet is cultivated on over 45 ropani (about 2.3 hectares) of land. Ishwar Ghale, the secretary of the Ward 23 Agricultural Alliance, said production is expected to drop by over 70 percent.

Lower Sidhane used to grow 4-45 muris (nearly three tons) of millets every year.  Durga Gurung, a local farmer, said that while 9 ropani (about 0.46 hectares) of land typically yielded 10 muris (about 670 kg) of millet, the current disease outbreak has led to a situation where they may not even recover seeds. Lok Bahadur Gurung, chairman of the Agricultural Network, said that the disease has also been observed in Upper Sidhane and other areas.

Manhar Kadariya advised farmers on non-chemical control methods, including adjusting planting distances, using agricultural lime based on soil test results and increasing organic fertilizer use. Kadariya also said that the metropolis was mulling over testing Bavistin fungicide in some areas to control disease outbreak this year.

“To conduct further study on the problem seen in millet cultivation, we plan to organize a technology demonstration on one ropani (about 0.05 hectares) of land and transferring technical knowledge to local farmers,” Kadariya said. “Discussions are ongoing between local farmer groups, networks, and agricultural technicians to implement this program.”

Since Lower Sidhane lies in the upper watershed area of the Fewa Lake, millet cultivation here is not only making local farmers become self-sufficient but also playing a crucial role in preventing soil erosion. Despite having multiple benefits, the cultivation of millet is on the decline in Nepal. It covers only 7.7 percent of the total food crop area in the country. About 95 percent of millet cultivation areas lie in the hilly regions. Millet is grown in areas ranging from the Terai to altitudes of up to 3,100 meters.

According to Kadariya, millet makes a significant contribution to food and nutritional security in the country. Traditionally, millet is used to make dheedo (a staple dish) in hilly areas, bread, alcohol and animal feed. It also holds cultural significance among indigenous communities in Nepal. Millet is a rich source of calcium and phosphorus, making it an ideal food for pregnant women. It also has benefits for diabetic patients, he added.

Conservation activists recently conducted a training session focused on the conservation of owls, which play a vital role in protecting farmers’ crops by preying on rodents.

The training was attended by 20 individuals, including security personnel, staff from the Forest Ministry, and employees of the Kaski Division Forest Office in Pokhara, among others. These participants are crucial in the efforts to protect owls from poaching and illegal trade, according to the organizers.

The training covered a wide range of issues ranging from the importance of owls in our environment to the dynamics of their illegal trade.

Organized by an organization named Friends of Nature, the training also provided insights into the international demand for live owls, highlighting the countries where this demand is particularly high and where Nepali owls are often exported illegally.

Raju Acharya, Executive Director of Friends of Nature, along with Deepa Gurung, conducted the training. Acharya explained that the illegal trade of owls is often driven by various superstitions. Citing recent studies, Acharya revealed that approximately 1,500 owls are illegally exported from Nepal each year.

The training also explored the reasons behind owl poaching and smuggling, both within Nepal and on a global scale, as well as strategies to combat these issues.

The organizers plan to organize similar training sessions for students, mothers’ groups, and social organizations across various districts. “A total of  11 sessions have been planned for different districts. These sessions are expected to see participation of as many as 220 people,” Achary added.

In addition to the training, Acharya announced plans to install 90 artificial nests in different locations within Kaski and 10 in Syangja for owls in the near future. “The decline in traditional nesting spaces, such as the niches that were once commonly built into the walls of Nepali houses, along with the reduction in tree numbers, has created a habitat crisis for birds. Artificial nests will, to some extent, address this crisis, he added.

Acharya, who has dedicated the past three decades to owl conservation, was recently honored with the 2024 Whitley Award—one of the most prestigious awards in the wildlife conservation sector. He is using the prize money to organize these trainings and build artificial nests.

Owls in Nepal comprise two families—Tytonidae and Strigidae—and 23 species. The conservation status of two species—Long-eared Owl and Oriental Bay Owl—is vagrant and possibly extinct respectively, according to the Owl Conservation Action Plan, Nepal.

Many ponds having cultural and ecological significance have dried up, and many more are on the verge of extinction due to human encroachment in Pokhara.

“Cattle and birds would drink from these ponds. Buffalo would cool off in the mud. At night, jackals and other wildlife would drink from the ponds,” Gangadhar Timilsina (81) of Pokhara-7 recalled. “Times have changed. Such sights have become a thing of the past in Pokhara’s urban areas.”

There used to be a pond and a tap near the resting place at Nareshwar in Malepatan of Pokhara-5. The resting place and tap is still there, but the pond has disappeared. The pond completely dried up in 2009, according to Dhan Bahadur Nepali, former chairperson of Pokahra Ward-5 Office. “Now people have stopped rearing cows and buffalo, and the ponds that our ancestors built have fallen into disuse,” he said.

The area in Pokhara-7, which now houses the regional office of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), used to be called Pokhari Patan (literally pasture land with a lake). The large pond has disappeared, and a new artificial pond has been built in the area. It has a cemented wall and three layers of iron bars, making it inaccessible even to humans, let alone animals, with its gate always padlocked.

Most ponds in Pokhara’s urban areas, which used to be rich in aquatic life, have disappeared. Some ponds with religious and cultural significance exist in name only. Some have shrunk and now have cemented walls to prevent encroachment. Locals say most of the public resting places, taps and ponds in Pokhara have vanished due to rapid construction activities in recent years. Conservation workers estimate that more than 100 ponds have disappeared from urban areas of Pokhara.

In rural areas, though, a number of ponds are still in good shape, especially those used for irrigation. Farmers rely on these ponds and springs to plant rice. For irrigating fields and watering animals, ancestors used to build multipurpose ponds near homes and villages. Sadly, many of these ponds have now disappeared due to encroachment, lack of conservation or regular use.

While ponds in other areas of Pokhara have seen massive encroachments, the one in Kaskikot in Pokhara-24 has ponds dating back to the era of Shah kings, according to Thakur Prasad Tripathi of the area. The large pond (Thuli Pokhari) in Kaskikot, also known as Kashyap Tal, covers an area of 30 ropani (about 1.5 hectares). Thakur Prasad Tripathi, a social worker, says the lake dates back to the Sen dynasty.

Farmers in Kaskikot have been using water from four ponds, including Thuli Pokhari, Maula Pokhari, Khadgam Pokhari and Sani Pokhari for irrigation. Water from these ponds is used to irrigate about 2,000 ropanis (100 hectares) of paddy fields, according to Indra Bahadur GC, a farmer.

Local people, however, say all ponds located in Kaskikot are gradually drying up. “Khadgam Pokhari started drying up after a large tree inside the pond rotted and fell,” Madhav Lal Sharma of the area said.

Indra Bahadur GC, secretary of Pokhara Ward-24 Office, said that Thuli Pokhari, the largest irrigation source in Kaskikot, is also undergoing repairs as it started drying up. Locals say expansion of the road above Thuli Pokhari caused the pond to dry up. “Construction of cemented walls around the pond for beautification and the use of earthmovers also damaged water sources,” locals added. 

Pokhara Metropolitan City allocated Rs 2.5m for the conservation of Thuli Pokhari in the fiscal 2022-23 while it has set aside Rs 1.5m for 2023-24. 

Cultural significance

Ponds have cultural significance. Our ancestors, being environmentally conscious, would plant banyan, pipal and sami trees and nurture them. They would then build resting places around these trees using stones and soil. There was a tradition of building public taps and digging ponds near these resting places. Both Hindu and Buddhist followers would connect these environmental and ecological works with religion. 

Former principal of Barahi Secondary School, Gangadhar Timilsina, said our ancestors used to do these environmentally important works for earning merit. “Back then, people had a religious mindset. There was a belief that after building a resting place and planting banyan and pipal trees, a pond should be built,” Timilsina explained. “There would be a tap near the resting place.”

Some villages in Kaski have been completely abandoned after people migrated elsewhere. With villages deserted, no one is left behind to maintain structures like ponds. In urban areas, increased population density due to in-migration has led to encroachment on ponds and resting places. Not only ponds, even Phewa Lake is facing encroachment and siltation problems. No different is the condition of other lakes. 

Metro lacks data on ponds

Pokhara metropolis lacks data on the number of ponds in existence and the number of ponds that have vanished. It doesn’t ‘seem to have maintained any data’ on the number of ponds within its jurisdiction, according to Nirmal Man Singh Bhandari, head of the Environment Department of Pokhara Metropolitan City.

A study conducted by an NGO named Sudhrid Nepal indicates that 129 ponds still exist in Pokhara Metropolitan City. Out of these 129 ponds, a sample survey of 21 ponds found that only four ponds have water throughout the year. Januka Thapa, a member of the study team, said Khude Pokhari in Pokhara-5, Machha Pokhari in Pokhara-13, Bhagwati Pokhari in Pokhara-14, and Thuli Pokhari in Pokhara-16 have water round the year.

Ecological importance

Lakes, ponds and wells are ecologically important resources. Dipendra Joshi, an expert on disaster and climate adaptation, said that ponds play a crucial role in balancing the ecosystem as they support amphibians and aquatic life. “Ponds are equally important for birds, wildlife and plants. The use of pond water for irrigation also increases food productivity,” Dr Joshi said. “As habitats for birds, amphibians and aquatic life, ponds contribute to the food chain. They play a significant role in the livelihood of the local people.”