Submit your Article

The renovation of Gallery Baithak, a historic structure on the premises of Singha Durbar, which was damaged by the 2015 devastating earthquake is unlikely to be completed within the timeframe.

The Special Building Construction Project Implementation Office under the Ministry of Urban Development on June 2, 2024 had signed a contract with Prera ​​Construction Services Pvt. Ltd. for the retrofitting of the building.

According to the agreement, the project valued at around Rs 390 million was to be completed on November 22, 2025.

Earlier on March 23, 2023, the Delegated Management and Government Assurance Committee of the National Assembly had issued a directive that the Gallery Baithak building be preserved as a heritage site.

The then Rana Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher had constructed the Gallery Baithak as a private 'theater' on the premises of Singha Durbar in 1965 BS.

The first Parliament meeting was held in the same building on June 30, 1959 after the 1958 general elections.

The first session of the National Panchayat Assembly was also held in the same building on April 14, 1963.

Similarly, after the 1991 general election, Parliament started holding meetings in the same building.

The first meeting was held in the same building on April 28, 2006 after the formation of the interim government in 2006. The then rebel party, the Maoist also took part in the meeting.

Farmers in the Sunthan area of ​​Panauti Municipality-9, Kavre are currently busy harvesting potatoes. The area produces potatoes twice a year, contributing significantly to local supply.

Nepal, which has not yet become fully self-sufficient in potatoes, has been importing potatoes worth Rs 6 to 8 billion annually to meet domestic demand, according to data from the last five years.

It has been learnt that Nepal imported 287,000 tons of potatoes worth Rs 7.10 billion in the last fiscal year 2024/25.

According to statistics, the annual production of potatoes in Nepal stands at 3.3 to 3.5 million metric tons and the annual demand ranges between 3.3 to 3.7 million metric tons.

Current production is sufficient to Nepal for only 11 months, leaving the country dependent on imports for a month.  

Most of the potatoes grown in Nepal are used for domestic consumption.

It is the main food crop in the hilly areas, while it is used as a vegetable and snack item in urban areas.

In the industrial sector, potatoes are used to make chips and finger chips.

Bangladesh wasn’t a destination most people expected me to visit. When I told friends and colleagues about my plan, many asked, “Why go to Bangladesh for tourism?” Even the visa officer at the Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu, the immigration officer in Dhaka, and several locals repeated the same question with surprised smiles. But I had a simple answer: Nepal has mountains, rivers and hills—but no sea. I went for the beaches.

Dhaka was my first stop, and the city hit me with its pace. Compared to Nepal, the Bangladeshi capital has undergone rapid infrastructure expansion—wide roads, long flyovers, fast tracks and a functioning metro system carve through the city. But alongside this impressive development comes the other reality: almost no discipline in traffic. Vehicles rush from every direction, rules appear optional, and crossing the street feels like a test of courage.

Bangladesh, with an area of roughly 148,000 sq km, is only slightly larger than Nepal’s 147,516 sq km, but its population—over 170m—overshadows Nepal’s nearly 30m. It is a country overflowing with people. The crowds are constant, and everywhere feels busy.

After Dhaka, my main destination was Cox’s Bazar—the world’s longest natural sandy beach. This was the part of the journey I was truly looking forward to. The sea breeze, the endless shoreline and the rhythmic sound of the waves were exactly what I had hoped for. I explored both commercial beaches filled with local visitors and quieter, more untouched stretches of sand. It was fun, refreshing and unlike anything Nepal can offer.

What surprised me, though, was the absence of foreign tourists. The beaches were lively, but almost entirely with domestic travelers. Despite that, people were warm, curious and welcoming everywhere we went.

According to the Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB), Bangladesh received around 655,000 foreign tourists in 2024. But the local media reports that many of the foreign arrivals recorded by BTB are not leisure tourists but include business travellers and non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs).

Back in Dhaka, I visited the area around Dhaka University. The walls were painted with murals—powerful images connected to past protests and political movements. Yet the atmosphere was peaceful, with students walking, chatting and enjoying the campus surroundings.

My week in Bangladesh was a mix of contrasts: infrastructure growth and traffic chaos, overwhelming crowds and serene beaches, political expressions on walls and calm in the streets. It was unexpected, eye-opening and memorable—a reminder that sometimes the best trips are the ones others question.

With improving weather conditions, snow-capped mountains have become visible from Kathmandu Valley. 

The view of the white mountains beneath the blue sky was truly captivating.

Earlier, cyclone ‘Montha’ and westerly winds had an effect on the country’s weather system for a few days, bringing both rain and snowfall.

Now, the weather has cleared up and beautiful mountains can be seen from Kathmandu Valley.