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Lumbini, the birthplace of Sakyamuni Buddha and a UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is a sacred sanctuary for Buddhists and spiritual seekers worldwide. Beyond its religious roots, the Greater Lumbini Area offers an array of unique experiences through history, archaeology and natural beauty. Yet, this treasure trove struggles to reach its full potential as a global destination.

Today, countries like Thailand, Bhutan, and Srilanka attract hundreds of thousands of Buddhist pilgrims and tourists, while Lumbini sees just about 1m visitors a year. The challenges lie in infrastructure. Although there has been a surge in hotels across Lumbini, the region still falls short in offering comprehensive facilities beyond basic stay. Modern tourists not only want to visit the birthplace of Buddha but also, they seek for extended stays enriched with engaging activities, better facilities, and a well-rounded experience.

Lumbini and its surrounding areas are home to ruins dating back as far as the 11th century BCE to the 3rd century CE, alongside other sites such as Tilaurakot, Kudan, Gotihawa, Niglihawa, Araurakot, Sagarhawa, and Ramagrama. These sites hold profound connections to the life of the Buddhas and the evolution of Buddhism. Additionally, the region is remarkable for being the birthplace of the three Buddhas of Bhadrakalpa—Kanakamuni, Krakuchhanda, and Gautama Buddha. However, the lack of accessible information and proper guidance for tourists diminishes the potential of these historical and spiritual places.

There is an urgent need for effective marketing campaigns to highlight the essence of Lumbini and its sites. Many visitors remain unaware of the rich stories and spiritual significance behind the monuments scattered across the region. Developing meditation retreats, promoting outdoor activities, and offering cultural immersion programs could transform Lumbini into a holistic tourism center.

We cannot afford to wait for another ‘Visit Nepal’ campaign to spotlight Lumbini’s potential. It’s essential to focus now on establishing Lumbini as a truly iconic destination.

At his courtyard in Ihbahal, Krishna Maharjan, 55, is busy preparing molasses ahead of the upcoming Maghe Sankranti festival. For decades, he has been giving continuity to this traditional practice, preserving a cherished custom of his community.

Maghe Sankranti, a vibrant festival celebrated across Nepal, marks the beginning of the winter solstice and the transition of the sun into Capricorn. The day holds immense cultural and spiritual significance, particularly among the Hindu and Buddhist communities of the Tarai and hilly regions. It’s a time marked by family gatherings, feasts, and rituals symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness.

One of the festival’s most anticipated aspects is the preparation of ‘chaku’, a traditional sweet made from molasses, sesame seeds, and ghee. The sweet is known for its rich taste and high nutritional value. It’s often consumed alongside ‘til’ (sesame seeds) and ‘gud’ (jaggery) during Maghe Sankranti. 

The process of making chaku involves boiling sugarcane juice to extract molasses, which is then carefully heated and mixed with sesame seeds and ghee. The mixture is poured onto a flat surface to cool, then cut into small pieces.

Although the results are sweet, the process of making molasses is long and labor-intensive.

“Not many people have the time to make it themselves. You need a lot of patience for it. It’s becoming difficult to find the skill required to prepare the treat,” says Maharjan. “This occupation is not just a business but also a traditional and cultural heritage,” he adds. According to him, this is the only chaku-making establishment in Lalitpur Metropolitan City. “As this tradition is on the verge of extinction, everyone should work to promote and preserve it, as it is an integral part of our culture.”

Maghe Sankranti is also a time for ritual baths, temple visits, and prayers for health, prosperity, and spiritual well-being. As families celebrate, the air fills with the sweet aroma of freshly made molasses, making the festival a joyful occasion for all.

In a dazzling display of colors and culture, Pokhara has come alive with the first-ever International Balloon Festival, organized by Nepal Balloon Pvt Ltd. The festival, held across a 3-kilometer stretch from Lauruk to Chankhapur in Pame, marks a significant milestone in Nepal’s adventure tourism sector. With participation from 30 commercial balloon companies across the globe, the event coincides with Christmas and New Year, offering locals and visitors an unforgettable experience of soaring over the picturesque Pokhara valley.

President of Nepal Balloon, Bikram Bade, shared that the festival aims to position Nepal as a global adventure tourism destination while revitalizing the tourism industry post-covid. Mayor Dhanraj Acharya expressed similar enthusiasm, emphasizing the importance of such events in enriching Pokhara’s tourism calendar.

Visitors can witness stunning morning, afternoon, and evening flights led by professional pilots, including renowned Dutch pilot Pieter Kooistra, who is making his Nepal debut. Each flight offers breathtaking views of the Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, and Dhaulagiri ranges, with balloon rides lasting approximately 40 minutes.

Kooistra has completed 3,000 hot air balloon flights. Describing his experience on his first flight in Nepal, he expressed his happiness to be in Pokhara, as he told ApEx. He also mentioned that if the weather is perfect, flying around Pokhara would be a lovely experience, with the stunning mountain ranges.

The festival isn’t just about flights. Night balloon glows, 20-minute daily fireworks displays, balloon races, and cultural performances enrich the experience. Attendees can enjoy food stalls, live music, DJ sets, and even night camps.

In this photo feature, I have included diverse images showcasing the beauty of Bhaktapur’s lifestyle, traditions, heritage, and culture. These photos were also a part of an exhibition organized by ImagePasal in collaboration with the Bhaktapur Tourism Development Committee.

This marks my third-ever exhibition and my second in Bhaktapur. I had my first solo photo exhibition during high school at the Khwopa College Fete in 2013. Returning after a decade to showcase my photography makes me very happy, especially sharing the space with talented photographers— Amit Machamasi, Rojan Shrestha, Chandra Chakradhar, and Nandu Shrestha.

Bhaktapur continues to feel authentic on so many levels. Women dressed in traditional Hakupatasi and men in Daura Suruwal are sights unique to Bhaktapur, rarely seen elsewhere in the Kathmandu Valley. The heritage here is another standout—houses and their façades are carefully preserved and even reconstructed to maintain the old-times charm.

What’s even more remarkable is how traditions and culture thrive here. From elderly men to young children, everyone participates in festivals and rituals with great enthusiasm and excitement. These elements embody why Bhaktapur retains its spirit so naturally—a quality that should ideally be mirrored in all historic cities across the valley. Patan, for instance, still holds pockets of this kind of authenticity, making it remarkable.