Skydiving and paragliding in Pokhara
Pokhara: Avia Club has started commercial skydiving for the first time in Nepal.
Skydiving is an adventurous sport where divers jump from flying aircraft with the help of parachute. Alexender Havard, 40, from England became the first person to enjoy skydiving in Pokhara. He jumped from the altitude of 8,000 ft and landed at Khapaudi near Lake Side.
Avia Club is offering the service at Euro 110 per jump. Prabin Gauchan, general manager of Avia Club, said the company was planning to offer special discount for a limited period to attract more adventure lovers to the country.Avia club, which also operates ultra light flights in Pokhara, is deploying two-seater ultra-light aircraft for the jump.
Similarly, paragliding companies based in Pokhara have hiked the fare for paragliding flights by Rs 700 for hour long flight and Rs 300 for 20-mintue to half-an-hour flight. Septemeber to April is considered as most suitable period for paragliding.
According to operators, 80 flights including tandem and solo flights are taking off daily from Sarangkot. There are fourteen operators offering the service in Pokhara.
According to officials of NAA, a foreigner will have to pay Rs 7,500 per flight of 20 minutes to half an hour, which was earlier available at Rs 7,200. Similarly, for an hour long flight, foreigners will have to pay Rs 10,500 against Rs 9,800 earlier.
Domestic tourists will pay an additional Rs 500 for half an hour flight, which would now cost Rs 5,000 per person. However, there is no change in the tariff for an hourlong flight for domestic tourists. Locals can enjoy an hour of paragliding at Rs 7,500 only.
Paragliding is being popular in Pokhara in recent years. Four new paragliding companies have started operations recently in Pokhara.
According to Nepal Airsport Association (NAA), the four companies, which recently came into operation, include Teamfive, Everest, Phoenix and New Paraworld. The number of Pokhara-based paragliding companies has reached 14. September to April is considered to be peak season for paragliding.
NAA president Rajesh Bamjan said that 80 flights are operated daily and over 15 million RS has been invested in paragliding so far.
Paragliding companies have also started offering commercial paragliding from Banidpur. A tourist flying from Sarangkot hill fly at the height of 2,000 metre enjoying the views of Machhapucchre and Annapurna range and land by the side of Fewa Lake. (Source – Republica )
