Situated in the Khumbu or Everest region of eastern Nepal, Kala Patthar is a rocky brown hill a few distance away from Gorakh Shep, EBC. Kala Patthar offers close views of the mighty Mt. Everest, Pumori Peak, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam and other Himalayan giants.

There is a flat ground or plateau lying at an elevation of 17,982 feet/ 5,242m, which serves as an ideal place for helicopters to land. This is where our skydivers made the highest skydive landing in October this year and where the historic cabinet meeting was held today.

Google Map showing Mt.Everest, Kala Patthar & Gorakh Shep

A glacial lake below Kala Patthar

Kala Patthar Plateau- Site of the historic Cabinet Meeting

Mesmerizing views of Ama Dablam peak- Enroute to Gorakh Shep EBC

Ten years before, this place used to covered with snow year round, according to locals – An  impact of global warming on our Mountain Environment

White snowy peaks are transformed into rocky bare pinnacles – An effect of climate change

(Photos: Explore Himalaya)

The historic cabinet meeting at Kala Patthar(17,192 ft) plateau , at the base of Mt. Everest concluded successfully with the release of a 10-point ‘Everest declaration’ which calls for concerted actions to minimize adverse effects of climate change in the Himalayan region.The meeting which was organised to draw global attention towards the affect of climate change on the Himalayan glaciers, began at 9:30 AM and was attended by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and 23 ministers. The cabinet also decided to extend the territories of Api-Nampa conservation area in Darchula, Gauri Shankar conservation area in Ramechhap and Dolakha and Bardiya National Park. A new national park Banke National Park, was also added.

At a press conference held on 29th November at NTB’s auditorium hall, members of the press and media were briefed about the climate themed Cabinet Meeting to be held in Gorakh Shep, Everest Base Camp on 4th December 2009. The meeting was well attended by members of the press & media, tourism officials, Everest summitteers and mountaineers.
The main speakers during the event were Minister of Tourism – Mr. Sarat Singh Bhandari, Minister of Forests – Mr. Deepak Bohara, Minister of Environment Mr. Thakur Prasad Sharma and Planning & Operation Coordinator of the event, Mr. Suman Pandey ( President, Explore Himalaya).
In order to highlight the impact of global warming on the Himalayan glaciers twenty-six cabinet ministers, together with staff, will fly to Kalapatthar plateau at Gorakh Shep, Everest Base Camp at an altitude of 17,192 feet on December 4th 2009 and hold a cabinet meeting. This special climate- themed meeting has been scheduled ahead of the UN summit on Climate Change at Copenhagen.
Emphasizing the impact of the climate change, Minister of Tourism Sarat Singh Bhandari said, “In the long run it is the third world countries like Nepal that is going to suffer. The global climate change will affect our economy, flora and fauna and obstruct developmental works. We need to highlight how the global climate change is adversely effecting our mountain environment and melting our glaciers.”
Answering to press queries honorable Minister of Forests, Mr. Deepak Bohara said that the entire cost of the highest Cabinet Meeting will be borne by private sector companies. The Government is only contributing Re.1/- for the programme.
Outlining the program to be held in Gorakh Shep, Mr. Suman Pandey , Planning & Operation Coordinator said , “The ministers will be flown to Lukla from Kathmandu on 3rd December, where they will stay overnight to acclimatize. The following day a press conference will be held at Shyangboche. After the press conference the ministers will be flown by MI 17 helicopters to Gorakh Shep. A team of Everest summiteers, with emergency oxygen back up will be there at the venue to oversee the meeting arrangement.
The cabinet meeting will be followed by a quick photo session. The whole operation will be complete within 20 minutes and the Ministers will be flown back by MI 17 helicopters.”
Nepal Television will broadcast the event live from Gorakh Shep.

Nepal mountaineering Association, Trekking Agents’ Association of Nepal, Natural Trust of nature conservation, Everest Summiteers Association, Expedition Operator Association, Himalayan Rescue Association, Union of Asian Alpine Association, Explore Himalaya , all the domestic airlines operating in Nepal are sponsoring the cabinet meet.

R-L : Deepak Bohara (Minister of Forests), Mr. Sarat singh bhandari (Tourism Minister), Mr.Suman Pandey (Planning & Operation Coordinator)

Hon’ble Tourism Minister Sarat Singh Bhandari addressing the gathering

Planning & Operation Coordinator of the event , Mr.Suman Pandey responding to reporters’ queries

Mr. Suman Pandey – Outlining the programme schedule for the Highest Cabinet Meeting

Photos: Usha Rai

Photos of Everest Skydive 2009

Ganesh Pandey with tandem master Tom Noonan making a tandem jump , above 25,000 feet (Photo: Wendy Smith)

Wing Commander Jai Kishan of IAF , on his canopy, flying past Pumori peak (Photo : Gorakh Bista)

Jai Kishan ( Photo : Gorakh Bista)

Tom Noonan (Photo: Gorakh Bista)

Members of the ESD team at Shyangboche with Fishtail Air’s AS 350 B3 (Photo: Gorakh Bista)

This morning five members from the Explore Himalaya skydive team made four solos and one tandem jump from a height of 25,000 feet at Shyangboche in the Everest region.

In the first batch Tom Noonan (USA), Ian Bishop (Australia) and Jay Kishan (India) made solo jumps at 10:30 AM (local time). In the second batch, world record holder and chief co-ordinator of the team, Wendy Smith (New Zealand) made a solo jump, while Ganesh Pandey (Nepal ) made a tandem jump with tandem master Tom Noonan (USA) at 12:30 PM (local time).

The jumps were made from Tara Air’s Pilatus Porter aircraft, piloted by Jack Sparrow (UK) and Praful Baidya (Nepal). Jack Sparrow has performed more then 4,000 lifts (flights for skydiving) in Europe. He is preparing to launch the first skydiving club in Asia, ThaiSky Adventures.

Explore Himalaya is the first agency in Nepal to commercially organize the Everest Skydive . In 2008 Explore Himalaya organized the first ever Everest Skydiving event in partnership with a UK based adventure company High & Wild.