The first international event of Nepal Tourism Year 2011, Annapurna 100 is slated to be held on 1st January 2011. Annapurna 100 will feature 100 km, 70 km and 50 km races, which will begin from Pokhara and pass through Hyangja, Dhampus, Pitam Deurali, Ghandruk and Birethanti and finally back to Pokhara. The event is sponsored by Summit Hotel, Standard Chartered Bank, Sherpa Adventure Gear and Dragon Air. To participate in this event one will have to pay 100 Euro.

Dedicated to the mountains , its people and environment and to mountaineers, the International Mountain Museum in Pokhara was built under the aegis of Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), with the support of various international and national groups, individuals and organizations. The museum was formally inaugurated on May 2002 by famous Everest summitters – Ms. Junko Tabei from Japan and Appa Sherpa from Nepal. Built on 12.6 acres land, with a display area of more than 4200 sq.mt, the International Mountain Museum was opened for public viewing on 5th February, 2004. Posted below are some images of the museum  captured by Samir Shrestha.

(Photos : Samir Shrestha)

According to press statement issued by the Western Regional Chapter of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN),to celebrate World Tourism Day(27th September), the association is providing free meal and accommodation to the first tourist entering Pokhara on that day.Similarly, other tourists will get 50 percent discount on accommodation and meal on that day.Tourists can enjoy the facility in about 400 hotels under the association’s umbrella.

The Lakeside city of Pokhara

Set against the magnificent backdrop of the Annapurna range, The Fulbari Resort & Spa is developed on hundred acres of terraced plateau at the scenic Green Canyon above the Seti Gorge. ‘The Fulbari’(meaning ‘flower garden’ in Nepali) is Nepal’ s only deluxe five star resort.

The Fulbari Resort & Spa is located 8 kilometers from the center of Pokhara city, about 15 minutes drive from Pokhara airport. The resort has a private helipad for those who wish to arrive in style. It takes around 40 minutes to fly directly from Kathmandu to the resort via a helicopter.

ACCOMMODATION
The resort offers 165 exquisitely appointed deluxe rooms and suites. Decorated with style and elegance, all rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies that opens out to breathtaking views of the resort’s landscaped gardens and the Annapurna range.

Deluxe: These are garden level first floor rooms with basic room amenities.

Super Deluxe: These are second & third floor rooms with super deluxe amenities, electronic safe, mineral water, mini bar, coffee / tea maker, fruit basket & cookies.

Royal Executive Club : Situated on the fourth floor, this is also known as the Exclusive Royal Executive Floor. The rooms in this floor feature In-lounge breakfast / dining, complimentary non-alcoholic beverage, electronic safe, butler service, Royal room amenities, In-room foot massage, privilege check-in and check-out.

Landmark Suites: The Fulbari Resort offers nine landmark suites, named after nine districts of Nepal, regarded as cultural landmarks. The Kantipur, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur suites(representing Newar civilization), Helambu and Namche suites(reflecting Sherpa culure), Jomsom suite(representing the Nepalese region influenced by Tibetan culture), the Dhankuta and Ilam suites(reflecting the eastern region). In addition, the landmark suites offer much larger rooms with wider views of the surrounding landscapes.

Honeymoon Suites: These four luxurious and well-appointed rooms have been named after  four legendary beauties –  Raja Mati of Nepal, Mumtaj Mahal of Mughal India, Helen of Troy, and Cleopatra of Egypt. The suites are tastefully decorated and have large bathrooms with jacuzzi.

Dining Facilities:

The Café Fulbari , the resort’s coffee shop, offers continental cuisine while at The Masala Bazaar one can enjoy all the delicious cuisines found along the ancient spice route.

The Komagane restaurant serves classic Japanese dishes prepared on its wide teppanyaki.Hang out at the masterfully built ‘Hanging Garden’ restaurant that overhangs over the Seti River Gorge and enjoy extraordinary views of the surrounding gorges over barbecued meat and chilled glasses of beer and cocktails. The Gurkha Bar the resort’s lobby bar offers , apart from a fine list of hard drinks and cocktails, the best views of Macchapuchre (Fishtail) peak and the Annapurna mountain range.

Spa Avatar

Managed by experts , Fulbari’s Spa Avatar offers treatments and packages, that range from aroma therapies with exotic Himalayan incense to a combination of deep cleansing facials and massages and floral jacuzzis that are simply designed to give a true feeling of spiritual and physical well-being.

Ananda Health Farm is a holistically inspired health care center, that includes detoxification, weight loss, and anti-aging facilities. Therapy pools, steam and sauna rooms, a gymnasium, a aerobics studio, and a hair salon all add to the Ananda’s exceptional facilities.

For convention and banquet facilities, there are tastefully decorated, equipped with state of the art modern equipments halls that can accommodate upto 250 people. The resort also has a casino, discotheque and a 9 hole executive golf course.

(Photos courtesy :Fulbari Resort & Spa)

Contact Info: Tel: 977-61-432451 , Fax: 977-61-431482 , E-mail:resv@fulbari.com.np

A  private transportation company has been plying passenger buses along the Pokhara-New Delhi highway ferrying tourists and Nepalese between the two Nepalese and Indian cities of Pokhara and New Delhi. Presently the bus service runs for three days a week , but taking into consideration NTY 2011 and the the increased frequency of tourist arrivals, the company has decided to ply its buses 6 days a week from mid-July.Though most of the passengers are Nepalese and Indian tourists, tourists from Japan, America, England, and Israel have also been found favoring this direct bus service.