Hot Air Balloon Festival in Pokhara
During the New Year, the tourist capital Pokhara was filled with a festive atmosphere. Pokhara hosted tourist-focused events such as the Street Festival, Hot Air Balloon Festival, and Dragon Boat Festival. These festivals, aimed at promoting tourism, have made Pokhara’s tourism sector even more vibrant.
With the slogan “Let’s Eat on the Street, Enjoy on the Street,” the 26th Street Festival was organized by the Restaurant and Bar Association of Nepal (REBAN) Pokhara from December 31 to January 2 along a 4-kilometer stretch of Lakeside. To showcase that Pokhara offers both natural beauty and cultural experiences, the festival featured exhibitions of traditional art, culture, and attire, along with the sale of local food and products. Night concerts and fireworks further added to the colorful charm of Pokhara.
This year, thousands of tourists came to Pokhara to witness the Street Festival. Visitors not only from within Nepal but also from countries like China and India traveled to Pokhara to celebrate the New Year. In the chilly midwinter season, Pokhara became a hub where tourists bid farewell to the old year and welcomed the new one.
For the first time during the New Year, Pokhara hosted a nine-day Hot Air Balloon Festival, which tourists thoroughly enjoyed. Similarly, the International Dragon Boat Festival, held on January 4 and 5, brought new energy to Pokhara’s tourism sector. A team of 129 participants even chartered a plane from China to attend the festival. Such festivals during the New Year have greatly encouraged Pokhara’s tourism entrepreneurs.
Typically, with the onset of the cold season, activity in tourist areas gradually decreases, and foreign tourists visiting Nepal for trekking, mountain climbing, or sightseeing start returning home. However, these festivals have not only extended the stay of international tourists but also attracted domestic tourists.
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