Sankar Sainju, president of Regional Hotel Association, Sauraha said 30 out of around 80 resorts have agreed to offer special packages to guests visiting Sauraha during the three-day festival. “Most of the big resorts are offering the package,” added Sainju.[break]
Meanwhile, preparations for the 8th Elephant Festival to be organized in Sauraha - often referred to as the gateway to Chitwan National Park - have completed. According to organizers, a total of 10 teams from UK, China, Germany and Brazil as well as 10 domestic teams are participating in the elephant race.
Narayan Bhattarai, coordinator of elephant festival organizing committee, said four teams of elephants will contest in elephant football competition. Similarly, five elephants are competing in the elephant beauty contest.
Bullock cart race, horse drawn carriage race, food festival featuring local cuisines and cultural shows are the other attractions of the event. The festival will be organized at Baghmara Ground.
Basu Bidari, member of publicity committee of the festival, expects tourist arrivals during the festival to increase sharply as the festival is organized during the holiday season of Christmas and New Year.
Hotels filling up in Sauraha on New Year eve