POKHARA, Oct 16: After a nine-month hiatus, paragliding enthusiasts in Pokhara are celebrating the return of their favorite adventure activity. On Sunday, paragliding flights recommenced, taking off from Toripani in Pokhara Metropolitan City-18 Sarangkot.

The pause in paragliding operations had been triggered by the opening of the Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA) on January 1, citing air safety concerns. This move left many in the tourism industry worried about the future of this iconic activity in Pokhara.

To bridge the gap, paragliding flights had temporarily shifted to Pokhara-24 Mandre Dhunga, but this location presented logistical challenges due to its distance and variable weather conditions. The local community is now elated that flights have returned to the Toripani area.

Local residents welcomed the first-day fliers with garlands, underscoring the importance of paragliding to the Pokhara community. Nepal Airsports Association (NAA) collaborated with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to expand the paragliding area from Mandre Dhunga to Wahakot, with landing zones in Pame.

CAAN conducted a thorough safety assessment and concluded that paragliding from the Toripani area posed no risks to air safety. However, the matter of expanding the paragliding area to include Sarangkot is still under consideration.

Sunil Bahadur Bhattarai, president of NAA, expressed relief, saying, "We were very concerned about the future of paragliding, which has become the identity of Pokhara. With everyone's help, after nine months, we obtained permission from CAAN to take off from the original location. We are optimistic that paragliding will regain its former popularity."

One of the challenges faced at Mandre Dhunga, which is located two kilometers away, was the inconvenience of road access and unpredictable weather. Paragliding activity there suffered due to fog, fluctuating wind speeds, and cold morning conditions.

Bijay Gautam, a paragliding pilot, remarked, "Mandre Dhunga is 150 meters higher than Toripani, and the road condition was poor, making it difficult to attract tourists. Now that we've returned to the previous location, we're all excited as it's suitable in every way."

Paragliding remains a top choice for tourists visiting Pokhara. When flights were based in Sarangkot, the sight of paragliders soaring over the lakeside and market area was a captivating attraction. NAA General Secretary Khemraj Acharya believes that with flights resuming from Toripani, the previous level of interest will return.

While commercial flights operate from Toripani, plans are underway to introduce solo flights to Mandre Dhunga. However, the solo flights were temporarily halted following an accident during the 9th National Games.

The uncertain future of paragliding in Pokhara had been a topic of interest and concern since the foundation stone was laid for PRIA on April 13, 2016. Various studies conducted by CAAN had suggested that, despite the airport's presence, paragliding should remain a vital part of Pokhara's tourism industry.

Pokhara's favorable natural conditions, including its climate, make it an ideal location for paragliding year-round, attracting domestic and foreign tourists alike. Paragliding has been an integral part of Pokhara's tourism industry for the past two decades.

The Nepal Airsports Association (NAA) was established with the goal of promoting air sports to support Nepal's tourism development. Over the years, it has grown from seven paragliding commercial companies to 62 companies. Additionally, there are 399 active paragliding pilots under the organization's umbrella.

For enhanced safety, GPS, live trackers, two-way radio communication with radio repeater towers, and a hotline service have been recently implemented in paragliding operations in Pokhara.

 
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