POKHARA, Dec 26: The zipline operated in Pokhara has received the world's tallest and steepest zipline award. Official World Record (OWR), an organization that studies and awards the products of world's adventure activities, has given the award of 'tallest' and 'steepest' to the zipline operated by HighGround Adventure Nepal.

Dinesh Maharjan, director of HighGround Adventure Nepal, said that the zipline has received the world's highest and steepest award. According to him, there is no other zipline operating at such a vertical distance. He said that this is also the zip line operating at a steep distance.

According to Maharjan, this zipline is 1,850 meters long, with an upper station at Sarangkot and a lower station at Hemja in Pokhara. Its upper station is at an altitude of 1550 m above sea level and lower station at 950 m. Tourists get an adventurous experience by ziplining from the upper station at 1550 meters to the lower station at 950 meters.

“The vertical height of the upper and lower station is 600 meters. Because of that, it is the highest zipline in the world," he said. Apart from that, he said that the slope of this zipline between the two stations is 56 degrees, so it got the 'steepest' award.

“We have succeeded in creating a different identity. The Spain based official world record has given this award only after studying for a long time,” he said, “It has helped to promote the adventure tourism activities of Nepal as a whole.” He said that it is a pleasure to receive this award for the Pokhara tourism sector. “It also helps the tourism sector of Nepal as a whole. It helps to attract the adventure tourists who come to Nepal to Pokhara," said Maharjan.

According to Maharjan, there are three official bodies that identify any product as the best in the world. There are three bodies of Official World Records, World Book of Records and Guinness Book of World Records. High Ground Adventure applied for the award to all three of them. Among them, the official world record was awarded after one year of study, he said. The World Book of Records and the Guinness Book of World Records are also studying. He said that they are hopeful of getting similar awards from all three bodies.

“This is not an easy award; they study about us in their own way. They study for at least a year. Only then will this award be given," he said. “It is not something that can be obtained by anyone's pressure or demand. This award is only given based on reality.”

According to him, this kind of zip line experience cannot be done anywhere else. In terms of distance, the zipline in other places may be longer, but in terms of vertical and slope, there is only such a zipline in Pokhara, he said.

It takes only about one and a half minutes to complete the distance of this zip line. Tourists can zip line at a speed of about 130 km per hour. He said that the speed will slightly differ based on the weight of the tourists. Tourists can zipline here while observing the Machhapuchhre and Annapurna ranges. Currently, about 50 people experience this zipline every day, he said.

Zipline's 'Sunrise Package'

HighGround Adventure Nepal started a zipline service in Pokhara a decade ago. HighGround Adventure, which started the zipline to attract the attention of adventure tourists entering Pokhara, has now operated bungee and swing along with the zipline. It has also been operating ATVs  for a few months.

According to Director Maharjan, most of the tourist activities that have been conducted so far are only during the day. However, in the absence of products for tourists who want to enjoy some activities in the morning, Highground Adventure has started a zipline service called Sunrise Package. Tourists who want to enjoy this package can indulge in adventure activities while watching the sunrise in the morning.

“Many tourists go up to Sarangkot in the morning just to see the sunrise. However, now we have arranged to provide a zipline along with sunrise. It will give tourists the pleasure of a zipline with the sunrise,” Maharjan said. He said that the tourists who go for this package will climb Sarangkot at 5 in the morning and then go down Hemja through the zip line after breakfast.                                                                                                                                                                                               "Instead of only sunrise, we wanted to engage them in adventure activities as well," he said. According to him, the package costs Rs 12,000 per person. “Most of the activities in Pokhara were only in the afternoon. There is a crowd in Sarangkot to watch the sunrise in the morning. As there were no other activities, the guests had to sit tight," he said, "but now the zipline has started in the morning. Earlier it used to be only after 9 o'clock. We have given an opportunity to those who prefer morning adventures.” 

 
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• Pokhara
 
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