Pokhara, December 25: The country’s first international balloon festival, which has begun in the tourist capital Pokhara, has brought more excitement to Pokhara’s tourism. This grand festival, which began on the banks of Fewa Lake targeting the English New Year 2025 and Christmas, has added excitement to Pokhara.
The festival, organized by Balloon Nepal Pvt. Ltd., will begin on December 21 at the Fewa Field on the banks of Fewa Lake and will continue for nine days. Balloon Nepal Chairman Bikram Bade said that the festival was organized with the aim of promoting tourism in Pokhara through adventure sports. “Our main objective is to introduce Pokhara to the international community through adventure activities. We are excited by the participation of domestic and foreign tourists in the festival, which began on Tuesday,” he said.
According to him, the special attractions of the festival include sunrise and sunset balloon flights, beautiful views of Pokhara’s Fewa Lake, the Annapurna Mountains and surrounding villages, night balloon glow, balloons twinkling at night, fire shows, Christmas Eve, Kathmandu’s Kumari dance and Vajrayogini.
Pokhara Tourism Development Committee Pokhara Metropolitan City Vice Chairman Rabindra Raj Paudel said that the balloon festival will prove to be an important milestone in the promotion of Pokhara’s tourism. He expressed confidence that this festival will further help in the promotion of Pokhara’s tourism as Pokhara Metropolitan City has already declared Pokhara Visit Year 2025.
Pokhara Tourism Council Chairman Taranath Pahari believes that the balloon festival will help revive tourism, which has been slowing down due to various reasons. “Tourism activities should continue to make the tourist city more ‘vibrant.’ Recently, festivals like the hot air balloon have further internationalized the city’s identity.”
The local coordination of the festival is taken over by the Fewa Club, and ‘BYD’ is the main sponsor of this festival. Pokhara Metropolitan City, Nepal Tourism Board Gandaki Province, Ministry of Industry and Tourism, Gandaki Province Government have supported the festival as promoters to make it a success. Pokhara Tourism Council has collaborated in the festival.
According to Sabin Maharjan, Managing Director of Balloon Pvt. Ltd., balloon pilots from 15 countries are participating in the festival. The sky over Pokhara has become colorful as 17 hot air balloons of different sizes and designs have started flying at the same time. Balloon pilots from Nepal, the US, the UK, Spain, Lithuania, Thailand, Vietnam, France, the Netherlands, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Italy, Brazil, and Australia are participating in the festival.
The festival’s brand ambassadors Rajesh Hamal and Priyanka Karki are also participating in the festival. A free shuttle bus has been arranged from Lakeside Dihikopatan to reach the festival venue. The festival is being held in a three-kilometer area from Lauruk to Changkhapur in the Pame area. It is said that commercial flights will be available from 6 am to 9 am, while various programs will be held in the evening.
Balloon pilots representing different countries will fly hot air balloons from 4 pm to 6 pm. The organizers have stated that there will be a balloon night glow and musical program from 7 pm to 8 pm. Balloon Nepal, established in 2015, has been operating commercial balloon flights in Pokhara since 2017.
