Sauraha.com :: adventure beyond the limit

KATHMANDU: Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) on Thursday condemned a shameful act carried out by a group of bikers who attacked a group of tourists while they were heading towards Sauraha from Bharatpur airport. The bikers on Wednesday had damaged the vehicle and misbehaved with tourists. HAN has condemned the attack saying that the cowardly act has given a bad name to the tourism sector. It has requested the government to locate the culprits and punish them.

Source : http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Japanese+assistance+&NewsID=324185

Finally, three day festival of Elephant race competition is here. It is going to be held on December 26, 27 and 28 of year 2011. This marks a celebration of the year 2011 and bids goodbye to year 2011 and, at the same time, welcomes new year 2012. We have had a great tourism year 2011, a significant increase in tourist flow than previous year. Events like Elephant Beauty Contest, Elephant Race, Ox-cart race, Elephant football- (can you imagine !), Canoe race and of course singing and dancing programs. personal favorite is elephant football since its fun to watch humungous animal play football. Also, it is quite unique to have elephants play football. Imagine the number of footballs that go brust!!! Surprisingly, it is also interesting to listen the commentating in the radio.

words taken from : http://www.rhinolodge.com.np/8th-elephant-race-competition-2011/

HANDNI HAMAL CHITWAN, Dec 25: Thirty jungle resorts in Sauraha have offered a special package that among others includes 15 percent discount on food and lodging to guests visiting Sauraha during the 8th Elephant Festival that starts on Monday.

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.

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.

Source : http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=40009

KATHMANDU, Dec 20: The eighth edition of the International Elephant Race 2011 is scheduled to be held at the Baghmara Community Forest, the buffer zone of the Chitwan National Park from December 26 to 28.

Organizer Chitwan Regional Hotel Association of Nepal organized a press conference in Kathmandu on Tuesday and informed that the event is organized to promote internal and external tourism of Sauraha. Nepal Tourism Board promotes the competition.

The tournament features Elephant Race, Boat Race, Bullock Cart Race, Elephant Football, Elephant Beauty Contest and Cart Race. The organizers have trained 20 elephants for the race and as many calves for the football competition.

Bachhauli Village Development Committee, Mrigakunja Consumers Committee, Baghmara Buffer Zone Community Forest, Chitrasen Buffer Zone Community Forest, United Elephant Management Cooperative Limited, Sauraha Tourism Entrepreneurs Group as well as Restaurant and Bar Association of Sauraha are the co-sponsors of the event.

Source : http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=39801