Sport Tourism Nepal

Nepal is also popular  for Sport  tourism such as golfing in Kathmandu, paraglading in Pokhara and Marathon Sky Race in the mountain region, Mountain Bike and Motor cycle tours, Everest Marathon Race, Elephant Polo, International Elephent Race Comptition, White Water Rafting Comptition, Canoing Comptition etc. Adventure Silk Road Inc has been in tourism business since more then two decades specializing in Nature, Culture and Adventure Sports Tourism in Nepal. With the thrills of outdoor activities Nepal also offers city fun for its visitors. While visitors enjoy the rustic by simply beholding spectacular sights and partaking in the activities of exotic cultures, in cities like Kathmandu and Pokhara some entertainment is on par with western world.

Visitors have a choice from a potpourri of amusements. They can: partake in cultural shows that include theater and local art; wine and dine at premier hotels that provide excellent service; enjoy music and dance at newly-opened discotheques; try a luck at rummy or blackjack at one of our casinos; or just watch a movie as cozy twosome in one of our movie theaters.

Kathmandu, which is generally a quiet city after twilight bustles with life till the wee hours of morning in the narrow alleys of Thamel and other selected places. Bars and pubs, many of which feature live music stay open till late night while discotheques function to keep boredom at bay for the young Nepali crowd and tourists out for the night.

A taste of Nepali culture is still sought by tourists. Visitors are fascinated by ethnic ambience in local restaurants that serve authentic Nepali food. Art galleries and museums of the Valley exhibiting cultural treasures are also among preferred tourist choices. Health clubs and gymnasium are available for sports lovers. While latest Nepali and Hindi movies run in most movie theaters, a theatre in Kathmandu also runs good English movies. Video and DVD stores offer wider range of choices.

Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon Nepa Inspired and encouraged by the grand success of Everest Marathon held on May 19, 2003 to commemorate Golden Jubilee Celebration of ascent on Mt. Everest by Late Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary , Himalaya Expeditions have taken a step further by giving a lifeline to this marathon by organizing it annually on May 29. The support and suggestion provided by the grandson of Late Tenzing Norgay Sherpa has motivated us to organize this marathon under the banner of Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon in the everlasting memory of the two legendary figures. 5th Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon is slated to organize on May 29, 2007 , 54th anniversary of ascent on Mt. Everest by Tenzing Sherpa and Edmund Hillary . Since the name of Tenzing and Hillary has been associated with Mt. Everest , marathon will be a most befitting tribute to these great souls who climbed Mt. Everest for the first time in the history of human civilization. The start line of the Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon is at Everest Base camp 5356m (17,149 feet) in Nepal . The marathon finish at the Sherpa town of Namche Bazaar at 3446m (11,300 feet) and the course is a measured 42.195 km (26.2 miles) over rough mountain trails. Everest Marathon is the world's most spectacular race to be held in 2005 for the third time. For acclimatizing to the high altitude all runners of the Everest Marathon are requested to be in Nepal three weeks prior to the race. This three week holiday combines sightseeing in the capital, Kathmandu , a 15 day trek to the start under medical supervision, an ascent of Kala Pattar (5623m) for the best views of  Everest . Although the course of the Everest Marathon is basically down hill, there are two steep uphill sections. There may be snow and ice on the upper part and there is considerable exposure along much of the route of the marathon. Experience of rough terrain is essential for Everest Marathon and road marathon experience is not sufficient to run Everest Marathon. The Everest region is understandably one of the most popular and spectacular destinations for trekking , and it offers some of the most fascinating and enjoyable trekking . Your acclimization trek begins with a sweeping scenic flight to Lukla. The trek starts from Lukla following many farm villages enroute with beautiful views of the high snow capped peaks of the world, and to the highest spot at Kalapatar for the outstanding breathtaking view panorama of peaks and its glacier including Mt. Everest at a stone throw distance. During your trekking period upto Everest Basecamp, you will pass through the Everest National Park crossing through Namche Bazaar, Khumbu's Sherpa capital and Buddhist monasteries of Pangboche, one of the oldest in the area, and at Thyangboche, one of the newest as it was re-built after being burnt to the ground. A visit to Kala Patthar (5545m) will be rewarded with unmatched views of Nuptse, Everest, Lhotse. This marathon itself is a part of trekking.   International Elephant Race Competition Nepal With the purpose stated above, an International Elephant Race was organized in the Tourist Village of Sauraha in December 26 and 27 of 2005. This race was organized for Charity purpose. Twenty-nine elephants had taken part under the banners of national and international teams and some 15,000 domestic and international tourists have participated and were delighted. This event was given coverage by BBC, Chinese and Indian TV channels and was given proper publicity by the entire national newspapers and T.V. channels of Nepal. This was only a small and humble beginning, but it has greatly encourages us to organize this event with better management and larger participation. We can safely target to get 30,000 tourists participation in this event in December 2006, which may last for 4-5 days. As the great Asian Elephant, the most intelligent, friendly, beneficial and biggest mammal on earth is practically at the verge of extinction, we the people of Saurha at the main gateway of Chitwan National Park, want to draw the kind attention of the conscious animal lovers and ecologically conscious intellectuals of the world, about this unhappy situation. As some 10,000 people of this area are directly dependent on tourism industry and as the elephants are the backbone of this industry, it is also necessary for us to save elephants. Elephant Polo Tournament Nepal The World Elephant Polo Association (WEPA) was formed in 1982 at Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge in the Royal Chitwan National Park in south west Nepal . The first games were played on a grass airfield in Meghauly which is located just on the edge of the National Park. The co-founders, James Manclark, a Scottish landowner and former Olympic tobogganer and Jim Edwards, owner of Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge and Chairman of the Tiger Mountain Group, came up with the idea in a bar in St. Moritz, Switzerland, where they are both members of the Cresta Club. Elephant polo was first played in India around the turn of the 20th century, by members of the Maharaja’s   Harem (Zenena) – to keep them busy. WEPA is the first paramount organization in the modern times to host and create elephant polo as a game with organized competitions. The first games were played with a soccer ball, but after finding that the elephants like to smash the balls, the soccer ball was replaced with a standard polo ball. The sticks are made of bamboo and have a standard polo mallet on the end. The length of the stick depends on the size of the elephant - anywhere from 5 to 12 feet. Most of the rules of the games are based on horse polo, but the pitch is 3/4 length (because of the slower speed of the elephants) and there are some necessary additions - for instance, it is a penalty for an elephant to lie down in front of the goal line. Players are secured in rope harnesses, with a rope across their thighs and rope stirrups. The game will stop if a player's harness becomes too loose and there is a danger of the player falling off. Players have fallen off elephants only a few times in WEPA's 20-year history. The primary difference between horse and elephant polo, besides the substitution of an elephant for a horse, is that the elephants are "driven" by their trainers, called "mahouts." The mahouts have generally worked with the elephant for many years and the elephants respond quickly to the mahout’s signals and commands. The mahout communicates with the elephant with verbal commands and by applying pressure to the back of the elephant's ears with their feet. The player's responsibility is to let the mahout know where to go, how fast, when to stop, etc. Most of the mahouts and all of the elephants only understand Nepali, so the communication is difficult at times. The professional players tend to learn some basics Nepali to help with the communication on the pitch. The WEPA tournament has been hosted by Tiger Tops at Meghauly each December since 1982. It is an invitational event and has in the past included teams representing a wide variety of countries and sponsors,