Jatayu Restaurant (JR), the name might give you an eccentric feeling of curiosity and oddness but reality is, it’s not a conventional restaurant that address the apatite, perhaps its bizarre of its kind. To be specific, it is a conservational site, established with the theme to conserve the decreasing population of two rare species of vultures’ namely White-rumped Gyps bengalensis and Slender-billed Gyps tenuirostris. Practically settling down from its name and visualizing its periphery is yet another amazement. The restaurant not only evades the bad image of the natural scavengers but provides an overwhelming platform to learn and to observe the behavioral aspect of this king of birds. Nevertheless, synchronizing the graphic and bloody scene might be an interest for researchers but for lighthearted people, it’s just a scene of a horror which explicates an open fest of bloody and fleshy carcass where hundreds of birds line up for their meal. The restaurant also houses a hide for the visitors to watch the fest where interested bird enthusiasts can learn more about the bird species. The restaurant is famous among travelers, tourists and bird enthusiasts as a wonder land where as for the locals, it’s a new concept of conservation adapting the ecological demand. In the year 2006, when the number of Vulture population plumed down, a situation of ecological turmoil ruled in. Suddenly attention was diverted towards the reasons behind the turmoil where researchers came to know about implication of the Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) Diclofenac on the bird species. Highlighting the need of time, Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) played a crucial role in raising awareness about the issue. As the number of vulture population decreased, the dead carcasses were left aside to decay, spreading diseases and threatening the environment. The cause behind was the bird feasted on the contaminated dead animal carcass treated with Diclofenac, which was toxic to the bird species. In addition, the consumption of the medicine from the death carcass resulted in the death of the bird which slacked the vulture population. On the result of that the BCN established a community-run sanctuary named Jatayu (Vulture) Restaurant at Pithauli, Nawalparasi District which catered the extinct species with the fresh carcass uncontaminated with Diclofenac. They first setup a community shed where cows and buffalos outgrown their productive age are sheltered and after their death. They would be skinned out and fed at the JR to the birds. Additionally, adapting the trend the community shelter pays NRs 200 per animal to the donors which were previously exported to India. The community shed currently is running under the financial support of United Nation Development Programme’s Global Environment Facility and Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB). The entire management of this restaurant is managed under the local community with technical support from BCN. Likewise, a study of Nepal’s 75 districts by BCN finds that the use of Diclofenac has dropped by 90 percent since 2006, thanks to work of BCN and its partners like Nepalese government (Department of Drug Administrative and Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation) the numbers are growing creating and alerting people about their ecological importance and conservation of these nature scavengers. Currently at its 2nd year the habitat has certainly double the birds’ number giving them a new hope for future where JR has established itself as a unique and model sanctuary managed under public partnership.
By Shreedeep Rayamajhi
Canyoning, the new adventure sport is famous among foreigners for its vertex image of drop off and maneuvering techniques of climbing. Perhaps, looking at pragmatic ground, it endows the sport from the exhilaration to the thrill, outreaching the human boundary of courage and strength. Moreover, defining it technically, Canyoning is an adventure activity that consists of walking or trekking up the head of canyon and abseiling down the canyon with the help of a rope. The fascinating aspect of this sport highlights passing along the torrent stream by stepping across the canyon’s blocks sliding or diving into the pool or swimming using equipments such as harness, jumper, carbineer, figure 8 etc. There are basically two aspect of the sport, one is experiencing it and the other is just the spectators’ watch. Like such, devoured with the excitement to see the canyoneers jumping off the 45 meters Hadi Khola currently known as the Jumbo Canyon was a spectacular view. The experience was so overwhelming that seeing such a deed one could be tainted with the adrenal rush. I was invited to report on the workshop and demonstration of Canyoning organized by the Nepal Canyoning Association (NCA) on February 2, 2008. The canyon is located around 100 KM from the Kathmandu situated in the extreme rouged terrain at the Bhote Koshi Valley. After the demonstration and pick up note, my enthusiasm grew its toll, till the time the organizers announced a trial Canyoning experience to the guests in a small feasible canyon. Soon catching the words, it naturally grasped me and I immediately raised my hand to get the taste of the wild sport. Like such, waiting in the queue to face the angst, I had a chance to change my words with one of the French Canyoneers about the sport and when asked about the thrill. He replied me in bold words, “The sport Canyoning is all about freedom that creates enthusiasm to feel the nature as well as to see the scenic views from the top angle but it also challenge you through its drops and slippery rough edges. Once you do this sport there is nothing like such.” Though, I had doubts about my senses of excitement but to some extent, his word literally motivated me to seek a new horizon. I picked up my fear and embraced it to enroll myself in the safety harness, which was strapped below my abdomen. Briefing me, one of the guides told me that the safety harnesses for the first time users makes it feel uneasy but there is nothing to worry, as the rope would certainly hold up. Highlighting more, he stated the rope and other accessory like dry suit, shoe and helmet used in the sport are made from a high density material which can stand violent situation. After the last check up, I was hooked in a safety harness line. Before jumping down, I remembered it was the sense of excitement that forwarded me but at the same time on the back of my mind thinking about the inevitable, I was hesitant. However, putting an end to my fear and dodging it, I jumped in the air. The feeling or the excitement to feel the thin air was awesome and as guided. I reclined on the wall of the canyon forcing my back in the empty air to support my legs on an up right position standing on the wall and the experience was simply enthralling. While descending down, I controlled my speed by the help of the figure eight equipment which hovered my speed where loosing the rope from one side controlled my pace. At that moment, one could really feel the adrenal rush mounting up where on contrary the cold breeze hitting on the face made me feel tempted to drive my enthusiasm to newer heights. It was going perfect when suddenly; I faced a break on the wall which pulled me to the safety rope. Then, I circled in the empty air hanging no where. For a second I got stilled in the air which increased my anxiety. Subsequently, I realized and let the figure eight go and the rope literally slide me down with comfort. Thus, by my experience of the demo and trail, I can beat that Canyoning is a wild product of tourism which is not only safe and sound, if proper measure are taken in but at the same time its fun and exciting. It is the combination of trekking, rafting and mountaineering that gives a chilling feeling of exhilaration, which would not only gives you the taste of an adrenal rush but at the same hand gives you a different angle to see the landscape from the top angel.
Located in the serrated and natural environment of Northern Gorkha at an altitude from 1905m to 5093m on the Tibetan border, Tsum valley is new marvel for tourist attraction. An exploration program was organized by Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) on May 11, 2008 which lasted for 17 days. Tsum Valley was recently opened by the government in last October 17, 2007 where previously, it was a restricted from any tourism or recreational activities. The exploration was conducted by 12 technical team members with 15 support team members for the survey of its feasibility as a trekking destination. According to the report forwarded by the team of Sonam Lama, Coordinator, Tsum Welfare Committee and Namgyal Sherpa Coordinator of the exploration and Executive member of Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) stated, “The report addressed the issues on basic facilities and tourist attractions along the trail to uplift livelihoods of the inhabitants by developing and promoting sustainable tourism. The main objective of this project was to disclose the secrets of the hidden valley and make it feasible for all.” The specific objectives of the study limited with in following points: To study possibility of developing Tsum Valley as a new and peculiar destination. To study the tourism infrastructure available (camping, lodges, stores, bridges, helipads etc) for trekking groups To revise the cultural and natural heritages of the valley from the tourist standpoint. To study latent impact by the upcoming trekkers group on the socio-economic factor and the merits for the Tsumbas To ascertain the best possible area and daily chained itinerary with well detailed information that acquires optimum scenic and cultural experiences The report also forwarded recommendations like
Lakuri Bhanjyang is a spectacular land marvel resides within 20 KM from the valley in the Lalitpur district at an altitude from 2100-2500m. Excluded and serrated in its own natural habitat, it’s one of the most popular sites for recreation activities. Perhaps, looking at the rich green bio-diversity and vegetation seems as an amalgamation of nature and modernization bordering to its limits. Similarly, the scenic views of Mahabharata range joys the arrivals amidst its wide versa of landscape magnetizing them to its enigmatic and dimensional perspective adding bonus to the journey. Contemplating, the peculiar views of the valley overwhelms its visitors with exhilaration and temptation of natural and real Nepal where on contrary the yellow embraced fields of mustard and small cribs located in the hills and cliffs gives an essence of vigorous civilization. Moreover, its spectacular landscape is perfect for adventure sports like hiking, mountain biking, paragliding etc which highlights the place from time to time in its abode in the name of tourism. Though not far from the city it’s a perfect and isolated site for relaxation where one can feel the fresh oxygen to the lung making it easier to breath in the explicit space. The journey starts from Kathmandu edging its border to the outskirt of Bhaktpur, Lalitpur district and then to Sisneri where we touched three district from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur. After reaching Sisneri, the vivid vegetation peripheries its facilitating environs to be more vivacious and attractive. Looking at such green and fresh vegetation, we slugged out of the bus thinking of the hiking to be hard and treacherous. We were accompanied by around 40 media persons from different publication and media houses who were invited to celebrate the International Mountains Day. After getting the hint from the organizers, we grabbed our bags and set in to the jungle with in the small tracks. The tracks were indifferent so much that if not accompanied by a tracker, it would be hard to locate the route. Perhaps, the deal was, we were excited and in the space of comfort of the locals and trackers, we decided to make the hike more adventurous, so neglecting the easy roads we made our way thorough the jungle creating an extra sense of enthusiasm and exhilarating out of the trip. The jungle was deemed with tall pine trees and slippery track of yellow mud, thanks to god it was not a rainy season. Despite the fact that these jungles at times can be scary and dangerous, we subtracted the stem and forwarded our journey with a new sprit. Carrying the burning enthusiasm, our team passed through the jungle highlighting a sense of excitement but on the back of our mind we all had the sense of adrenaline going, thinking for the inevitable. Passing by the panoramic cliff exhibited the exotic view of Kathmandu valley below and the mountain range amortized time in our memory. Looking at the scenic views from a native’s eyes focused on the essence to see the valley below in the most profound way. Moreover the encroachment of the concrete jungle and it limitation seemed as a posing threat of modernization where the nature was challenging the threats of modernization. Likewise, the tracks passed through a rough terrain where we felt the lack-ness, as lack of good trekking shoes might feel as a major draw back to face the evitable situation, so prior hiking one should always see the feasibility of the landscape and the accessories needed. The route made us feel very tradition and convention where the springs and streams that were readily available beside the tracks made us feel comfortable with the available of water. But looking at it from the health point of view it not considered wise to drink water from wild without any treatment which always triggered us neglecting it in the sprits of seeing and feeling it rather than using it. Similarly, during the hike, we came across villages and societies where the normal lifestyle of the native people was a learning experience. Like such, in Lamatar, we came across a Tamang society where the family of the deceased was performing the after death 49th day procession. The shaman told us that this was a very intricate process and if not done in proper way the sprits cannot obtain peace. The experience of the whole interaction was eccentric but reality is our culture and tradition are based upon mysterious believes that are very abstract and enigmatic which portraits our rich heritage. The hike nearly lasted around 2 hrs but the exhaustion was overwhelmed by the scenic mountains view of in the Mahabharata range and the valley which kept the sprit high. With a picture perfect mode posing seemed as a perfect shot framed in the canvas of nature. From Lakuribhanjyang one can see the range of mountains like Gauri shankar, Ganesh, langtang etc. Ironically, Lakuribhanjyang is a great destination of scenic views with a timeless photographic image where one can rejuvenate oneself with the fresh environment. 
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