About the Workshop VenueAbout the Workshop Venue
The workshop will be held in the Pokhara Grande Hotel. This is conveniently situated close to Pokhara airport and all the main attractions of Pokhara.
Pokhara Office:
Pardi, Pokhara
Tel: 977-61-460210
Fax: 977-61-460211
Kathmandu Sales Office:
Lazimpat, Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: 977-1-4005030
Fax: 977-1-4005029
Email: sales@pokharagrande.com
Website: http://www.pokharagrande.com
There is plenty of good information about visiting and travelling to Nepal available on the internet. Our Nepal Tourism Board website is a good starting place:
You may also find the following sites useful with background information about Nepal, its climate, recent history and tourist attractions:
http://nepalhomepage.com/firstpage
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/nepal
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/nepal
Getting to Nepal
Most people reach Nepal from Overseas via Kathmandu’s International Airport. At the present time, there are no international flights direct to Pokhara, the venue of the Workshop.
Flights are available to Kathmandu from International Destinations via Delhi, various Middle East locations (Doha, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Soeul, Singapore, Dhaka, Calcutta, Kuala Lumpur), Bangkok, and Europe. Please check with your travel agent for the best routes and fares.
On arrival in Kathmandu, most workshop participants will probably spend at least one night in the capital city before travelling to Pokhara for the workshop. Our detailed information form will ask you to give us your planned arrival time and we will assist you to find accommodation before travelling on to Pokhara.
Visa Information
Most people travelling to Nepal will require an entry visa. Depending on your nationality, this can be obtained either on arrival at Nepal’s International Airport or, in some cases it may need to be obtained in advance at Nepali Diplomatic Missions in different parts of the world. Information about Nepali visa requirements as well as a full list and contact details of Nepali Overseas Missions can be found on:
Also
If you have any specific problems in getting a Nepali visa, then the Organising Committee will be able to help you. Please contact us for our assistance.
About Pokhara
If Kathmandu is the cultural hub of Nepal, Pokhara is its center of adventure. An enchanting city nestled in a tranquil valley; it is the starting point for many of Nepal's most popular trekking and rafting destinations. The atmosphere on the shore of Phewa Lake is one of excited vitality as hipster backpackers crowd the many bars and restaurants exchanging recommendations on guest houses and viewpoints, both by the lake and above the clouds.
Pokhara is a place of remarkable natural beauty. The serenity of Phewa Lake and the magnificence of the fishtailed summit of Machhapuchhre (6,977 m) rising behind it create an ambience of peace and magic. At an elevation lower than Kathmandu, it has a much more tropical feel to it, a fact well appreciated by the beautiful diversity of flowers which prosper in its environs. Indeed, the valley surrounding Pokhara is home to thick forests, gushing rivers, emerald lakes, and of course, the world famous views of the Himalaya.
The powerful rule of the old kings of Kathmandu, the Lichhavis and the Mallas, held sway over this valley for some time. As these dynasties fell prey to their own troubles, Pokhara Valley and the surrounding hills disintegrated into small kingdoms, frequently at war with each other. These were called the Chaubise Rajya or the Twenty-four Kingdoms. It was among these that Kulmandan Shah established his kingdom. His descendant Drabya Shah was the first to establish Gorkha, home of the legendary Gurkha warriors.
Finally, Pokhara is a part of a once vibrant trade route extending between India and Tibet. To this day, mule trains can be seen camped on the outskirts of the town, bringing goods to trade from remote regions of the Himalaya. This is the land of the Magars and Gurungs, hardworking farmers and valorous warriors who have earned world-wide fame as Gurkha soldiers. The Thakalis, another important ethnic group here, are known for their entrepreneurship.
Nowadays Pokhara is also an important forestry centre for Nepal since it is the home of Nepal’s Institute of Forestry where many Nepalese foresters have received their training. It lies at the hub of road communications to all adjacent districts, and many people pass through Pokhara on their way to these more remote areas. Pokhara also lies at the gateway to the internationally reknown Annapurna Conservation Area – a huge protected area of mountains, forests, rivers and human settlements encompassing the mighty Annapura Himalayan ranges. The area is famed for its rich biodiversity and not surprisingly is also a major attraction for tourists – both from within and outside Nepal, who visit the area for trekking, mountaineering, white water rafting, birdwatching and various other activities.
Getting to Pokhara
There are two main means of travel between Pokhara from Kathmandu – by air or by road (bus). If you wish, the Workshop Organising Committee can arrange your travel from Kathmandu for you. We anticipate that specially hired buses will leave Kathmandu for Pokhara on 14th 
September – a journey of about 5 hours (the costs of this is included in the workshop registration fee). On the journey you will have an opportunity to see the mountains, villages and the natural beauty of the Nepal countryside.
If you prefer to travel by air to Pokhara, we can also arrange your air travel (at additional cost). The flight takes about 40 minutes and may give you an opportunity to see the majestic Himalayan Mountain range.
Accommodation
Pokhara is a major international tourist destination. A wide range of hotel accommodation is available in the City. Once your registration with us is confirmed you will be given the opportunity to state your hotel preference, from 5-star luxury to small homely lodges with a price range in accordance with this. We will do our best to make hotel bookings on your behalf to meet your preferences. Of course you may prefer to make such arrangements yourself over the internet or by phone.
See: http://www.welcomenepal.com/nepal/contacts_hotels.asp
Why not extend your stay in Nepal after the workshop and take some time to visit the majestic Himalayas which are easily accessible for those willing to trek. We can put you in touch with local travel agents who will do their best to meet all your specific requirements.