Pokhara is currently in a festive mood, with back-to-back events bringing energy to the city. Adding to this vibrancy, the 12th Nepal Literature Festival is set to take place from Falgun 15 to 18. Organized by the Bookworm Foundation, the festival will host over 200 national and international writers, politicians, artists, journalists, editors, and literary enthusiasts at the scenic lakeside of Fewa, with the Machhapuchhre and Annapurna ranges as a backdrop. The event will feature discussions on literature, politics, economy, technology, cinema, and various other social topics.
Recently, on Falgun 3, Pokhara Metropolitan City announced Pokhara Visit Year 2025, to attract around 2 million tourists. Business leaders believe that events like the literature festival play a crucial role in drawing visitors and promoting tourism. According to Gopi Bahadur Bhattarai, coordinator of the Visit Year 2025 executive committee, the festival will help boost the city’s literary and cultural identity while also strengthening the local economy. He highlighted that the discussions held at the event would foster cultural exchange and promote Pokhara on the global stage.
Maniraj Lamichhane, head of the Nepal Tourism Board (Gandaki Province), emphasized that Pokhara is known for hosting various events, making it a city of festivals. He stated that the literature festival would contribute significantly to the tourism sector by showcasing Nepal’s literary and cultural heritage to the world. He also noted that the presence of international literary figures at the festival would help to publicize globally and attract foreign literature enthusiasts to visit Nepal.
Pokhara Metropolitan City’s Tourism and Urban Development Division Chief, Bimalranjan Karki, expressed confidence that the festival would add momentum to Pokhara’s tourism. He stated that Pokhara is not just a natural beauty hotspot but also an emerging center for cultural and intellectual activities. The city aims to promote itself not only as a scenic travel destination but also as a hub for diverse artistic and literary engagements.
Journalist Bharat Koirala, a member of the festival committee, mentioned that hosting literature-related events would help establish Pokhara as a destination for literary tourism. He noted that interactions between authors and readers, book launches, and literary discussions could enhance Pokhara’s international reputation while also supporting tourism promotion. The festival will provide a platform to spread social, political, and cultural messages through literature and art, ultimately encouraging visitors to stay in Pokhara for a longer duration.
According to Executive Director Neeraj Bhari, this year’s festival will feature over 200 participants, including writers, artists, journalists, and political figures. The festival will include more than 50 interactive sessions, musical performances, and creative activities. Notable sessions include discussions with Nepali-American writer Ranjan Adiga on his book “Litchi and Other Stories,” literary dialogues with Professor Mahendra P. Lama, a conversation with actress Manisha Koirala, and the book launch of actor Rajesh Hamal. The event will also feature literary discussions spanning a wide range of topics, including book critiques from six-year-old Bhumilakshmi to 89-year-old Mohan Bikram Singh.
Festival Director Ajit Baral emphasized that the Nepal Literature Festival has played a significant role in Pokhara’s cultural development, promoting literature alongside tourism. He believes the festival has contributed to increasing literary activities not only in Pokhara but in other cities as well. Baral noted that the event is receiving support from the local, provincial, and federal governments, as well as private sector organizations like Ncell, tourism entrepreneurs, literature lovers, and media houses.
The festival will also feature musical performances by groups like Project Sarangi and Sonagi Blues, blending traditional and contemporary music. Additionally, an art exhibition by folk painters will attract art and culture enthusiasts, adding another dimension to the festival. With its combination of literature, music, and culture, the Nepal Literature Festival is set to become a key highlight of Pokhara Visit Year 2025, helping to further establish Pokhara as an international hub for cultural tourism.
