Renowned actor Rajesh Hamal and actress Priyanka Karki have been appointed as goodwill ambassadors for the International Balloon Festival, set to take place in Nepal for the first time. The announcement was made at a special event held in Kathmandu.
During the event, Hamal shared his experience of filming a movie scene in a balloon over Kathmandu 25 years ago. He expressed his excitement about collaborating with the Balloon Nepal team for future film projects. He also highlighted the growing trend of adventure tourism in Nepal, alongside trekking and other tourism activities. Hamal believes that the hot air balloon festival will bring a new dimension to Nepal’s tourism industry.
Actress Priyanka Karki, known for her love of adventure sports, shared her own experiences with paragliding in Pokhara. She expressed her enthusiasm for being part of the balloon festival, stating, “I am thrilled to be a part of this historic event and look forward to the unique entertainment it will bring.”
Organized by Balloon Nepal Pvt. Ltd. in collaboration with Rhythmic Entertainment, the festival will be held in Pokhara, the tourism capital of Nepal, from December 23 to 30, coinciding with Christmas and the New Year. This will be the first event of its kind in the country, and pre-booking for tourists interested in hot air balloon rides is already open through the company’s official website.
The festival is also being promoted by the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), with coordination from directors Deepak Kumar Shrestha and Robert Bishwakarma, both based in the UK. Managing Director Sabin Maharjan stated that the event would see participation from around 30 international balloon companies, with Balloon Nepal operating five hot air balloons. Countries like Spain, France, the USA, the UK, Latvia, Germany, Laos, Austria, Korea, and Italy are among the 25 nations expected to participate.
The festival will cover a three-kilometer stretch from Lauruk to Chankhpur in Pokhara. Vikram Bade, Chairman of Balloon Nepal Pvt. Ltd., noted that preparations are in full swing, and they are optimistic that the event will inject new energy into Pokhara’s tourism scene. The festival aims to attract more domestic and international tourists to the city, which has seen a slowdown in tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A unique highlight of the event will be DJ sessions inside the balloons, which is expected to be a major attraction. The festival will also include night balloon rides, offering visitors the chance to experience hot air balloon glow events. Since 2018, Balloon Nepal has been providing hot air balloon flight services from Pokhara, and this festival promises to further elevate Nepal’s adventure tourism profile.
