KAVREPALANCHOWK: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has given permission to Phulchoki Adventure Pvt Ltd to operate commercial paragliding in the Phulchoki area of Panauti.

Currently, the technical procedures are being worked out at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal for the operation of paragliding in Phulchoki.

Chabilal Humagain, Chair Phulchoki Adventure Pvt Ltd said that preparations will be made for commercial flights after the release of operational instructions from the CAAN.

With approval from the Tourism Ministry to carry out paragliding flights in the Kushadevi area of Panauti another attraction is likely to be added to adventure sports-tourism in Phulchoki area.

A test flight of paragliding was conducted from Gurdumdanda three years ago during a tourism festival.

On the occasion, 15 paragliders had conducted test flight for three days. The place for take-off, landing, air pressure, and other conditions reported to be favorable for paragliding in the area.

Humagain said that since it will take a month to complete all the procedures of paragliding operations, plans are afoot to start commercial flights from coming October.

According to him, 10 paragliding companies have been allowed to fly daily from 10 am to 4 pm.

It is said that visibility will be up to 6,500 feet at the specified time. Paragliders will take off from Gurdumdanda and land at Bancharetar in Kushadevi.

The road distance from Gurdumdanda to Bancharetar is four kilometers. The take-off point is 2,350 meters above sea level while the landing point is 1,300 meters above sea level.