KAVREPALANCHOWK: The ‘Suntala-Hiking’ (Orange-Hiking) program is being launched in Kavrepalanchowk with the objective of promoting agriculture and tourism. The initiative is being introduced on a trial and promotional basis with the involvement of several organizations and institutions.
The program is being organized with the special support of the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), Kavrepalanchowk Chapter, and the Dhulikhel Municipality Tourism Council, in collaboration with the Nepal Youth Entrepreneur Forum and the Rotary Club of Dhulikhel.
A similar initiative was introduced around 15 years ago but was discontinued after a few years. HAN Kavrepalanchowk President Prahlad Pyakurel said the program is being revived to reconnect agriculture with tourism in the district.
He noted that the earlier Namobuddha–Balthali ‘Suntala-Hiking’ program, organized in November 2010 by the Nepal Environment and Tourism Awareness Foundation (NETIF) with support from the Nepal Tourism Board, had gained popularity before it was halted.
Pyakurel, who is also the managing director of Hotel Sarathi in Dhulikhel, said the program is being relaunched in a new format this season, considering the district’s strong potential for orange cultivation. The formal launch is scheduled for today (Thursday), coinciding with Christmas Day.
Under the initiative, the main hiking route has been set from Namobuddha, a major tourist destination in the district, to Balthali. Along the route, hikers will pass through Pahelpur’s orange orchards, where they can enjoy scenic views and taste fresh oranges directly from local farms.
Participants will also experience the religious significance of Namobuddha and the natural beauty of Balthali, including visits to the Ladkeshwor Mahadevsthan complex, which features the world’s tallest trident and other religious and tourism infrastructures.
Taking advantage of the Christmas holiday, the organizers expect more than 100 participants, including tourism entrepreneurs, industrialists, public representatives, media professionals, content creators, security officials, travel agents, and agriculture-related officials.
According to HAN, the promotional hiking event aims to develop a month-long tourism package during the orange season (November–December) starting next year. Plans include offering special discounts on hotel and resort tariffs and adding new attractions.
The organizers aim to attract at least 1,000 tourists to Kavrepalanchowk during the orange season annually, benefiting local hotels, resorts, homestays, and the agricultural sector. Currently, 32 quality hotels and resorts in the district are affiliated with HAN out of around 150 hospitality establishments.
Meanwhile, the District Agricultural Development Office has projected a 10 to 15 percent increase in orange production in Kavrepalanchowk this year. Last year, production declined by about seven percent due to damage caused by floods and landslides.
Office Chief Kul Prasad Dawadi said data collection is underway in major orange-growing areas, and preliminary estimates suggest improved output compared to last year.
Although the district had been projected to produce 7,500 metric tons of oranges in fiscal year 2081 BS, production fell by around 500 metric tons due to orchard damage. Oranges are cultivated across approximately 1,300 hectares, or about 30,000 ropanis, in the district. This year, total production is estimated at around 8,000 metric tons.
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