18th Elephant & Tourism Festival begins in Sauraha (photos)
The festival, which commenced on Thursday, will run until Dec 30.
KATHMANDU: The 18th Elephant and Tourism Festival has officially started in the tourist hub of Sauraha.
The festival, which commenced on Thursday, will run until Dec 30.
It is organized by the Regional Hotel Association, Chitwan Sauraha.
The opening ceremony featured a cultural parade that started from Damp Side and passed through Rhino Chowk and Elephant Chowk.
The festival is an annual event aimed at promoting tourism in Chitwan.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Urban Development, Prakash Man Singh, inaugurated the program.
A total of 80 elephants, both private and government-owned, participate in various activities under the festival.
There are 60 private elephants in Sauraha.
The festival is expected to cost around Rs 13.5 million.
The festival initiated over 25 years ago, was paused for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since its resumption last year, it has been instrumental in revitalizing tourism in Sauraha.
The elephant celebration, according to the organizers, is intended to keep international tourists visiting Nepal in Sauraha until the English New Year and Christmas.
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