New Year fever grips tourist site Sauraha

Chitwan, April 13

New Year fever has gripped Chitwan’s famous tourist site Sauraha.

The place which used to see visitors only on English New Year has started to witness a huge  number of visitors even on other occasions, most notably on the Nepali New Year Day.

According to tourism entrepreneurs, domestic tourists make up the bulk of visitors. Session break in schools is another reason for rise in the number of visitors in Sauraha.

“Around 90 per cent hotel rooms have been booked now. As the visitors are pouring in, we hope all the rooms will be occupied by this evening,” said Regional Hotel Association Nepal chairperson Suman Ghimire. Ghimire presented a data of increasing number of visitors here over the past three years. “Last year the hotel occupancy was 80 pc, which has increased this year with around 70 pc domestic tourists,” he said, adding, “While a few hotels have invited singers, there is a special Tharu cultural dance show this evening.”

Hotel Mona Lisa operator Keshav Khanal enthused about near cent per cent room booking. “This year we’ve witnessed a record 95 per cent room booking, which is very encouraging,” he said, adding tourists from faraway have come to Sauraha to celebrate the New Year Day.