Kathmandu, April 6:

To promote Rasuwa district as a tourist destination, the first Tamang Heritage Trail, a mountain bike race, will be held in the Langtang region on April 29.

The adventure sport is being jointly organised by Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme (TRPAP), Nepal Tourism Board, District Development Committee of Rusuwa, and Himalayan Expeditions Inc.

Speaking at a press meet here today, National Programme Manager of TRPAP Ravi Jung Pandey said that the objectives of the race was to promote the the event as one of the major sports tourism destinations, generating public awareness regarding sustainable community-based tourism, garnering support and encouraging such projects, utilising tourism as a tool for poverty alleviation and maxmising local participation in the tourism-releated activies.

“Our effort is to make Nepal one of the best adventure tourism destinations in the world,” said Bikrum Pandey, MD of Himalaya Expeditions.

The 28km race, with the altitude variations from 1460-2436 metres, begins from Syabrubeshi and ends at Goljung. The race will be held in two sections — men and women. Bikers above 18 years with certain level of physical fitness are eligible to take part in the race.