Yatra Magazine February 2017 | Buddha Air

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Issue # 27 Feb. 2017

w w w . b u d d h a a i r . c o m

LUMBINI

World Peace City

Gautam Buddha Intl. Airport

To Bring Broad Smiles facebook.com/buddhaair

@airbuddha

@buddhaairnepal

Namaste and welcome on board Buddha Air! I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our flyers a Happy New Year 2017. Last year was a year of achievements and milestones for Buddha Air, a highlight of which was flying the President of India. This new year has started auspiciously with buying an additional ATR 72-500, which will start commercial operation by March 2017 and start flying two daily flights to Dhangadi .

The ongoing developments to enrich the heritage and archeology of Lumbini makes it a great destination to visit. This Buddhist pilgrimage site has many beautiful places to visit - you can read about them in the cover story "World Peace City". Gautam Buddha Airport is currently being upgraded to an international airport. This airport will be the gateway to Lumbini. Also, read the exclusive interview with Mr. Gilles Collaveri, Contracts Director of ATR. He talks about the feasibility of operating ATR in Asia and ATR's partnership with Buddha Air. The talented artists and craftsmen of Nepal make some of the world’s unique paintings and handicrafts. Read “Nepal’s Hidden Treasures,” to learn the of works of these brilliant artisans. Besides these, you will also read the winter festivities celebrated in Nepal, a person’s account of trekking the Annapurna Base Camp for the first time, how we won the Frost and Sullivan Award for Best Airline in 2016 and the power of training our employees.

A new addition from this Yatra issue is to feature the photos taken by our flyers of their journey with us. We want to hear from you. You can send us your feedback and suggestions, testimonials and photos too. Your articles and testimonials could be featured in the upcoming issues of Yatra.

Thank you for choosing to fly with us. We hope you have a pleasant flight.

Birendra B. Basnet Managing Director, Buddha Air

In-flight magazine Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, Nepal e-mail: yatra@buddhaair.com Published by: Buddha Air Pvt. Ltd., Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, Nepal

Editorial Board Khagendra Bahadur Basnet Subarna Kharel UL Shrestha Ratna Rai D.K. Karna

Copy Editor Kabita Thapa

34 Festivals of Winter Yomari & Maghe Sankranti 42

Being the Best Airline of Nepal

Reservation for the

President

6 6 Gautam Buddha Intl. Airport

To Bring Broad Smiles

20

Khana Khanu Bhayo!

30 As of year 2015, there were 193 UN Member States.

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The United Nations (UN) is an international organization of which almost all countries are members. Its job is to maintain the peace, security, human rights and development in the world.

cover story 24

United Nations

World Peace City

Sustainable development is progress that improves living conditions in the present without compromising the resources of future generations.

SDGsinNepal

SdgNepal

Many of the targets of the MDGs were met by 2015, but the world still needed to keep working to fully achieve the Goals as well as tackle new issues and problems. So, in September 2015, UN Member States reached an agreement on a new set of 17 goals called the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the next 15 years – from 2016 to 2030.

The Global Goals for Sustainable Development:

In 2000, representatives from the (then) 189 Member States met to adopt goals for the world called Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The eight MDGs were to be achieved by the year 2015.

Millennium Summit:

AN INTRODUCTION TO SDGs

contents Issue February 2017

President Visit FLIGHT

Reservation for the

2. Janakpur-Pokhara Fishtail & Annapurna Flight

President

3. Pokhara-KTM

Pokha

1. KTM-Janakpur

ra

Mt. Everest

KATHMANDU

r

janakpu

I

On 4th November, Buddha Air flew the President of India, His Excellency Shree Pranab Mukherjee to Pokhara and Janakpur.

While Buddha Air is used to VIPs flying with them, this was the first time that an international head of state flew with Buddha Air. Mr Subarna Kharel, Sr. Executive manager of the Operation Department at Buddha Air narrates his experience of coordinating the VIP flight.

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Director of Technical Department Mr. Mangesh Thapa welcoming the President of India His Excellency Shree Pranab Mukharjee before takeoff at TIA

t all started when Mr. Birendra Bahadur Basnet, Managing Director of Buddha Air got a call from Indian Embassy. The Defense Strategist from the Embassy wanted to know if Buddha Air could charter a flight for the Head of State. Mr. Basnet came to us and asked if we could handle it. We believed in our team so we knew that we were ready to operate the flight.

At first, the company was working on its own but soon the Nepal Government called us in and inquired about the flight. The next day we were called for a meeting and the Nepal Army and the Nepal Police joined us along with delegates from Indian Embassy and Nepal. These parties were curious about the services we would be providing. The Embassy had their own team of experts who inquired us about every tiny detail but we managed to answer all their queries.

It was not the first time that Buddha Air had served a VIP but it was the first time that we were going to serve an international Head of State. Our past experiences in serving international delegates like Hillary Clinton and Kofi Annan helped us to understand the responsibilities that were required of us. We made a detailed presentation of all the tasks that Buddha Air would be handling, like the flight route, the security, logistics, food and seating arrangements. The executives at Buddha Air were gearing up to provide the best services possible. The initial meeting was just one of the countless meetings we had with the Nepal Government and the Indian Embassy.

We started working with internal coordinators with the Nepal Police and Army and began

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President Visit

Captain Ranjan Sharma bestows a souvenier to President of India

making schedules for fuel sampling, food in order. We also wanted to make sure that there was someone to look after the sampling and aircraft inspection.

Two aircrafts were reserved for the operations and to greet the president flight and we had another one on standby. when he lands there.

Soon the day arrived and I was a bit But one of the main challenges of this flight was that it was scheduled for the wary since I had been working almost the day right after Tihar. We were unsure of whole night the day before to make sure how we could manage a presidential flight that everything was in order. But I had to and cater to our passengers at the same time. For this issue, Mr. Subash Ghimire, Executive of Marketing and Reservation suggested that we schedule as less flights as possible for the day. It was his concern that the passengers might not be able to make it to the airport on time with all the traffic blockades that would be occurring for security.

He was very conscious not only about the VIP flight but also about our normal passengers. So we decided to schedule as less flights as possible on that day.

A couple of days ahead of the flight we sent our executive level staff to Pokhara and Janakpur to President of India signed our guest book make sure that everything was

8

be present for the food sampling by 5 in the morning. Once the food sampling was done and all the inspections and logistics were ticked off, it was time for the flight. Once the president got onboard and the pilot made the cockpit announcements, it was time for the flight. The mountain flight was added to the schedule because we could not miss out on presenting the beauty of the mountains to the president. We had made sure that the seating arrangements would be planned accordingly so that the president could enjoy the view to his heart’s desire during the two flights.

We had appointed our senior staffs for the chartered flights because we knew they could handle the situation very well.

They made sure that the president and the other guests were comfortable on the flight and served with drinks and light snacks. The president was greeted by Mr Mangesh Thapa and Mr. Dilip Khadka during the takeoff in Kathmandu. Mr Ranjan Sharma greeted the president at Pokhara with souvenier. In Pokhara and Janakpur, Mr. Parashar Jung Pandey and Mr. Subash Ghimire were ready to receive the president respectively.

It was a matter of pride for Buddha Air that everything went according to plan! Each activity went smoothly just as we had planned from the time of takeoff at 10:23 am to serving the president with his favorite drink, Mint Green Tea. The only inconvenience we had was that we could not present a bouquet to the president at the Janakpur airport. Although we had received permission to present flowers at each destination (that were also sniffed by dogs and passed the security tests), a small miscommunication led to the bouquet being denied to be presented to the president.

Despite the small hurdles

His Excellency how was your flight?

Mr. Birendra Bahadur Basnet Managing Director, Buddha Air

“It was very smooth, comfortable and I thank you for excellent service.

I especially enjoyed the views of Gauri Shankar, Sagarmatha and the Annapurna Range."

H.E. Shri Pranab Mukherjee President of India

Managing Director of Buddha Air, Mr. Birendra B. Basnet greeting the President of India

on the way, the flight was a great experience not just for me but for the entire Buddha Air team. We were happy to know that the Indian Embassy appreciated our efforts of keeping detailed records of each action that we took. We had even created a list of all the people that would be present around the aircraft.

We knew all our efforts had paid off when Mr Birendra Bahadur Basnet got an appreciation note from the president for the services provided by Buddha Air. It read, “It was a pleasure flying by Buddha Air to Pokhara and Janakpur today. I had an

extraordinary view of the magnificent Mt Everest, Gauri Shankar and the Annapurna mountains during the flight. I thank Buddha Air for making the memorable journey so comfortable.”

As for me, I learned a lot by coordinating the VIP flight for the President of India, His Excellency Shree Pranab Mukherjee.

It was with team work and exceptional communication that we were able to pull this off. With this experience, I believe that Buddha Air will be ready to provide our best services to any VIPs flying with us in the future.

9

Tre k k i n g

My First Time Trekking at

Annapurna Base Camp

l Preety Baniya

10

t’s no secret that Nepal lies in the beautiful lap of the Himalayas. They are a source of fascination and adoration for people all over the world, especially since the tallest mountain, Mount Everest also lies in this region.

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My husband suggested that we should go on a trek together, after his solo Langtang Trek, which he thoroughly enjoyed by himself. After much deliberation, my husband and I decided to trek the Annapurna Base Camp in September. Tossing around trekking ideas and advice from friends and family members, some of them were surprised to know that I had never gone for trekking in Nepal, while others understood the time and effort it takes.

Thinking back, it was a crazy yet an awesome experience. As a woman, trekking the Annapurna Base Camp felt secure and easy. With proper planning and knowledge, one could even do an independent trek without a guide. The route is pretty straight forward you could ask fellow trekkers and local people for directions. Affordable lodgings are available, and they provide an assortment of meals ranging from the Nepali staple of rice with lentils and vegetables (Dal, Bhaat and Tarkari) to pizza! l Day 1 - Arriving in Pokhara My husband and I departed from Kathmandu via tourist bus in the morning and arrived at Nayapul, Pokhara at 4pm. We knew the trek had a long route so we began trekking to Birethanti. It was beginning to get dark, so we moved quickly to reach Tikedunga. l Day 2 - Trek to Ghorepani (2750m) After we enjoyed a wholesome breakfast, we headed out to climb the stone steps of Ulleri.

Climbing the steep stones proved difficult. The steps seemed to go on forever, and we felt tired. We kept

12

asking fellow trekkers and porters on the way if we were nearing the end of the stairs. They advised us to rest for 15 minutes and start climbing again. After a quick lunch, we were energized and walked until we reached Ghorepani. We could sense and feel the thin air of Ghorepani. When the cold weather touched my cheeks, I felt the freshness in the air.

Trekking the Annapurna Base Camp for the first time changed my perception! You don’t have to be extremely fit and most of the popular routes are safe. Well maintained lodges, good food and the company of fellow trekkers along the way made my trek even more memorable.

l Day 3 - Trek to Poon Hill (3193m) and Tadapani (2590m) Poon Hill is regarded as the second most famous viewpoint after Kala Patthar. To get the sunrise view from Poon Hill, we woke up early and started trekking at 5am. It was shivering cold in the morning, but the long stairs made us sweaty and tired. All our efforts paid off when we reached the top of Poon Hill. It was such a nice surprise to see many famous mountains together including Annapurna (8091m), Annapurna South (7219m), Dhaulagiri (8167m), Machhapuchhre (6998m), Lamjung (6988m), Hiunchuli (6441m) and Tukuche Peak (6920m). Enjoying the sunrise with the views of the fabulous mountains was truly amazing.

We headed back to the hotel to start our journey to Tadapani. We reached Tadapani before it was dark and decided to stay overnight there. l Day 4 - Trek to Chhomrong (2340m) and Dovan (2500m) We started our journey early so that we could have lunch at Chhomrong.

An hour into the trek, my mind started to regret the decision of coming here. Somehow, my 8kg bag

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Annapurna Base Camp Poonhill

Machhaphuchere Base Camp

Tadapani

Deurali

Ghorepani

Ulleri

Doban Bamboo

Ghandruk

Chhamnang

Syauli Bazar

Bire Thati

Jhinduanda Landruk Tolka

Nayapool

Dhampus Phedi Pokhara

Kathmandu

What I Packed For My Trek A pair of hiking boots with ankle support is essential when trekking 5 -6 hours daily.

Light weight sneakers to relief your feet with comfort after day hike.

felt heavier and there seemed to be no end to the stairs that we were climbing. My husband was worried about me, as I had stopped abruptly.

Feeling extremely tired, I pushed off my bag in anger!

My husband convinced me to continue and encouraged me to move ahead. There was a group of Americans on the same route who were over 60 years old. We finally reached the infamous steps descending down to the river and ascending to Sinuwa.

On the way, we met three local children, who accompanied us while we were climbing the stairs.

These cute children seemed to have no difficulties climbing the stairs, as they were singing and playing all the way. I was so relieved to realize that there were no endless steps to climb! We reached Dovan where we had dinner and stayed overnight. l Day 5 - Trek to Deurali (3100m) From Dovan, we continued on to reach Deurali in the evening. We heard the rushing sounds of the river, and were excited to head towards Annapurna Base Camp the next day. l Day 6 - Trek to Annapurna Base Camp (4130m) We started our trek to Machhapuchhre Base Camp early in the morning. I had a difficult time

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and had to stop many times to rest. When we were approaching Machhapuchhre Base Camp, we stopped for lunch and moved on to get the fabulous view of the Annapurnas before it was dark.

It was a great accomplishment for me when we reached Annapurna Base Camp. The marvelous view made us feel really proud. No sooner after we arrived, the American group arrived. Unfortunately, they were unlucky as it started to snow, and the stunning view started to hide behind the clouds. l Day 7 - Trek back to Dovan It was time for us to head back, and we hoped that the weather would clear so we could enjoy the views of the mountains again. Unfortunately, it started to snow heavily and the owner of the hotel advised us to descend quickly to avoid avalanches.

The snow made the road slippery, making it difficult for us to walk. The river we had seen earlier was frozen! With the help of sticks for a better balance, we descended. Saying farewell to the mountains was an emotional experience. l Day 8 - Trek back to Sinuwa The weather had not been favorable, with heavy rainfall pouring on since morning. However, we decided not to stop and kept on moving till we

Sleeping bag – lodges offer blankets, but pack one just in case blankets are unavailable during peak seasons.

A head torch – was useful during our trek to Tikedunga as it was getting dark.

Trekking clothes like windbreaker, thermals, trekking socks, gloves, scarf, pants.

A reusable water bottle as buying mineral water is quite expensive. Fill up your own bottle and use water purification tablets. Hotels also offer purified water.

reached Sinuwa. Despite wearing a raincoat, we were drenched from the heavy showers! The cold and wet weather had us shivering and the wet roads made walking difficult. It seemed that we were about to experience a problem getting a room in this weather.

Luckily, we got one. l Day 9 - Syauli Bazar We were scheduled to be back at Nayapul on the 10th day followed by an overnight stay at Jhinu Danda (Hot spring). However, we changed our schedule so we could reach Pokhara on the same day. We walked

quickly to Syauli Bazar followed by Jhinu Danda. From there, we took a jeep and headed for Pokhara, where we decided to end one adventure with another and went for paragliding.

Trekking the Annapurna Base Camp for the first time changed my perception! You don’t have to be extremely fit and most of the popular routes are safe.

Well maintained lodges, good food and the company of fellow trekkers along the way made my trek even more memorable.

If I can do it, so can you! I’ll be trekking the Everest Base Camp next! Hope to see you there!

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Art & Craft

thangka art.

For many people, paubha and thangka paintings may be indistinguishable. Only those with a discerning eye will be able to tell them apart because paubha, Newari traditional religious painting, and thangka, Tibetan Buddhist painting, are very similar.

But one easy way of identifying the two different styles, says artist Lok Chitrakar, is to understand that paubha paintings take influences from both Buddhism and Hinduism while thangka is based solely on Buddhism.

Paubha paintings can easily command great prices and the finest works are even valued in lakhs. Some might prefer to buy prints in place of paintings, the cost of which doesn’t even come close to 10 percent of the original price.

With over four decades of experience in paubha, Chitrakar is a name to be reckoned with in this style of traditional

Nepal’s Hidden Treasures N

He started painting as a 10 year old and now, decades later, he remarks on how things have changed. The advent of the internet has made learning so much easier, he exclaims. When he was still a novice, he didn’t know where to turn to learn more about the art. “Oh, there were people to teach us skills and the technical aspects of art but I wanted to understand the philosophy behind each characteristic

Paubha is more than just art or handicraft for me Lok Chitrakar Paubha Artist

Industrious artisans in the business of handicrafts

epali artists and craftsmen are some of the most talented in the world.

The country’s rich culture and history provides them with ample inspiration from which they weave beautiful art. The

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Newari art. His paintings can be found in homes of private collectors in various countries including Germany, Canada, and Japan.

“Paubha is more than just art or handicraft for me. To label it as simply handicraft is taking a narrow view of this art form. Its value goes beyond that. It’s rooted in religion but I believe it exudes spiritualism more than any particular religion. There is a deep meaning in each work,” he explains.

streets of Kathmandu are lined with stores selling handicraft products catering to both tourists and locals. Customers can have their pick of jute, metal and wooden handicraft products as well as paubha and

17

Art & Craft

in the painting. Looking back, I think people were afraid of misinterpretation so they’d rather not share their knowledge,” he says.

Even though paubha is a rich and recognized art form, it is still a long way off from being a well functioning platform.

Chitrakar lists the few ways this art is wanting. “We need a good critic. We also need a system through which we can estimate the price of our work. Right now we are only being paid for our labor and not our art.”

Visitors to Patan surely can’t miss the quaint little shops in the narrow alleys selling metal statues by the dozen. Pradeep Shakya is one of the most respected artists when it comes to metal work sculptures. He runs a family business from his home in Nag Bahal, Patan which is considered the origin of metalwork business. He puts in at least eight hours of work almost every day to meet the demands for metal sculptures.

Business is good with Tibetans, from around the world, comprising the majority of customers. Despite the availability of machines that could make his work easier, Shakya chooses to work by hand as he has done for the past 22 years.

“Our work is recognized for the love and labor we put in. That is what has been making Nepali sculptures distinct and we should be working to protect our high standards. But it’s a sad fact that many metalwork sculptors have started viewing the work as more for profit and less for art,” he says.

The intricate designs and fine carving is what fetches a great price. But this requires more time in one piece.

Shakya points out, “In order to meet the demands, there is a flooding of mediocre products in the market today. There is more interest in making a lot of products and selling them at a certain price. We have talented artisans but right now we’re overwhelmed by craftsmen who do mediocre work which means

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exporting wood products is problematic, says Pratham.

The brothers state that occasionally

the craft has become commercialized.”

Beautiful woodcraft items are a big part of the Nepali handicraft industry.

Traditional pieces such as the elaborate

Our work is recognized for the love and labor we put in Pradeep Shakya Sculpture Artist

Newar wooden windows and Buddha statues and figurines are very popular with the customers. In the past, these handicraft items were primarily bought by tourists who wanted souvenirs from their time in Nepal. These artifacts were beautiful, exotic and affordable.

Locals gradually began purchasing these products to gift to their international friends.

Pratham Raj Bajracharya is renowned for his fine woodcarving skills and is especially commended for the precise representation of anatomy in his works.

He runs a family business, with his father and brother, in the busy streets of Thamel where he subcontracts work to six other artisans who are overseen by his father.

The Bajracharya family uses different types of wood like cedar, pine, teak, and oak which they obtain from local saw mills. Some of the major challenges faced by those in the woodcraft business are the unavailability of wood on time, labor crunch, and lack of credible quality assurance. With no system to guarantee the quality of wood,

Pratham Raj Bajracharya working on a statue he started 2 years ago

there is a long wait for certain types of wood and no one seems to know the exact reason why. Pointing to a statue, Sapta Bajracharya, Pratham’s younger sibling, says, “We waited for eight months for the wood to make this statue even after putting the advance down.”

Last year’s earthquake and the subsequent border blockade also affected their business. After the earthquake, they went from 18 contractors to six as they couldn’t afford to pay more money to the workers to meet the rising costs. The fuel shortage then resulted in delivery problems.

“All we can do is guarantee the quality of our work because the rest is out of our hands,” says Sapta.

Nepali Food

Dechenling Garden Restaurant, Thamel This lovely garden locale has been serving amazing Tibetan and Bhutanese food for years now. The shabaley and thenthuk are fantastic, as are the mo:mo. The emadatshi, a cheese-chilli stew, is unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere.

Khana Khanu Bhayo?

Yak Restaurant, Thamel This cozy, family run place is where to go for delicious, affordable Tibetan food of all kinds. Everything is well made and tasty, and you can enjoy tungba with your meal, too!

Nepali food is a lot more varied than it appears at first glance. For the curious and adventurous soul, there’s a lot to discover and taste. Kathmandu Valley is full of awesome restaurants, with new ones opening every day. International cuisine is now more represented than ever before, but Nepal’s own delicious dishes are something special. Sometimes finding them takes a little searching and a willingness to experiment, but the rewards are delectable.

Dal-Bhat A good dhal-bhat-tarkari, or a Thakali set-meal, is undoubtedly the mainstay of Nepali cuisine. The best one you’ve had is likely at home, but there are also numerous delicious places to have it while out – here are some of the best in Kathmandu.

Tukche Thakali Kitchen, Tangal This seems to be the place to go for a good set Nepali meal these days— increasing popular and for good reason; the meals are hearty and there’s also a wide variety of delicious snacks.

Thakali Bhancha, Thamel Upstairs just at the head of Z street, this place appears unassuming but serves a meal that is both affordable and tasty.

A favourite here is the set meal with fish curry – it’s just amazing.

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Bhojan GriHa, Dilli Bazaar Housed in an honest-to-goodness palace, this is the restaurant to go for something truly special: delicious local, seasonal food, and a cultural programme as well!

Sherpa/Tibetan Sherpa and Tibetan dishes are hearty and delicious, and some, like thukpa, are now available almost everywhere. Other favourites, like shabaley and thenthuk, are well worth seeking out. Here’s where:

Lupi’s Himalayan Bistro, Lazimpat Don’t let the name fool you; this restaurant, run by a couple from Namchhe Bazaar, serves up some seriously authentic Sherpa dishes. Their chewy, homemade Tibetan dry noodles are wonderful, and in addition to regular shabaley they make a pizza hybrid that is all oozy, crunchy goodness.

Mo:Mo Is there anyone who doesn’t love mo:mo? Aside from how delicious they are, there’s something for all tastes.

Steamed, fried, kothay, C mo:mo, or even jhol mo:mo - whatever your palate, this simple dish has it covered. And that’s just how it’s cooked – these days restaurateurs are getting ever more adventurous with the fillings: while chicken, buff, and vegetable mo:mo are

still the most readily available, you can also find ostrich, fish, or even banana tucked inside your delicious dumplings!

Nanglo and Sui Mai are deservedly famous for their take on Nepal’s favourite treat, but here are some other places you may not have tried: Mo:Mo Queen, Lazimpat This newly opened place just inside the Ambassador Hotel premises is noticeable first for the cute décor. But you’ll come back for the great mo:mo, served with a selection of sauces and pickles.

Dokhaima Café, PatanDhoka This well known café serves dishes from many countries, but if you’ve never tried their chicken mo:mo, you’ve really missed something. The mint sauce that comes with it is heavenly!

Le Trio Restaurant & Bar, Pulchowk While this appears to be primarily western-themed restaurant, what keeps people coming back is the acclaimed jhol mo:mo. With winter coming, one can’t think of anything more appealing. And they’ve got a new location off Durbar Marg, too!

Snacks One of the best ways to enjoy local food is with friends, as it’s not only fun but you can try a wider variety of dishes! Alu achaar or sandeko are always good choices, especially as they are different nearly every place you try them, and a good chicken chilli or sekuwa is perfect with something cold to drink.

And what about Mustang alu, or Kanchampa, sometimes called Thakali chips? Delicious choices for snacking can be found at most all of the places listed above. Now get out there and enjoy!

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Pa ge Tu r n e r

A Year’s Worth of Books

The author, Khadka states, “We humans

2016 saw a lot of variety of genres written in books as authors old and new published books much beloved by the readers. Not sure what to grab for your next read? Check out the list of books that made it into the top of the lists for the best books of the year.

are always on a quest over our lives—a

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

quest for happiness. People do have their own interest, and they may come from a certain background, but deep down the quest is the same for all humans.”

1. The Spy - Paulo Coelho Based on a real historical figure Mata Hari, the Spy is a story of her struggle as a penniless woman trans-

6. Prashnaharuko Karkhana –

forming into one of the most sought out dancers of

Sarita Tiwari

the First World War era. Celebrated and admired as

A collection of poems written over two

a beautiful woman, Mata Hari was accused of spying

decades, Prashnaharuko Karkhana is

for both parties of the war. Narrated in the voice of

the third poetry anthology published

Mata Hari, this novel is a story of a bold, indepen-

by Tiwari. The poems that are thought

dent woman who paid the ultimate price.

provoking yet beautiful are based on contemporary issues. Tiwari has previ-

2. Double Down: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series

ously published Buddha ra Labha Haru

#11 – Jeff Kinney

and Astitwako Ghoshanaapatra before

Greg Heffley tries to find something he’s good at

Prashnaharuko Karkhana.

because his mom wants him to do anything than play video games. Greg finds an old video camera

1. Aina – Ramlal Joshi

sequel, Saya, Monsoon is another roman-

and begins to act out his life like a talk show. Packed

Winner of 2072 BS Madan Puraskar, Aina

tic novel that Bhattarai states will appeal

with the usual humor and doodles filled through the

is a collection of short stories depicting the

to older audiences as the plot revolves

pages, Double Down is as charming as the rest of the

poverty and hardships of the far-western

around a more mature love affair.

series. Funny and narrated from the point of view of

region of Nepal. Ramlal Joshi born in Doti, is able to capture the raw scenario through

a preteen boy, Double Down: Diary of a Wimpy Kid is 3. Aamoi – Bhuwanhari Sigdel

his stories that Nepali readers can relate

A portrait of events occurring in the Nepali

to.

society, Aamoi is a book that hits close to

a must read for all kids and adults alike.

3. When Breath Becomes Air - Paul Kalanithi

home. Filled with short stories including

An autobiography of a neurosurgeon who was diag-

those on the topic of child marriage and

nosed with lung cancer, this book is a memoir of Dr.

The fourth book from one of the most

other issues of society, the readers will

Paul Kalanithi as he battles cancer and faces the idea

popular contemporary Nepali writers,

definitely feel their hearts going out for the

of mortality. The book has an epilogue from this wife

Monsoon is the latest book released by

characters in the book. Aamoi was one of

Lucy that describes his growth from a naïve medi-

Subin Bhattarai. Well known for his roman-

the books nominated for Madan Puraskar.

cal student to a neurosurgeon. Deeply moving and

2. Monsoon - Subin Bhattarai

tic novels that have charmed the young audiences like Summer Love and its

heartwarming, When Breath Becomes Air is a book 4. Chirharan – Nilam Karki Niharika

that will definitely make you rethink about the life

This novel takes the classic tale of Mahab-

that you live.

harata and presents it from a different angle from women’s point of view. It mir-

4. The 10% Entrepreneur – Patrick J. McGinnis

Set in between 2044 and 2053 BS,

McGinnis shows how one doesn’t have to take

women have to go through despite the

Phirphire is set in the Tarai region where

huge risks be become an entrepreneur. Simply by

victory or loss of men. Creatively depicted

it tells the story of two friends in a time

dedicating at least 10 percent of your time and

in a historical plot, Chirharan is a must read

when the Madhesis and Pahadis lived

investment and help start a new business. With

for anyone who wishes to view the epic

together in harmony. The story is told

modern technology, it is easier to manage a business

battle in a different light.

in flashbacks much like the author’s

than ever before. Venture Capitalist McGinnis

previous novel, Karnali Blues. The much

shows us how by using one’s network and one’s

5. Nirban – Ghanashyam Khadka

22

7. Phirphire – Buddhisagar

rors our society through the suffering that

awaited book was set to release last

smartphone, you don’t need to jump right into a full

Nirban is a psychological drama involv-

year but the earthquake and the border

time entrepreneurship but invest only ten percent of

ing love and philosophy. The book has its

blockade pushed the release date to

your time to it.

unique taste of love, happiness and truth.

2016.

23

Cover Story

World Peace City LUMBINI

Recent years has seen a global effort to realize Lumbini as an international center for peace. But much of the campaign on the national front has focused on reclaiming Buddha’s legacy through his birthright –which are against the insurmountable linkages that have been traditionally promoted through three Indian sites of the Shakymuni’s life events. However, the continuous development and renovation of Lumbini and supporting areas avail engagement beyond the existing archaeological and historical relevance.

In part, the ability to sample the architectural and artistic legacies from Nepal to Korea and other historical sites in close proximity make this destination a must for all.

Stupa atop the Maya Devi Temple glowing in night light at Lumbini Sacred Gardens

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Statue of baby Siddhartha Gautama depicted as proclaiming his noble future

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Cover Story

Nepal’s international monastery in the West Monastic Zone, Lumbini

As was with the tradition at the time, around the year 623 B.C., Queen Mayadevi left for her father’s kingdom to prepare for the birth of her child. En route, the queen requested a stop at Lumbini to take rest, when she went into labor. Under the auspices of a full moon, by a pristine pond she is then said to have clutched onto the branch of a towering Sal tree and given birth to Siddhartha Gautama.

Upon making his entry to the world, the child took seven steps. Each step immediately marked by the blossoming of a lotus. On the final step, the child thus

Vikshu Vivek Ananda Chandra Bhusan Pande, a fixture of the Lumbini Sacred Gardens, he has been serving the Maya Devi Temple for many years. Pande’s family have been caretakers of the sanctum for more than 3 generations. Pande often sits under the Pipal tree behind the temple and guides visitors to protect the religious grounds from misuse.

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Burmese monastery peeking out from the trees and shrubbery of Lumbini

proclaimed, in a noble voice, of his future as the Buddha.

For generations the birthplace of Buddha disappeared within the jungles south of the Himalayan foothills. The last royal visitor to the sacred gardens was recorded as Ripu Malla in 1312 AD, after which Lumbini spent more than half a millennium in oblivion. It was not till 1896 when General Khadga Shamsher, Governer of Tansen, along with German archaeologist Anton Fuhrer rediscovered the Ashoka Pillar, the imperial mark of Buddha’s birthplace. For the past century, cooperation of national and international agencies has enabled the restoration of the site and not just as a relic to a past but as a beacon of hope – a Fountain of World Peace.

The master plan for Lumbini is divided into three parts: Lumbini Sacred Gardens, Monastic Zones and Cultural Centers and finally the New Lumbini Village. At this time, the grand plan for the City has already been resembled in layout and many supporting infrastructure and cultural structures have been erected, some are even going through renovation. The Museum and other centers are open to visitors (but lack content and staff). Finally, the Village is being developed slowly and will see further building take place in the next few years as more tourists and visitors make their way to the City. The best months to visit are during the winter as mid-day temperatures still cross high-twenties. Besides, the winter fogs of Terai mornings add a layer of ‘mythical’ to the place.

Buddha Air flies to Bhairahawa twice a day and recommends a 3-day visit to fully immerse in this microcosm of world Buddhist heritage.

Chinese Monastery in the West Monastic Zone

Day 1: The Sacred Gardens Start your journey at Bhairahawa, gateway to Lumbini and surrounding localities of Kapilvastu and Ramgram.

From the airport you can take a bus or a taxi towards the Park. Depending on your mode of transportation, you should arrive within half an hour to an hour at the Park’s receiving gates. The Eastern fence of the Park is home to many new hotels and covers a range of budgets. A quick lunch at a local eatery should be first, as inside the Park, only some locations serve food.

The Great Lotus Stupa made by Germany in the West Monastic Zone

Thai tourist and monks sit in for a prayer at Lumbini Sacred Garden

From Gate No. 5 (the main gate), you can walk (or alternatively take a rickshaw) to the Sacred Gardens, where the Ashoka Pillar and the Maya Devi Temple are located.

Visitors are required to take off their shoes before entering the smaller fenced complex and once inside, you have to queue before entering the Maya Devi Temple. Inside,

visitors can find ruins of monasteries dating between 6th Century BC to 7th Century AD before circumambulating to a viewpoint to see the white marker stone. This marker was placed

by King Ashoka to mark the exact spot of Lord Buddha’s birth. Overhead, the visitors can see the fragmented sandstone sculpture depicting Lord Buddha’s nativity scene, with Queen Maya Devi shown holding a tree branch.

Once you have exited the temple, you are greeted with a large pond and a majestic Bodhi tree. This area towards the south of the temple is always occupied by monks in colored robes, reciting the daily prayers or meditating in peace amongst the many ruins that have been discovered in the past decades. Right around the corner, towards the west elevation of the Maya Devi temple lies the famed Ashoka Pillar. It is preserved in part (the original pillar is believed to have been much larger in antiquity), the pillar is inscribed in the ancient Pali language and Brahmi script, which

27

The majestic Pipal tree light during the evening in Lumbini Sacred Garden

says that in his 20th year postcoronation, King Ashoka visited Lumbini to mark the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

The only other structure around this smaller enclosure is a monastery made in part by the last King of Mustang in 1968.

Surrounding areas to the south are dotted with reclusive ponds that entertain wild birds, primates and even larger animals and provide havens for meditation and reflection. A night sojourn around the park is a great way to end the first day in Lumbini. The Park is desolate after nightfall but is welllit and serene.

A monks looks at the collection of colorful prayer beads at a local shop inside the Lumbini Park

Early morning mist takes over the ponds of Lumbini.

The Korean Monastery can be seen in the background

Day 2: The Monastic Zone Following a visit to the Sacred Gardens, the second day can be

Flying with Buddha Air from Kathmandu to Bhairahwa should get you there in 35 minutes.

Arrival at the airport and check in to the hotel at Lumbini.

Booking / Ticketing l Tel 01-5542494 / l Online www.buddhaair.com l Mobile App l Nearest travel agency

A visiting monk rides a speed boat on the canal that connects the park edge to edge

Holiday Package l Tel 01-5521015, Ext: 119 l www.buddhaholidays.co

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A vendor plating pani-puri at the Northern edge of the Lumbini Park

spent visiting the Monastic Zone which has multiple cultural and monastic centers commissioned and built by international governments as part of the larger development initiative. The best way to tour these monasteries and centers is by rickshaw (they charge a flat rate of Rs. 200 for each hour) and stay with you as long as you need them to.

The Monastic Zone is divided into two: the Eastern section represents countries that follow Theraveda Buddhism (Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Myanmar) and Western section represents countries following Mahayana or Vajrayana traditions. Countries like Germany, France, and Austria are also represented with their own monasteries in the Western section.

These monasteries and stupas are built in different architectural styles. Collectively, over a dozen countries are represented and there is little gimmick in their presentation. The Cambodia Monastery for example, has been in construction for over a decade. With more than 20 native families contributing to the structure’s eventual completion, no expense nor expertise have been spared for the edifices in the Park. This is abundantly evident from the genuine construction methods employed and the details of prominent styles. Admiring these complexes takes the better part of the day. Other activities like Museum visit, power-boating through the 1.8 km long canal, visiting the World Peace Pagoda built by the Japanese (technically lies outside of the Park) makes for a great conclusion for the second day of visit.

Day 3: Kapilvastu or Ramagrama and Back Close by Lumbini lies many other venerated pilgrimage sites and wildlife sanctuaries. Ramgram to the East was recently discovered as the location of one of the 8 originals stupas to house Buddha’s cremated remains. It is believed that although King Ashoka successfully redistributed the remains from the other seven sites, serpents living in a nearby tank secured the remains from the King’s campaign at Ramgram.

Likewise, Tilaurakot which lies to the west is said to be the site of Siddhartha Gautama’s life before renouncement.

Recent excavations have proposed that Tilaurakot, not Piprawah (across the border in India), is the actual historical Kapilvastu. Both these destinations require transportation by bus or car and can take at least half a day. Visitors to Lumbini can consider taking up the opportunity to see these sites before heading back to Bhairahawa and catching the afternoon flight.

Chinese Monks pray amongst the ruins at Lumbini Sacred Garden

establish international connecting flights, there is brewing optimism. But the site requires a critical mass of visitor and community/national interest to to sustain and to improve. Lumbini might just

represent a Buddhist pilgrimage site today, but with support it can be known as World Peace City.

Photos: Nischal Oli Cover Photo: Hemanta Shrestha

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In the Future The next few years are going to be crucial for Lumbini. Although 2016 saw the city record a 60% growth in visitor numbers, the constructions are already suffering and the management is weak.

There is little engagement with the site and some of the newer regulations has meant more restrictions. With Bhairawa’s current airport being extended to

KMD

18

K.M. Dastur

K M Dastur Reinsurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd. An ISO 9001:2000 company certified BY TUV Germany Lloyd’s y Brokers ((K.M Dastur & Company p y - London)) Website: www.kmdastur.com

Eros Theatre Building, 5th floor, Jamshetji Tata Road, Churchgate, Mumbai - 400020

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Airport

Gautam Buddha International Airport

To Bring Broad Smiles Runway Length 3,000 mtrs Capacity to Handle 1300 pax/per hour

2013

Blacktop begins

Project Start

T

he long-planned upgrade of Gautam Buddha Airport in Bhairahawa into an international airport is starting to take shape. It will be Nepal's second international airport. The facility is expected to be complete by June 2018.

The importance of the upgrade plan lies in the airport being the front door to Lumbini - the birthplace of the Lord Buddha. Lumbini is rapidly gaining popularity as an international pilgrimage site, but suffers from poor access which has hindered growth. After the project is completed, it will increase the inflow of Buddhist pilgrims in Nepal and play a vital role in the country’s tourism development.

A 3,000-metre-long earthen runway has been prepared as of December this year.

The blacktopping is expected to begin on September 2017. The physical progress of the project has been at 25 percent as of October 2016. According to the project officials, they have targeted achieving 50 percent progress by this fiscal year ending mid-July 2017.

2017 2018

Complete BUDGET

Rs. 6 Billion

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31

Airport

The new international terminal will have a capacity to handle 1,300 people per hour, similar to Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport. The airport will also have aerobridges in the second phase

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An international terminal building is being built and its ground level works have been completed. In the first phase of the project, the international terminal building will have a capacity to handle 400 people per hour. The airport will have six international parking bays.

The second phase of the project will start after 10 years. In this phase, the international terminal will be used by domestic airlines, and a new international terminal will be built. The new international terminal will have a capacity to handle 1,300 people per hour, similar to Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport. The airport will also have aerobridges in the second phase.

The planned airport will have a capacity to serve 760,000 passengers annually after the completion of the first phase of upgrade. During the second phase of development, the airport is projected to handle up to 2 million passengers. After the airport is complete, it will be

able to handle up to 6 million passengers annually. On November 13, 2013, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) awarded the contract to upgrade the Gautam Buddha Airport to China’s Northwest Civil Aviation Airport Construction Group.

SPILLOVER EFFECTS With the development of the international airport, Bhairahawa is poised to transform itself into one of Nepal’s largest tourism and industrial hubs. Investors and the government are pouring billions into infrastructure

development. The once sleepy market town in the Terai plains was thrust on to the international stage after Lumbini became a gateway as an important pilgrimage destination. Proliferating factories and a rapidly spreading transportation network have turned Bhairahawa into an economic powerhouse.

Lumbini, which attracts international pilgrims as it is the birthplace of Lord Buddha, has observed the construction of large-scale infrastructure—industrial corridor, trade highways and a bevy of luxury hotels. At least half a dozen five-star properties are under development. Silver Heritage, Asia’s leading gaming operator, is investing Rs.3 billion for the construction of a five-star property named Tiger Palace at Chilhiya near Bhairahawa. The Bodhi Red Sun Hotel at Basantapur, Bhairahawa is upgrading itself into a five-star property.

Another five-star property, Pawan Palace, is under construction in Lumbini. A threestar property, Hotel Nans is now developing another hotel - Nans 2 which will be a fivestar property.

major Buddhist sites, including Kapilvastu, Devdaha and Ramgram.

Lumbini is a potential world-class tourist destination for 500 million Buddhists in Asia.

It is the birthplace of Lord Buddha and over 100 related archaeological sites scattered within a 50-km radius. Under the Greater Lumbini Buddhist Circuit project, Nepal aims to link the region with the Buddhist Circuit in India and other regional tourism destinations like Chitwan, Pokhara, Bardia and the northwestern mountains. Currently, due to lack of infrastructure and effective tour packages, visitors hardly spend a day Lumbini. The Tourism Ministry estimates that a visitor spends only 29 minutes in Lumbini on average. The government plans to achieve a 2.93 million arrivals and boost tourism receipts four-fold to $133.67 million by 2025.

Lumbini is a potential world-class tourist destination for 500 million Buddhists in Asia.

It is the birthplace of Lord Buddha and over 100 related archaeological sites scattered within a 50-km radius

GREATER LUMBINI BUDDHIST CIRCUIT The government has also formally started work to develop the Greater Lumbini Buddhist Circuit to promote Buddhist tourism. The plan aims to foster pilgrimage tourism and offer better facilities to pilgrims to help boost tourist traffic and length of stay. According to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the planned 160-km Buddhist Circuit will incorporate 10

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Festivities

Yomari Punhi also celebrates the God of Harvest, Annapurna. While making Yomaris, grandmothers will often make a man and woman out of the dough and figures shaped like birds and animals. These figures are offered to the Annapurna by placing them where the grains are stored, thanking the God for a plentiful harvest.

Celebrated widely by the Newar community, Yomari Punhi is popular among other Nepali communities too. The day involves enjoying the delicious confectionary filled with sweet, warm, gooey Chaku. Who wouldn’t love that? Yomari Punhi or Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day of Mangsir. It celebrates the end of the harvest season as farmers begin to sun-dry rice grains after six months of farming in the rice plantations. This is why Yomari is typically made from the new rice that has been freshly harvested.

This makes the dough made from the rice flour more chewy and sweet.

This winter, why not enjoy this popular dish to fight the winter blues. Here’s how you make a warm plate of Yomaris:

Beat Winter Woes with Yomari Yomari is a special treat that not only tastes good, but also provides health benefits.

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REC I PE You will need For the dough: Rice Flour Hot Water Ghee

For the Filling: Chaku Sesame Seeds Shredded Coconut

Method: 1. Mix rice flour with hot water and ghee and knead it. Make sure the dough is not sticky. Cover it with a cloth for 10-15 minutes.

2. Heat sesame seeds in a pan and then crush them 3. Heat the chaku in another pot and melt it, then mix the crushed sesame seeds and shredded coconut into the pot.

4. Rub some ghee on the palm of your hands and begin shaping the Yomari. First, make a cylindrical shape and then roll one end into a pointy tip.

5. Pierce a hole in the other end by gently pressing one finger into the dough while constantly rotating.

6. Put the chaku halfway into the hole and then close it. Do not fill it to the tip as the chaku will leak while steaming.

7. Place the Yomari into a steamer and steam for 10-15 minutes. *Chaku: mixture made from sugarcane juice *Khuwa: milk solids

W

inter brings a montage of nostalgic memories. There is something about Kathmandu’s winter that reminds you of basking in the sun while eating oranges. The calm and soothing weather makes you want to take things slow and lazily soak up the sun.

Nepal’s culture revolves around such seasons and the gifts nature brings with it. Yomari Punhi is a rich tradition celebrated in the winter by eating Yomaris.

The word Yomari originates from the Newari language. Yo meaning favorite and Mari meaning confectionary. The word combined together means “everyone’s favorite confectionary.” The sweet is typically cone shaped with a pointed tip and a bulging body, filled with a generous amount of chaku. There’s a reason why Yomaris are eaten during the winter. The chaku heats up the body’s temperature and energizes the body. Yomari is also enjoyed with a filling of lentils, khuwa or even chocolate.

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Maghe Sankranti

Festivities

A Celebration of Winter

F

estivals and traditions are based on beliefs and a notion to continue a certain culture. But if we dig deeper, we’ll find that all traditions are born from necessity. There is a reason why such customs have been followed for generations. Nepal and its countless festivals have been rooted in society but they often have a scientific meaning attached to it. Just like that, Maghe Sankranti or the Ghyu Chaku Khaney Din is a festivity that is celebrated to help fight the chilly winter.

Maghe Sankranti is celebrated on 14th of January or the first of Magh according to the Nepal calendar. The day signifies the sun entering the Zodiac of Capricorn and the coldest day of the year. As the days transition to the coldest time of the year, during Maghe Sankranti, celebrations are made by enjoying good food that keeps the body warm. Let’s check out some of the must have dishes of Maghe Sankranti.

Ghyu: Clarrified butter is generally consumed in the winter because the fat stores heat and keeps the body warm. Ghyu, combined with Chaku is a very nutritious recipe that is a must on winter days. It is also added to rice and dal to make a nutritious meal.

Chaku: Chaku or molasses made from boiled sugar is

a common dish in the Newari culture. This food builds up energy and is often consumed to increase body temperature. In fact, Chaku has so many nutritious qualities that it is fed to nursing mothers to help increase the flow of milk to the baby and to help the mothers get stronger. Chaku is often mixed with rice or with dried nuts for an energizing snack.

Yam: The winter season brings with it, the flu season.

Because of the cold temperature, many people suffer from cold and fever. Yam is perfect for this season because it consists of high amount of Vitamin C. It also makes the immune system stronger and is also a good source of fiber and potassium that helps with digestion.

Kalo Teel ko laddu: These are bite-sized sesame seed balls mixed with Chaku. Crunchy with a rich flavor of roasted sesame seeds, Kalo Teel to laddu can be consumed as desserts after a Maghe Sankranti feast.

Seto Teel ko laddu: A type of hard candy made from liquefied sugar rolled in peeled sesame seeds, these laddus are sweeter compared to the kalo teel ko laddu.

While the kalo teel ko laddu is dark in color and has a rich, roasted flavor, Seto teel ko laddu is milder and tastes more like candy.

Seto Teel ko laddu

Yam

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37

Interview

What is the current demand of ATRs? It’s going very strongly in India and also in Indonesia.

All the countries that need connection between cities appreciate ATR because it is simple, cost effective and efficient. We are very happy to know that more international airports are being developed in Nepal. ATR can play a role to connecting cities and the international market with Nepal.

Connecting the Skies of Nepal B

uddha Air has signed the sales purchase agreement for an additional ATR 72-500 with the world's leading turboprop manufacturer, ATR. Mr. Gilles Collaveri, Contracts Director of ATR and Mr. Birendra Bahadur Basnet, Managing Director of Buddha Air signed the agreement on behalf of their respective companies on 20 December 2016. The ATR 72-500 will arrive in Kathmandu in the first week of February 2017 and will start operations from March 2017. Presently, Buddha Air is the only airlines to operate ATR aircrafts in Nepal and with the additional acquisition, will be operating seven ATR aircrafts. On his first visit to Nepal, Buddha Air talks with Collaveri on the future partnership of ATR with Buddha Air. Excerpts: How has ATR’s relations been with Buddha Air? ATR’s relation with Buddha Air is unique.

It’s built on trust and professionalism. We have reserved Buddha Air as reference customers. What is amazing is that Buddha Air’s reliability and management is building itself starting from scratch with the help of ATRs. It’s almost a joint venture. It’s like a family story where we have confidence in Buddha Air and it has confidence in our

38

You also visited the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility of Buddha Air. How was your experience?

It’s impressive. We feel that the management and everybody are working with same spirit of professionalism. Very honestly, I did not expect to see that. It was amazing.

Given Nepal’s difficult geographical terrain how do you assess ATRs performance here?

Yes, Buddha Air used the ATRs in best way. Obviously, it’s difficult to operate aircraft in Nepal. There are mountains in the background, which make it difficult.

Buddha Air knew how to handle ATRs and this has benefitted Buddha Air greatly.

It is learnt that ATR is looking closely at building turboprops with at least 90 seats. What is the current development?

There are discussions right now that are taking place between our stakeholders. So, we are currently assessing the market to make sure that there is really a need.

In terms of demand, which aircraft - ATR 42s or 72s are on high demand in the South Asian market?

I would say it depends on the market. Both aircraft can be useful. It depends on what it is used for. For example, ATR 42 is very good for performance. If you have a short runway, 42 is excellent. On the other hand, ATR 72 is bigger. So if you have more traffic, it’s better to have 72s. ATR is a very low fuel consuming aircraft. That’s why we call it a “green aircraft”. If you compare ATR with jets, it’s half of the fuel consumption. Also, cost-wise, it is interesting as maintenance costs are lower. We are happy to contribute to protecting the planet with low fuel burn.

ATR is a Required Navigation Performance (RNP) capable aircraft. Yet, Buddha Air has not implemented the system. Do you have any plans to assist Buddha?

It depends on Buddha Air. Maybe in future, they may purchase the advanced ATR 72-600. And then they can choose the RNP if it is necessary.

ATR has its strong presence in South Asia but it has failed to tap the Chinese market. Why? Yes, because China is protecting its market as they have their own product—MA60. There is high tax imposed in aircraft import which makes life difficult for ATR to enter there. But we have set up a new sales office in Beijing this year and we are confident that in the coming future, we will have the market.

How was your first experience in Nepal and the mountain flight?

It was my first visit to Nepal. My first time in Kathmandu started with a mountain flight. Waking up in the morning, the first things I could see are Mt. Everest and other high peaks. So it was really very impressive and unique. It was once in a lifetime experience.

product. This together builds a success story.

How do you assess Nepal's market in terms of ATRs operation?

I think ATR has qualities that can be brought to Asian market. It’s mainly a connecting aircraft —connecting cities at low prices. Economics are very good on ATRs. I think ATR has lot to do in the Asian market, and of course in Nepal. Buddha Air is the best example.

It’s impressive. We feel that the management and everybody are working with same spirit of professionalism.

Very honestly, I did not expect to see that. It was amazing.

39

Tra i n i n g

Khagendra Bahadur Basnet

HRD, Buddha Air

Our Employees and the Power of Training O

We have spent over millions of rupees on training programs for our employees. From my point of view, the money spent is not a cost, but an investment for Buddha Air

40

ver 2500 passenger fly with us every day to various destinations around Nepal.

Safety and satisfaction of our passenger is our primary objective. We continuously endeavor to make sure that we meet the highest standards of safety and satisfaction for our passengers whenever they prefer to fly with us. Proficient Employees are at your service to make your journey extraordinary and secure whenever you fly with us. Our employees are provided with right training and knowledge to guarantee high level of safety and satisfaction of the passenger.

Buddha Air highly values its employees.

We believe in grooming and training our employees, which has resulted in increased

passenger safety and customer satisfaction.

Training programs at Buddha Air are designed for all levels of employees. Training starts right away from trainee period after completion of stringent recruitment process. Each and every employee attends the induction program after their successful enrollment. Induction program provides an introduction to the working environment and the set-up of the employee within the organisation.It briefly portrays the organizations goals regarding its safety culture and our conviction for providing passengers with safe, comfortable and reliable journey. This ethos forms the foundation for the other training programs provided at Buddha Air.

training programs. Employees are provided equal opportunities for their career progression and to grow in their respective fields.

We have made a huge investment in training programs for our employees. From our point of view, the money spent is not a cost, but an investment for Buddha Air as we believe employees are our most valuable assets. Thus, the training programs have enhanced the skills of our employees and our ultimate goal of passenger care and service is fulfilled.

Leadership plays a vital role to mold our employees to be future leaders. As the capacity for top level managers is likely to increase with the expansion of international airports in Pokhara and Bhairahawa and new flying routes, we plan to train our present mid and top level managers so that they are able to undertake their new responsibilities. In partnership with Kathmandu University, we plan to provide an interactive academic package to our managers. The three months course will include topics like leadership, organization behavior, change management and enhancing managerial skills. Besides this new venture, we are continuously providing in-house training programs from certified instructors to all technical and non-technical employees of Buddha Air. While most of the training programs are carried out in-house, simulator training programs and technical training for our pilots, flight dispatchers and engineers including some other non technical staffs are conducted abroad. Furthermore, as per each department / division’s manuals and standard of operations, all employees, especially those working at the airports must go for refresher training programs within time frame which has been mentioned in their respective manuals. The effectiveness of the trainings provided is reviewed by internal as well as external audit. And the HR Department also continuously manages, monitor and evaluate the training programs.

At present, we have about 800 employees including pilots and flight attendants, ground staff, engineers and employees working at various departments at our corporate office, sales offices and outstations. Influential managers at the mid and top level have a strong working relationship with their staffs, which drives the success of our

41

Award

Being the Best Airline of Nepal

How Buddha Air Won the Frost & Sullivan Award for Best Airline of 2016

F

rost & Sullivan is a consulting firm which provides market research and analysis, growth strategy consulting, and corporate training services across multiple industries. It is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has offices in over 40 countries.

Frost & Sullivan’s Best Practices Awards recognize companies throughout a range of regional and global markets for superior leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Their intent is to help drive innovation, excellence and a positive change in the global economy by recognizing best-in-class products, companies and individuals.

Frost & Sullivan’s 360° Research Methodology™ represents the analytical rigor of research process.

Successful growth strategies are founded on a thorough understanding of market, technical,

42

Rajin Ranjit

MIS Director, Buddha Air

economic, financial, customer, best practices, and demographic analyses. The integration of these research disciplines into the 360° Research Methodology™ provides an evaluation platform for benchmarking industry players and for identifying

those performing at best-in-class levels. Frost & Sullivan We have an agreement with Weather News Inc. on January follows a 10-step process to evaluate award candidates and 2016 which is the world’s largest private weather service assess their fit with best practice criteria. company in Japan. Weather is a critical element that needs to 1) Monitor, target, and screen be addressed at operational level which leads to confidence 2) Perform 360° research at flight planning, pilot briefing and flight monitoring. We 3) Invite thought leadership in best practices have already installed live cameras at five destinations and 4) Initiate research director review plan to install it at the remaining destinations we operate in.

5) Assemble panel of industry experts Although it is not a requirement of the Civil Aviation 6) Conduct global industry review Authority of Nepal (CAAN), we have implemented Flight Data 7) Perform quality check Monitoring (FDM) System effectively from January 2014.

8) Reconnect with panel of industry experts FDM is a confidential and non-punitive system to identify 9) Communicate Recognition Flight Safety Hazards and minimize or eliminate associated 10) Take strategic action risks. FDM for our ATR flights are monitored and analyzed After successfully accomplishing the above mentioned

by Cassiopee, SAGEM in France, and we conduct our own stringent criterias, Buddha Air was awarded Airline of the analysis for our Beechcraft flights.

Year 2016 by Frost & Sullivan IOSA (IATA Operational for our best practices in growth, Safety Audit) is an internationally innovation and leadership in recognized and accepted evaluation Winning this award would Nepali aviation sector. system designed to assess the not be possible without We have faced several operational management and challenges during these two control systems of an airline. the sincere efforts and decades, but each one of them We successfully completed the dedication from our has only strengthened us to audit in July 2014 at par with employees and from institutionalize our company.

IOSA standards with exception The award has added an extra to three standards which were whom we have derived the responsibility to perform better at beyond our control. We pursued strength to challenge and each stage in the future. assessment across corporate perform our best at each management requirements and Growth, Innovation and seven operational functions which stage Leadership in Buddha Air totaled 958 requirements.

If we turn back the pages of For the sake of governance history to 1997, Buddha Air has of all our ongoing processes and always worked towards growth and innovation. Starting with procedures guided by our established manuals, we have a single fleet of Beechcraft aircrafts, we now operate two been prioritizing our Internal Quality Assurance Audits which Beechcraft 1900Ds, three ATR 42-320s and three ATR 72-500s is conducted for all the functional areas of the organization. aircrafts in Nepal and fly scheduled flights to Varanasi, India Audits are conducted as per Quality Assurance Program. and chartered flights to Paro, Bhutan.

Safety and Quality Board Meetings and Quality Management Recently we were granted permission to start System Review Board takes place at intervals of six months.

Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services. This Buddha Air is blessed with the patronage and leadership is another feather in our cap which enables us to perform from two great personalities – Executive Chairman Mr. MRO services for Beechcraft and ATR aircrafts at our hangar Surendra Bahadur Basnet and Managing Director Mr. premises. The services are provided at our mammoth 37,000 Birendra Bahadur Basnet. Their expertise, experience and sq feet state of the art, automatic closed door hangar at vision are key factors in leading us to new heights.

Tribhuvan International Airport and the trained and skilled Winning this award would not be possible without the human resources of our Technical Department. Two operators sincere efforts and dedication from our employees and Hello Air and Novo Air from Bangladesh have already signed a from whom we have derived the strength to challenge and contract with us for their Base Maintenance. We have already perform our best at each stage. It is a great honor to receive completed a Novo Air ATR 72-500 aircraft base maintenance such a prestigious award and it has reflected our continuous for two yearly checks. efforts to make our flights safe, reliable and comfortable.

43

Mobile App

Booking a plane ticket?

Now there’s an App for that!

Buddha Air’s new App makes it easier to find the most reliable and best priced tickets to fly

its fares. Online payment is available for e-sewa account holders, so you don’t have to go to the office to collect the ticket.

For the rest without an e-sewa account, the booking needs to be confirmed within the next 30 minutes. You can get your tickets issued in the nearest Buddha Air’s sales counters. The Book a Flight feature is also available for mountain flights. The app even shows flights that are available within the next 24 hours.

Once you’ve booked your flight, you

T

he smart phone has become man’s new best friend.

Everything we know is stored in our mobiles - emails, bank accounts and even our favorite places to eat. Mobile applications have made things even more convenient, to get things right in the palm of our hands. We can order food and groceries, that are delivered to our doorstep and even book movie tickets without moving an inch. It was a matter of time until Nepali businesses developed apps to provide better services to the customers.

Keeping up with the times and working to stay on top of the line by providing the best services to its customers, Buddha Air recently launched its app for the Nepali market. One of the only Nepali airlines with its dedicated mobile app, this app is available on both Android and iOS for free.

It includes a lot of features that allows you to book a flight, check up on reserved flights, and also

44

check flight statuses.

The Buddha Air app was a recent installment of the company that was officially launched last year. But it has already reached the five thousand download mark. The app makes it very easy to book a flight. Simply enter the date and flight destination into the Book a Flight tab and then you can check out all the available flights and

The app does not miss out on providing any information on Buddha Air. The best part of this app is the easy access to all its features. All its components are just a tap away. Whether you have to check out the airline’s website, find contact information for the nearest sales counter or even read the latest issue of its In-Flight magazine, Yatra, the app does it all.

Easy and simple to use and requiring minimum storage, the app does not take much space on your phone. Its simple features make it easy to reach

any information that you need in just a couple of taps. Of course, you need WiFi or mobile data to access most of the features on the app but other features like Contacts and Reserved Flights can be accessed without the internet. The app is definitely useful for all flyers and especially to the frequent flyers that book a lot of flights. By understanding its customer’s needs and finding the best platform to provide the best services, Buddha Air has taken a step further in its aim of becoming the best in the business.

can also check the status of the booked flights in the Reserved Flight tab. It allows you to check the number of flights reserved and the boarding time as well.

The Royal Club Frequent Flyer members get an extra advantage from the app. There is a tab exclusively for Royal Club members where they can check the mileage they've earned after they’ve logged in as Royal Club members.

The Flight Status tab allows you to check on the status of every flight scheduled for the day. It even updates information on flight delays and boarding time which is quite handy, not just for the flyers but also for their family and friends who want to check on their flight status.

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Crew

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50

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Churchill Complex, Sundhara, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 01-6210579, Fax: 01-4268107 email: pathibhara_2010@hotmail.com

Film

BRAIN TEASERS

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plane? a. Boeing Dreamliner b. Boeing 747 c. Airbus A380 d. Airbus A350 e. Boeing 777 2. Which was the first passen-

1

1

3

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ger airline in the world? a. TWA b. KLM

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c. Pan Am d. Delag e. Qatar Airways

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3. Which airport is the busiest, by plane landings?

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a. Abu Dhabi b. Doha c. Atlanta d. Heathrow

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e. Kathmandu 4. Which is the world's busiest

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air routes by origin-anddestination (passenger volume)?

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a. Seoul-Jeju b. Tokyo-Sapporo c. Tokyo-Fukuoka

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d. Sydney-Melbourne e. Beijing-Shanghai 5. Which following airline's hub is Hong Kong? a. Qantas

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b. Lufthansa c. Air-India d. Cathy Pacific

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SOLUTION - Page 54

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e. KLM

ANSWER

b]

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1. What is the world's largest

1. c, 2. d, 3. c, 4. a, 5. d

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k'¥ofpFbf x'g] 36gf g} lkmNdsf] syf xf] . 8]9 3G6fsf] lkmNd olt syfd} 3'D5 . syf ;fdfGo nfU5 . t/, lgb]z { s bLks /f}lgof/sf] sfd eg] ;fdfGoeGbf lgs} dflyNnf] :t/sf] 5. ;+ljwfg hf/L x'bF f jl/k/Lsf hDdf rf/ lbgleq Pp6f nf;nfO{ 3f6;Dd k'¥ofpFbf x'g] 36gfaf6} pgn] y'k}| s'/f af]ns ] f 5g\ . o;df pgsf] wf/0ff :ki6 x'G5 . lkmNd x]l//xFbf xfdLnfO{ lgb]z { sn] ljifonfO{ clt/l~ht u/]sf] nfUg;S5 . h:tf] nf; af6}df 5f]8/] lxF8g\ ,' tLg–tLg lbg;Dd nf; af6f]d} /lx/xFbf s'g} ljsNk glg:sg', cGTodf afnaflnsfn] nf;nfO{ 3f6 k'¥ofpg'h:tf s'/f xfdLnfO{ ckfRo nfUg ;S5 . cem Tof]eGbf a9L t ;+ljwfg hf/L x'g] a]nf sDAof6df /x]sf dfcf]jfbL / k|x/LaLrsf] … qm; kmfol/ªÚ xfdLnfO{ emg} gkRg ;S5. sltn] o;nfO{ df}lnstfsf] gfddf ljb] zdf nu]/ g]kfnL ;dfhnfO{ grflxFbf] ?kdf b] vfO/x]sf] cf/f]k klg nufpg ;S5g\ . a] nf– a] nf pgLx?nfO{ g]kfnL syf a]rs ] f] cf/f] k klg nfUb} cfPsf] 5. t/, s] lgb]z { snfO{ ;dfhsf] 1fg g} geP/ o;f] u/]sf xf]nfg\ t< kSs} xf]Ogg\ . ;]tf] ;"od{ f pgn] laDasf] k|of]uaf6 g]kfnL ;dfhsf y'k}| kf6fx? b]vfpg vf]hs ] f x'g\ . To;df j}bl] zs /f]huf/Lkl5sf] ufpF, ;z:q åGå :ylut eP klg c;Gt'i6 kIf, ;z:q åGåsf 3fp, gful/stfh:tf d'2fx? ;]tf] ;"od{ fkm{t\ emlNsG5g\ . l;+ufk'/ lkmNd km]l:6endf pTs[i6 ag] sf], ;+;f/s} k|ltli7t e]lg; lkmNd km]l:6endf OG6/ sNr/ cjf8{ lht]sf], 6f]/G6f]nufot lkmNd km]l:6endf ;xeflutf hgfO;s]sf] lkmNdnfO{ b[Zoefiffsf lx;fan] cAan eGg ;lsG5 . b[Zox? ;+jfbdf xf]Ogg\, b[Zod} b] lvG5g\ . ;dfhsf] ljifoj:t' lnFbd} f ;sf/ fTds sfd eGg ;lsFbg} , lgb]z { sn] Tof] ljifodfly s:tf] b[li6sf]0f /fv]/ k]z u5{ eGg] dxTjk"0f{ s'/f xf] . o; cy{df ;]tf] ;"oa{ f6 n] vs tyf lgb]z { s bLks /f}lgof/sf] ljifonfO{ x]g]{ b[li6sf]0f :ki6 b]lvG5 . g]kfnL lkmNdsf] :t/f]GgtLsf nflu ;]tf] ;"on { fO{ pgn] rxlsnf] u/L k]z u/]sf 5g\ . To;f] t, lkmNd cfkm}d+ f eg] cFWof/f] 5 . l ;d'Gb|/fh l3ld/]

Find a path from the highlighted 1 at the top of the box to the highlighted 3 at the bottom. You may move horizontally or vertically but not diagonally. The sum of all the numbers in your path, including the two highlighted numbers, must equal 23.

Aviation Quiz

53

Get Featured on Yatra!

Company News

Love that view out the aircraft window? Do you photograph journeys of your travels? Are you an #AVGeek with a knack for plane spotting?

If you’ve answered YES to these questions, now is the chance to share your travel photos with our readers! Simply: • Tweet to us on Twitter by tagging us @airbuddha. We will be happy to share them with all our wonderful flyers!

Buddha Air Completes MOTCA Evaluation as per Airlines Monitoring Checklist Buddha Air has successfully completed the MOTCA (Ministry of Tourism & Civil Aviation) Evaluation as per Airlines Monitoring Checklist on 1st December 2016.

flight delays to make flying with us reliable again. The increase in the number of aircraft movements at Tribhuvan International Airport has cumulated to air traffic congestion and damaged runways and taxiways. Furthermore, unfavorable weather conditions have caused a propensity for flight delays.

Annapurna range | @subry2000 Mr. Gilles Collaveri, Contracts Director of ATR and Mr. Birendra B. Basnet, Managing Director of Buddha Air exchanges the Sales Purchase Agreemen of ATR 72-500 aircraft

Your trust is of importance to us, and we know and understand that passengers have been facing problems due to the delays.

We had gradually added a fleet of ATR 42-320 and ATR 72500 from 2008 – 2012 to provide passengers with reliable and comfortable service. With the addition of the ATR 72-500, we plan to maintain a well-timed schedule and minimize delays

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Kathmandu View | @nayabihani Bhairahwa Airport | @Ocean_dip Mountains on the way | Kailali | @manishjhanepal

@diwaskandel

SOLUTION

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BRAIN TEASERS

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@Trilochan347

Best Photo

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We will be adding an ATR 72-500 to our fleet with an investment of one billion rupees. Mr. Gilles Collaveri, Contracts Director of ATR and Mr. Birendra B. Basnet, Managing Director of Buddha Air signed the Sales Purchase Agreement for an additional ATR 72-500, at our hangar premises at Tribhuvan International Airport on 20th December 2016.

The ATR 72-500 will arrive in Kathmandu in the first week of February 2017 and we will start operations from March 1st, 2017.

Furthermore, we are planning to operate another ATR 72500 by 2017. We are currently fulfilling the regulations of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAAN) to obtain a new Aircraft Operator Certificate (AOC) to operate ten aircrafts. We currently have eight aircrafts in our fleet.

With the addition of the ATR 72-500, we hope to minimize

Aerial view of Kathmandu |

Great Service | @TheTMFoundation

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Addition of ATR 72-500 to Our Fleet

KTM to Bhadrapur | @CoolSky_

Sunset & Buddha Air | @serazahmad

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The inspection and evaluations were done by MOTCA team which was lead by Joint Secretary Mr. Buddhisagar Lamichhane.

The team inspected the license and AOC (Air Operator’s Certificate), fleet status, financial position of our company, current status of the airline, corporate document and renewal status, Human Resource, passenger service and Tax Clearance of the company.

The monitorial team also discussed with the management which was led by Buddha Air’s Managing Director Mr. Birendra Bahadur Basnet on problems faced by airlines and probable solutions and the airlines’ expectations from the government among other issues.

Boarding at Simara Airport | @wolffiel

• Message or post your photos on our Facebook page (facebook.com/ BuddhaAir) with a short caption of your flight.

• Tag us on Instagram at @buddhaairnepal or use the hashtag #BuddhaAir or #BuddhaAirYatra • Email us your Buddha Air photos at yatra@buddhaair.com. You can even let us know your experience of flying with us.

After Everest Experience | @nafisahabib

Spreading wing | @tori_lazu

The Best Photo will win 1 free Everest Experience ticket. (Conditions apply)

Helping Hand | @nrlshw

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