April 16: Hotels and resorts from Nagarkot to Ranikot in Bhaktapur district were full with foreign and domestic tourists during the weekend to celebrate the Nepali New Year 2080. This has excited the hotel operators that have been severely affected since outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.    
Most of the hotels in Ranikot of Suryabinayak Municipality are fully occupied, said Tourism businessman and owner of Village Highland Resort Ranikot, Ramsundar Baken. Hotel bookings had been done two weeks in advance for the New Year.    
Apart from the view of Kathmandu Valley and Bhaktapur city, Ranikot also offers a panoramic view of various mountain ranges. It is located on the border of Suryabinayak and Panauti Municipality of Kavre at an altitude of 2000 meters above the sea level.    
Likewise, hotelier and owner of Ghyampedanda Resort, Rajendra Path, said the arrival of tourists has increased rapidly with the construction of a paved road along the Ghyampedanda-Ranikot section.    
With the increase in the number of tourists, a zip line has come into operation in the Ghyampedanda Ranikot area and the construction of large hotels has increased. About 14 hotels are currently operating in the areas, which are full of domestic tourists.    
Meanwhile, hotels in Nagarkot are also packed for three days for the New Year celebrations. Tourists had arrived in Nagarkot to observe the first sunrise of the New Year, said Gokul Lamichhane, owner of Hotel Marigold.    
“If the road to Nagarkot is completed, the tourism business will continue to flourish,” added Lamichhane. -- RSS