Kaski, Aug 3: Pokhara, the lake city of Nepal, is gearing up to organize an international hot air balloon festival this winter.    
Balloon Nepal Pvt. Ltd will be hosting the festival in and around the source of Phewa lake with the objective of further promoting Pokhara at the international level. The festival will be held from the December 29 to January 2 marking the New Year 2025, said Bikram Bade, chairperson of Balloon Pvt. Ltd.    
About 20 to 25 balloons will be brought from different countries around the world for the festival.  It is estimated to cost Rs 6.5 million to orgasnise the festival. The festival is being held with the support and collaboration of Nepal Tourism Board, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Gandaki Province Government, Pokhara Metropolitan City, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Pokhara Tourism Council among others.    
Pokhara Tourism Council Chair Pomnarayan Shrestha said that the festival will be a historic event for Pokhara, the tourism capital of the country and for the entire Gandaki province.    
Sabin Maharjan, the proprietor of Balloon Nepal, said that flying in a hot air balloon offers panoramic view of mountains like Machhapuchhre, Annapurna, full-sized Phewa Lake, Pumdikot Mahadev, paragliders flying from Sarangkot and the beautiful scenery around Pokhara Valley. -- RSS