NEPAL OWL FESTIVAL (19-20 February, 2016)

नेपाल लाटोकोसेरो तथा हुंचिल उत्सव (फाल्गुन ७-८ २०७२)

FUSION OF ENTERTAINMENT, LOCAL CULTURE AND OWL CONSERVATION

Venue: Sikles village, Kaski district

Program Highlights

School programs: poem and painting competition on owls and owl conservation camps

Public programs: owl conservation camps (slide shows in the public), owl conservation documentary, conservation speech, exhibition of owl conservation materials, exhibition of photos and sketches of owls, owl face painting, owl call device, owl robot, exhibition of owl related materials

Entertainment: Ghatu dance, Gurung dance, Gurung Song, Lakhe dance, Gaijatra dance, nature photo walk, owl mascot, wildlife dance from Institute of Forestry, Pokhara.

Conservation awards: Nature Conservation Award (four conservation/social heroes and heroes working in the field of bird/nature conservation in Nepal), felicitation to the local conservationists and organizations

Competition: Bird watching (?The Big Day? celebration), Thelo, Dori tanne, Ghur, Jhijhili, Hyakuche

Local attraction: Dense settlement of Sikles village, Lamjung Himal, Eco-Museum, nature walk, village walk, local food and local cultural dances, live avalanche from Rishing Danda, Parche camp site, enjoy the Nepals? first eco-route

Access:

1. These days a single bus leaves to Sikles (सिक्लेस) of Kaski every morning around 08:00 from Kanhukhola (काहुँखोला ), Pokhara (NRP 350). In a usual days when there is no fuel crisis two buses leaves to Sikles every morning at 07:00 and noon at 01:00 from Kanhukhola (The trip takes approximately 4-5 hours from Kanhukhola to Sikles (NRP 290)). In case you miss the bus to Sikles, you can join a bus to Sabi (सबी) from Kanhukhola that leaves at 08:00 AM, 12:00 PM and 03:00 PM that costs NRP 100 and trek to Sikles from Sabi (approximately 4-5 hours of walk). There is the service of Jeep from Kahukhola to Sikles and costs about NRP 1000/person. Jeep can be reserved as well (Kahukhola-Sikles).

2. There is no direct route to Sikles from Kathmandu or any other places. So visitors from outside the Pokhara valley must spend a night at Pokhara and begin the trip to Sikles early at 07:00 AM from Kahukhola.

3. If you have your private vehicle (four wheeler) or motorcycle, take the route of Kathmandu-Mugling-Pokhara-Sikles. Regular flights are also available from Kathmandu to Pokhara. There are many tourist bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara that leaves 7.00 AM from Jamal (near to Thamel).

Hotel rate (Nepali currency):

Room: double bed: Rs. 300/night

Lunch: Veg: Rs.200/meal for Nepalese and Rs.400/meal for foreigners

: Non-veg: Rs.350/meal for Nepalese and Rs.500/meal for foreigners

Contacts:

1. Mr. Parash Gurung (9846257732) for hotel services

2. Mr. Gehendra Gurung (9846257732) for other local services

3. Miss. Kristi Gurung (9805860815) for other local services

4. Mr. Dhan Bahadur Gurung (9846223487) for other local services

5. Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) (9802107231, 9846164829) for other services

6. Mr. Raju Acharya (9841308266) for information about ?Nepal Owl Festival, 2015?

7. Mr. Yadav Ghimirey (9849266026) for more information about ?Nepal Owl Festival 2015?

8. New Sikles Guest House (9846257741), Sikles

9. Chautari Hotel (9818104138), Sikles

10. Hotel Dudh Pokhara (9846323796), Sikles

11. Namaste Hotel (9846222487), Sikles

12. Hom?s Home (9846223002), Sikles

13. Koseli Hotel (9846323741), Sikles

14. Sikles Home Stay (9817108145), Sikles

15. Chanda tea House (9819129301), Sikles

16. Hotel (9846292586), Sikles

17. Annapurna Hotel (9819141975), Sikles

18. Laxmi Guest House (9817180205), Sikles