Sheraton re-enters Nepal

It’s official. Non-resident Nepali Shesh Ghale will be building a five-star hotel in the heart of Kathmandu. The property will be known as the Sheraton Kathmandu Hotel.

Ghale had announced his plan to open a luxury hotel last October. His MIT Group Holding Nepal recently signed an agreement with Starwood Hotels and Resort Worldwide Inc and set the project rolling.

Slated to open in February 2018, the 225-room Sheraton Kathmandu Hotel will be managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Ghale had stated during the NRN Day function on Oct 11, 2012 that he had been holding discussions with global hotel chains for his hotel project.

Ghale, 54, is on the list of the 200 wealthiest Australians with a fortune of $225 million. He ranks 166th on the list published by the Australian Business Review Weekly. Ghale had said that the hotel would have an investment of AUS$ 75-80 million. The Sheraton Kathmandu Hotel will be located on Kantipath adjacent to the office of the Education Ministry, opposite the west gate of the Narayanhiti Palace Museum. All the rooms in the hotel will have a full range of amenities, including the plush, all-white Sheraton Sweet Sleeper bed, high-speed internet access, and luxurious bath and body products.

The heart of the lobby will feature the Link@Sheraton experienced with Microsoft—a social hub providing complimentary WiFi and work stations so guests can stay connected while on the road. The hotel will also have a spa and swimming pool. It will also house a 16,500-sq ft meeting space, a well equipped business centre and the Sheraton Club.

The Sheraton Kathmandu Hotel marks the re-entry of the Sheraton brand in Nepal. It had earlier managed the Hotel Everest as the Hotel Everest Sheraton in the 1980s. After the Hyatt Regency, no other international hotel chain has come to Nepal.

Meanwhile, Starwood has been expanding its presence in South Asia with the aim of having 100 hotels under operation, development and management contracts. Recently, it announced its expansion plans in Bangladesh with the signing of the Le Meridien Dhaka and the re-entry of Sheraton in Dhaka with a new hotel expected to open in 2016.

Starwood will also make a foray into new markets like Sri Lanka with Four Points by Sheraton Colombo, International Airport and the Sheraton Colombo Hotel in Colombo, said the company in a press release. One of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world, Starwood has 1,134 properties in nearly 100 countries.

Sajha Yatayat to start services from New Year 2070

Come the New Year 2070 and the long wait is finally going to be over. The newly-acquired buses of the Sajha Yatayat are all set to hit the Kathmandu valley roads on April 14 when they will ply on two routes.

The buses, which were delivered to Sajha Cooperatives by Indian Manufacturer Tata, has acquired route permits to officially begin the services on that day.

Sajha officials confirmed that all work related to the bus service has been completed. “We have the buses, inspection has been conducted and route permits have been acquired. We are ready to hit the road now,” Sajha Manager Mahendra Raj Pandey told the Post on Sunday.

According to Pandey, Chief Secretary Lilamani Poudel will, however, launch the bus service on Saturday itself.

To start with, the buses will ply on two routes—Satdobato-Lagankhel, Jawlakhel-Tripureshwore, Ratnapark, Maharajgunj, Basundhara, New Buspark. Another route will be the Kalanki-Kalimati-New Baneshwore-Tinkune, Airport road section. Both the routes will have two-way services from 5 am to 11 pm. Sajha has okayed a minimum fare of Rs 15 and can go up to Rs 20, according to the distance travelled, while the discounted minimum fare for students will be Rs 10.

Passengers can also transfer tickets or change routes with the tickets purchased.

Sajha has, this time around, also hired six female bus conductors.

All the 16 new buses are compliant with the Euro-III emission standards, while each bus boasts of 55 seats and an 15 additional strap-hangers for standing passengers.

The buses also have automated doors and two CCTV cameras and display screens for advertisements, public notices and entertainment.

Sajha Yatayat halted its bus services in 2002 and politicisation and overstaffing were blamed for the failure. It is now under a new management and was established as a cooperative in 2011 with an executive board elected from general members.

Beauty of Muktinath

Fewa Tal Pokhara

Muktinath is one of the sacred dhams of Hindu religion. It is believed that all miseries and sorrows are relieved once a person visits the temple. Mukti means "Nirvana" or emancipation, "Nath" means God. Both the Buddhists and Hindus hold the temple in high esteem. There are several pilgrimage sites bearing cultural and religious values. For western tourists, a trip to Muktinath not only provides a trek of a lifetime amidst the barren valley and lofty Himalayan Ranges, but also gives them an opportunity to see the homogeneity of Hinduism and Buddhists in the same place.

UWTC Mall to accommodate Bhat Bhateni Superstore

Wait for four months, and you’ll get to see UWTC in a new avatar,” Sandeep Hirachan, managing director of United World Trade Centre (UWTC) said on Friday. “Visitors will get to see a new ambience and structure inside the mall.”

Hirachan said the mall is in preparation to welcome Bhat Bhateni Superstore, the country’s most successful retail chain. To accommodate Bhat Bhateni and give a fresh feel to the overall ambiance, the mall management is currently busy in modifying the interiors.

Corridors in the front of the first and second floors have been demolished to turn the floors into a big store and avail space in the front for customers. The biggest shopping mall of the country with an area of around 150,000 sq ft is investing Rs 12 million for the purpose.

According to Hirachan, Bhat Bhateni will occupy one fourth (36,000 sq ft) of the total space of the mall. Bhat Bhateni will cover half of the spaces on the ground, first and second floors. “We expect the superstore to start operation here within the next four-five months,” said Hirachan.

The entry of Bhat Bhateni is expected to give UWTC a new boost, when the overall market of shopping malls in the Kathmandu valley is not in a good shape. “Bhat Bhateni is one of those companies, of which all the Nepalis should be proud of,” Hirachan said, adding the company is elated to announce its entry into the mall. “It will add up to the image of UWTC and footfalls will escalate significantly.”

At a time when shopping malls are holding promotional events and offering lucrative schemes to increase footfalls, Bhat Bhateni will be a trump card for UWTC to increase visitor numbers. Bhat Bhateni is Nepal’s largest retail chain with annual sales of over Rs 4.32 billion in 2011-12. Around 4,000-8,000 customers visit every outlet of the super store every day.

The arrival of the retail chain, according to Hirachan, will also help realise the dream of United Builders, the parent company of UWTC, to turn it into an out-an-out shopping destination.

While most of the malls in the Capital are banking on entertainment amenities like multiplexes and game zones, Hirachan feels a shopping mall should primarily be known for the availability of products and shopping experience. “We don’t want to gather mass by offering secondary business options like multiplex and game zones. It is shopping experience which should be at the focal point and Bhat Bhateni’s arrival will help us in our endeavour to make it a proper mall,” he said.

And that’s now all. UWTC will soon feature a jewellery store, furniture showroom Istikbal and a few other showrooms which will be big in size and have a world class appeal. “As we are yet to sign on the dotted line, I can’t reveal much about our new plans. But a lot of new stores are coming to match up to the level we have envisaged,” Hirachan said.

Furniture showroom Istikbal will be another major highlight complementing Bhat Bhateni at UWTC. Istikbal showroom, which covers an area of 5,000 sq ft in the front part of the first floor, is under construction and is expected to open very soon. Istikbal is among the world’s top five furniture manufacturers in terms of turnover and has 110 exclusive outlets in over 80 countries.

UWTC is also looking for an alternative parking space and is considering leasing some spaces around the building.

Nine The Korean Movie released in Korea this March

 Here’s another drama I’m waiting to watch. It released in Korea this March and it’s called ‘Nine: Nine Times Time Travel’ and the best part is, it’s been filmed in our very own Nepal. Needless to say, our country looks so beautiful in the teaser. For all the Korean Drama buffs who don’t know about it, here’s the teaser. 

Taken By http://www.texasnepal.com

Miss Nepal 2013 Ishani Shrestha Pics

Time lists Garden of Dreams

Internationally acclaimed weekly magazine Time has rated Garden of Dreams as one of the favourite places to visit in the Soul section of its Travel Special.

“If you find yourself in the frenetic Thamel tourist district of Kathmandu and are overcome with a need for tranquility, leave the Nepali capital’s snarling traffic and persistent hawkers behind you and make for this lush greensward across the street from the former Royal Palace,” writes reporter Karen Leigh.

Designed in the 1920s as a private garden, its wide lawns, surrounded by bamboo, fountains and exotic trees, are the perfect place to revive after a gruelling climbing adventure, Leigh writes, adding, “Walk its immaculately kept perimeter paths before you find a spot to lie on the grass and read a book, sounds of the city drifting overhead.”

“Coverage of Garden of Dreams in Time has put Nepal once again in the international tourism map,” said director and spokesperson at Nepal Tourism Board Aditya Baral. “The image of Nepal as a happening destination has been redeemed.”

Built by late field marshal Kaiser Sumsher Rana as his private garden representing six seasons, it is a neo-classical historical garden renovated and restored from 2000 to 2007, and opened for the public in 2008.

Ishani Shrestha crowned Miss Nepal

 Ishani Shrestha was crowned as Miss Nepal 2013 in a glittering grand finale of the beauty pageant organised at Nepal Academy Hall, Kamaladi in the Capital on Wednesday evening.

Twenty-one-year old Shrestha, selected from 17 finalists, was crowned by Miss Nepal 2012 Shristi Shrestha.

Miss Shrestha, a student of dentistry, has interests in dance art and travel.

Likewise, Shritishma Shah was announced as the Second Runner up while Rojisha Shahi was crowned as Miss Nepal Earth and First Runner up.

Along with the crown, Shrestha was awarded a cash prize of Rs 50, 000. She will represent Nepal in the upcoming Miss World Pageant. Shai received a cash prize of Rs 35,000, while Shah received Rs 25,000.

Winners of other categories:

Miss Photogenic: Shritisma Shah

Miss Best Walk: Ishani Shrestha

Miss Punctuality: Meghna Shrestha

Miss Talent: Sipora Gurung

Miss Personality: Shamikshya Shrestha

Miss Bubbly: Asmita Sitaula

Miss Beautiful: Riju Shrestha

Ishani Shrestha was crowned Miss Nepal 2013 in the grand finale of the beauty pageant.

Nepal Telecom to run customer centre to entertain complaints

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KHAJURA: Nepal Telecom customers using the CDMA and Skyphone in the Mid-western and Far-western regions are facing difficulty making phone calls due to the poor network in the region.

The customers are facing hassles while making calls on the CDMA and Skyphone line. They have complained that the connection is lost within a minute while talking on the phone.

The Nepal Telecom's regional office at Nepalgunj said that some problems have been seen in the phone network as works on installing new technology equipment is underway at the centre. The new equipment is being installed at the centre in a bid to improve the network

Samsung’s Galaxy Grand hits Nepali market

Samsung on Saturday launched Galaxy Grand in the Nepali market with an aim to further consolidate its position in the domestic smartphone market.

International Marketing Services (IMS), the sole authorised distributor of Samsung mobiles, has priced the phone at Rs 37,500. The handset has been a big hit in the Asian market where demand for dual SIM phones is high.
Addressing the launching ceremony, IMS Chairman Deepak Malhotra said that the device will help Samsung measure greater heights in the domestic mobile phone market. “The demand for smartphones is booming continuously in the Nepali market. This handset will help us increase people’s access to smartphones.”

Samsung’s latest offering, according to IMS, combines features of the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy Note II. While the device’s exterior is quite identical to Galaxy S3, there are various software components featured by the Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy Note. As well as Samsung’s innovative features like Smart Stay, Direct Call and Smart Alert, Grand is equipped with Androids v4.1.2 Jelly Bean Operating System (OS) which has been mated with a dual core 1.2 GHz processor and 1 GB RAM.

As for the display, the device boasts a five-inch WVGA, TFT LDC screen, with a multi-window function that allows user to run two different applications simultaneously. It comes with an inbuilt memory of 8GB which can be expanded upto 64 GB through a SD card.

The phone’s eight-mega pixel camera can capture perfect shots even during nights using its inbuilt LED flash, according to the company. There is a two-mega pixel front facing camera for making video calls. Fitted with a sensor similar to that of the Galaxy S II, the phone’s camera lets users to choose settings such as panorama, face detection, flash, exposure value, scene mode, ISO and white balance, among others.
In addition, the Galaxy Grand comes with connectivity features like 3G, 2G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, S Voice and micro USB. The added features in the mobile set include direct call, smart alter, popup video and all here play.

IMS has stated that the handset will cater to the demand of the domestic tech enthusiasts, multimedia users, those who need to stay connected, business professionals and those who need to carry two different mobile handsets. The company further added that this device will enable mid segment users to enjoy unmatched facilities on its five inch screen.
Likewise, several lucrative schemes for the buyers of the latest Samsung device, IMS has announced. The company is offering a 12-month easy instalment package at zero percent interest to customers holding credit card of Nabil bank. Grand comes with a one-year free insurance offer, similar to the ones extended to Galaxy S3 and the Note II. The insurance covers water damage, cracked screens and other unfortunate incidents, the company said. Moreover, those customers who wish to use Grand through Ncell SIM will get 500MB free data per month, for the period of three months.

“With Samsung Grand, we aim to capture a market share of 75 percent in the smartphone segment,” said IMS CEO Bikash Acharya, adding that the company is looking forward to selling around 5,000 units of Grand a month. The company at present sells around 30,000 units of Samsung mobile phones each month, with smartphones accounting for more than 60-70 percent.