The main area
for flying in Nepal is the Annapurna region,
more specifically the Pokhara valley. This
lakeside town is Nepal's second "city", nestled
at the foot of the Annapurna Himal, the views
commanded from here, of 3 of the worlds 8000m
peaks, are unsurpassed.
At an altitude
of 800m ASL the subtropical climate means
that, year round, it is short and T-shirt
weather. The micro-climate of the valley
makes it an ideal area for flying, with far
more constant conditions than the Kathmandu
valley 150km east.
There are several sites around Phew Tal (the lake) but the most accessible is
Sarangkot (1500m ASL). A view point 700m above Pokhara, it is unique
in that it has a road running to the top.
A short walk brings you to the only purpose
built take off in the country. Cut out
of the slope is a 45m by 45m clearing.
With regular cycles providing easy reverse
launches, you could not ask for a more
picturesque site.
With
the lake 2000ft below, the mountains behind,
and the unlimited potential for XC and out
and returns, this has quickly become the
main site for the area, and many pilots have
based themselves in Pokhara for the season,
flying from this mountain alone.
There are an abundance
of other sites around the valley but all
need to be walked up. With names such as
Dikie Danda, Devi Falls, Poomdi and Matepani,
all can be connected by air from Sarangkot.
This is a spectacular site,
with everything that makes flying in Nepal
so awesome. A sheer jungle covered mountain
over 2700m. Home to an abundance of wildlife
and waterfalls. You can cruise along, scaring
troops of monkeys screaming at you from their
tree only inches from your wing tip, or ride
the face and fly through the spray of a 300ft
waterfall. It is also the
start for the best XC flights in the area.
