The festival, organized by the Regional Hotel Association Nepal Chitwan Sauraha and co-organized by the United Elephant Operation Cooperative, has begun in the forest of Baghmara Intermediate Community Forest.
What you should know
The 19th edition of the Elephant Festival has begun in Sauraha, a tourist town in Chitwan, on Friday.
The festival, organized by the Regional Hotel Association Nepal Chitwan Sauraha and co-organized by the United Elephant Operation Cooperative Society, has begun in the forest of Baghmara Intermediate Community Forest. The festival was inaugurated by Bagmati Province Chief Minister Indra Bahadur Baniya. Conservation workers and journalists were honored on the occasion of the inauguration of the festival.
On the first day of the festival, a friendly football (penalty shootout) match of the Elephant League stage was played. In the penalty shootout, six elephants participated, including Champakali of the United Elephant Operation Cooperative Society, Basantikali 'A' of the Regional Hotel Association Sauraha, Basantikali 'B' of the Restaurant and Bar Association (REBAN) Sauraha, Poojakali of Nikunj Safari Pvt. Ltd., Marutikali of the Sauraha Jeep and Boat Center, and Laxmikali of the Kasara Tourism Entrepreneurs Committee, informed Binod Timilsina, coordinator of elephant football. On Friday, two rounds of penalty shootouts were played between these elephants, and on Saturday, four elephants will enter the finals after two more rounds of penalty shootouts, Timilsina informed.
Mahesh Khanal, General Secretary of the Regional Hotel Association of Sauraha, informed that an elephant grooming competition, football (penalty shootout), health camp and boat race will be held on Saturday as part of the festival.
The festival, which was started with the aim of promoting domestic and foreign tourism, has programs including elephant friendly competitions, municipal-level boat race competition, elephant forest feast, elephant health camp, and information about elephant routines, informed coordinator Gunaraj Thapaliya. The festival, which will feature 80 elephants, will run until Poush 13.
The organizers have stated that a 10 percent discount will be given on food and accommodation at hotels and restaurants in Sauraha during the festival. The Elephant and Tourism Festival has been held in Sauraha since 2055 BS to extend the stay of foreign tourists during Christmas.
