The former King of Nepal Gyanendra Shah, 77, was welcomed Sunday in Kathmandu by thousands of supporters, while the monarchy was abolished in 2008 in this Himalayan Republic of some 30 million inhabitants. “Come king, save the nation”they chanted, waving Nepalese flags and applauding Mr. Shah, who came to greet them at a door at … Read more
A powerful earthquake on Tuesday in the Himalayan region of Tibet, in southwest China, left at least 53 dead and caused the collapse of numerous buildings, an earthquake felt as far away as neighboring Nepal. The 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Dingri township, located not far from the Sino-Nepalese border, at 9:05 a.m. (01:05 GMT), according … Read more
A violent earthquake hits the Himalayan region of Tibet this Tuesday. This earthquake killed at least nine people and caused the collapse of “many buildings” in southwest China, according to Chinese state media. The 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Dingri Township, located near the border with Nepal, at 9:05 a.m., according to China’s National Earthquake Agency … Read more
Every January 1, I undertake the steep climb of the 365 steps leading to the base of Swayambhunath, the Buddhist shrine which dominates Kathmandu. There, I find Ani Andrea, an American who came during the hippie era and has since lived in an adjacent monastery. To start the year, she invites monks and friends to … Read more
With the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas as a backdrop, Pokhara’s skies are transformed into a canvas of vibrant colors this week for Nepal’s first hot air balloon festival. “We said to ourselves that we had to bring a hot air balloon festival like this back to Nepal” Sabin Maharjan, an organizer of the event, … Read more
Animal rights activists in India denounced this Wednesday the sacrifice of more than 4 thousand animals in neighboring Nepal on the occasion of a Hindu festival that is celebrated every five years, and in which the lives of thousands of goats, buffaloes or doves are offered in sacrifice to the goddess Gadhimai. “The Gadhimai festival … Read more
Its ascent via its east face is a world first and Langtang Lirung carried its pioneer. Slovak mountaineer Ondrej Huserka was killed after falling into a crevasse during the descent of Langtang Lirung, a 7,234 meter Nepalese summit, the Slovak climbing association announced this Sunday in a press release spotted in particular by Le Midi … Read more
“It’s a great story between mountaineers,” summarizes Jacques-Olivier, lieutenant-colonel and pilot of the Chamonix high mountain military group (GMHM). At the beginning of October, as part of an expedition that he prepares every year, he planned to climb the virgin summit of Chaukhamba III, in the Himalayas, in India. He finally found himself, with two … Read more
At the beginning of October, the Chamonix High Mountain Military Group (GMHM) launched three missions to attack different sectors of the Indian Himalayas, each one crazier than the last. One was to bring four climbers to the summit of Chaukhamba III, a peak culminating at nearly 7,000 m. Except that the soldiers abandoned their mission … Read more
Climate change, coupled with rapid urbanization and deforestation, has worsened Nepal’s deadly floods in September, with a risk of more rain in the future “even more violent”researchers warned Thursday. At least 240 people died in floods caused by violent monsoon rains, which affected entire neighborhoods of the capital, Kathmandu. Scientists from the World Weather Attribution … Read more