The 7th Nepal Open paragliding competition kicked off Thursday in the tourist city of Pokhara, with an objective of assisting in the overall tourism industry of the country by attracting tourists through the medium of adventure sport.

Some 63 paragliding pilots of 19 countries and regions including 11 from Nepal have been participating in the five-day competition.

About 44 persons contested in the competition last year, as it has been organized by the Trekking Agents Association of Nepal, Pokhara Chapter, for the past seven years.

Pokhara, some 200 kms west of Kathmandu, is the 10th best place in the world for paragliding for its weather, geographical landscape, natural beauty and facilities.

The paragliders fly from the famous tourist site of Sarangkot and land at the Fewa lake banks.

Pokhara has been an attraction for the view of three above 8,000 meter peaks and hilly region and the Fewa lake and good weather.

A foreign national is charged 25 US dollars and a Nepali citizen 1,000 Nepali rupees (14.2 dollars) each for being participant in the competition.

Source: Xinhua