Pokhara to Host Third Cross-Country Race on November 9

The Himalayan Tourism Forum is set to organize the third Cross-Country Race in Pokhara on November 9. Athletes from Nepal and neighboring China will compete across multiple categories: a 50-kilometer team race, a 50-kilometer individual race (for men and women), a student race, a five-kilometer run, and a two-kilometer "Happy Run."

The top team in the 50-kilometer race will receive Rs 458,000, with Rs 343,000 awarded to the second-place team. Individual winners in the men's and women's 50-kilometer race will each receive Rs 152,000, while the student race champion will earn Rs 30,000.

The 50-kilometer mountain race will start at Barahighat, Lakeside, Pokhara, and traverse through Chhorepatan, Ramadi, Phusrekhola, Fedikhola in Syangja, and Pumdibhumdi in Pokhara Sub-Metropolis-22, ending in Pokhara city after passing Phewalake and Pame.

According to tournament coordinator Bishwashankar Palikhe, 140 participants from China will arrive via chartered flight. The event aims to strengthen the long-standing Nepal–China relations and promote Nepal’s tourism.

Pokhara, known as the "city of adventure sports," frequently hosts international events like the Enduro Cycle Race, Dragon Boat Race, Triathlon, and Paragliding. Adventure activities such as Ziplining, Bungee Jumping, and Ultralight flying are particularly popular among Chinese tourists.

Laxman Subedi, President of the Hotel Association Pokhara, noted that 40 percent of Chinese tourists visiting Nepal make Pokhara part of their itinerary. He believes the city has potential to attract even more visitors from China for both leisure and business.

Taranath Pahari, President of the Pokhara Tourism Council, emphasized that the Cross-Country Race will not only showcase Pokhara as a prime tourist destination but also help promote Nepal's tourism industry on an international scale.