POKHARA, June 12: In a landmark move for Nepal’s tourism sector, three of the country’s most prominent destinations—Pokhara (Nepal’s tourism capital), Lumbini (Buddha’s birthplace), and Bharatpur (famed for wildlife safaris) —have signed a cooperation agreement to jointly promote tourism under the “Silver Triangle” initiative. The pact aims to connect adventure tourism, spiritual heritage, and wildlife experiences into a single integrated journey, offering visitors a diverse package that could extend their stay and spending in Nepal.
Representatives of Pokhara Metropolitan City, Bharatpur Metropolitan City, and Lumbini Municipality signed the agreement in Pokhara, formalizing years of informal discussions among tourism entrepreneurs. The 12-point pact emphasizes connectivity, joint branding, and integrated tourism packages, with the goal of marketing the Silver Triangle both domestically and internationally.
Under the agreement, the three municipalities committed to incorporating Silver Triangle promotion into their annual policies, plans, and budgets, while rotating leadership and coordination responsibilities each year. They will organize a Silver Triangle Tourism Fair (Travel Mart) annually on a rotational basis, launch joint branding and marketing campaigns, and install digital information boards in each city highlighting attractions of the other two. The pact also calls for developing integrated tourism packages and promotional materials, alongside regular business-to-business (B2B) and government-to-government (G2G) meetings to strengthen cooperation among the three destinations.
The pact also calls for cultural, educational, and tourism exchange programs, and coordinated efforts with provincial and federal governments, the Nepal Tourism Board, and development partners. Special emphasis will be placed on improving inter-provincial connectivity to make travel between the three destinations smoother.
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Mayor of Pokhara Metropolis Dhanraj Acharya described the partnership as a new dimension in Nepal’s tourism. “If Pokhara, Bharatpur, and Lumbini can be developed as a single circuit, tourists will enjoy diverse attractions in one trip—from adventure to spirituality to wildlife—while extending their stay in Nepal,” he said.
Acting Mayor of Bharatpur Metropolitan City Chitrasen Adhikari stressed that joint cooperation is essential. “Individual efforts alone cannot succeed. If all three local governments and entrepreneurs work together, success in tourism is certain. The benefits will extend beyond the cities to the state as a whole,” he noted.
Acting Mayor of Lumbini Kalpana Harijan highlighted the appeal of combining religious, cultural, and adventure tourism. “Visitors will be happy to experience Lumbini’s spiritual peace, Bharatpur’s biodiversity, and Pokhara’s adventure tourism in a single journey. This is an important step in tourism promotion,” she said.
Maniraj Lamichhane, a senior official of Nepal Tourism Board, explained that linking destinations is a common practice in developed countries. “This initiative connects places with distinct tourism identities—from spirituality to wildlife and adventure. It will increase tourist spending and length of stay,” he said.
Pokhara Visit Year Coordinator Gopi Bahadur Bhattarai added that the cooperation strengthens ties between three provinces and supports domestic tourism promotion. “If tourists are given different experiences based on their interests, it helps attract more visitors with diverse preferences,” he said.
The federal government had earlier prioritized development of this tourism route, and Gandaki Province has also indicated its support. While entrepreneurs have long promoted the destinations individually, this is the first time local governments have formally joined hands.
Tourism stakeholders believe the agreement opens the way to market the Silver Triangle internationally, positioning Nepal as a destination where visitors can experience adventure, spirituality, and wildlife in a single journey.
