July 13 , 2006

Mr. Dipendra Bajracharya came out first in the 3rd Thuraya-TAAN Mountain Bike Championship (Open Category) organised by Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN), in association with Nepal Mountain Bike Association (NMBA), Madhyapur Thimi Municipality and Bhaktapur Tourism Development Committee (BTDC), and Tourism Development Committee, Kavre on June 5, 2006, to mark the World Environment Day. .
In 59 minutes and 33 seconds, Mr. Bajracharya covered the 20-kilometre distance between Thimi of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality in Bhaktapur district and Kashibhanjyang of Nala Ugrachandi Village Development Committee (VDC) in Kavrepalanchowk district. .
Similarly, Mr. Surendra Rai and Mr. Kazi Sherpa emerged second and third respective. Mr. Rai completed the race within 59 minutes and 45 seconds, while it took 1.15 hours for Mr. Sherpa to cover the distance. In Women Category, Ms. Nirjala Tamrakar came out first. .
Likewise, Mr. Ajay Pandit Chhetri, Mr. Abraham Rai and Mr. Purna Bahadur Shrestha came out first, second and third respective in the Junior Category. Mr. Sonam Gurung, Mr. Stephen Forster (South Africa) and Robert Brownlee (USA) became first, second and third respectively in the Senior Category. The championship was opened by Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Mr. Govind Prasad Pandey at Thimi. Mr. Phurba G. Sherpa, First Vice President of TAAN, delivered a welcome speech, while the Chief Executive of the Madhyapur Thimi Municipality and President of Bhaktapur Tourism Development Committee Mr. Neel Krishna Tamrakar expressed his best wishes for the event. Amidst a function at TAAN Forest at Kashibhanjyang, Mr. Shankar Prasad Koirala, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, presented trophies and certificates to the winners. .
A total of 107 participants took part in the championship. Of them, 22 were foreigners. With the slogan of "Deserts and Desertification—Don't Desert Dry Lands", the World Environment Day 2006 was marked. The Constellation (P) Ltd., the distributor of Thuraya Satellite Phone, was the main sponsor. Promoted by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the championship was also supported by Air Dynasty (P) Ltd. In a bid to promote Nepal as an adventure tourist destination at national and international levels, TAAN has been organising the championship annually. At Kashibhanjyang, Chief Guest Mr. Koirala inaugurated the afforestation programme and the drinking water project. About 1,200 saplings of various species were planted at TAAN Forest. .
Constructed at a cost of Rs. 100,000, the drinking water project is beneficial for more than 15 households besides irrigating the planted saplings. .
On the occasion, Mr. Koirala suggested that an international level mountain bike championship should be organised annually to promote Nepal as an important venue for adventure tourism. .
Speaking from the chair, TAAN's President Mr. Narendra B.C. said that the association has been effortful for developing the Kashibhanjyang area into a tourist spot. .
Delivering his welcome address, General Secretary of TAAN, Mr. Sitaram Sapkota asked the local people to contribute from their respective sectors for the protection of TAAN Forest. .
On the occasion, Mr. Chhimi Gurung, President of NMBA, Mr. Neel Krishna Tamrakar, President of BTDC, coordinator of the programme and TAAN Executive Committee Member Mr. Keshav Pandey and Mr. Raju Bajgain of local Nawajyoti Youth Club expressed shared their ideas and views regarding the mountain bike championship and afforestation programme. .
Since 2003, TAAN has started afforestation programme at Kashibhanjyang, a scenic place situated strategically between two popular tourist spots Nagarkot and Dhulikhel in Kavrepalanchowk district. TAAN has been allotted with 100 ropanis of land by District Development Committee (DDC), Kavre to develop the area as a TAAN Forest. As per its policy of developing varied tourism products and new destinations, TAAN has been developing the TAAN Forest areat as a popular camping and picnic spot.