<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109101148/636b781a9c7e80680e064682jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="1195"/><figcaption>Monika Shceiblauer.</figcaption></figure>On any given day, General Manager Monika Scheiblauer can be seen making her way over the polished wood floors of the Yak &amp; Yeti Hotel, her smile gracious and the lilt of her speech easily recognised as German.Scheiblauer is the first woman general manager of the hotel located off Darbar Marg and the only woman general manager of a five-star hotel in Kathmandu Valley at the moment. Before she came to Nepal in 2017, she managed hotels in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Thailand, Malaysia, and Bahrain.“It has been more than two years that I have worked in this organisation and I feel at home, with an overall sense of warmth and belonging,” says Scheiblauer, who says she had always dreamt of visiting Nepal. “I have made wonderful memories here that will stay with me forever.”Read also: <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/business/hotel-yak-yeti-celebrates-41st-year/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hotel Yak &amp; Yeti celebrates 41st year</a><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109101148/636b781c9c7e80680e064683jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="337" height="400">Although Scheiblauer always wanted to visit, she had never imagined that she may one day live and work in Nepal. “It was never on my bucket list,” she admits. But since her arrival, Scheiblauer has been fascinated by the country’s rich heritage, cultural diversity, variety of cuisine, age-old festivals and kind people.Scheiblauer encourages more young women to join the hospitality industry at higher managerial positions. “I feel we are living in a constantly changing world and it is empowering that women are given more opportunities in today’s context,” she says. “Women tend to have high emotional intelligence, which is extremely important in the hotel industry where people serve people.”In her two years at Yak &amp; Yeti Scheiblauer has overseen the restoration of Lal Durbar, the re-launch of <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/review/a-new-chimney/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Chimney, the hotel’s oldest restaurant</a>, and the establishment of <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/review/a-taste-of-india-at-the-spice-room/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spice Room</a>, a fine-dining Indian restaurant. The iconic Lal Durbar, built by Bir Shumsher Rana in 1885, was turned into Nepal’s first hotel for international clientele, The Hotel Royal, in 1977 and now comprises one of Yak &amp; Yeti’s two wings. Its distinctive façade has been faithfully restored. The red marble used inside was originally shipped from Italy and carried by porters from Kolkata to Kathmandu and the building now houses the hotel’s conference facility.The new Spice Room serves an array of elevated north and south Indian dishes. The Chimney, for its part, is 50 years old and houses a 60-year-old copper chimney. The restaurant rebranded itself as a ‘fun-dining’ restaurant in 2018 but continues to serve such dishes as Russian borscht and Chicken ala Kiev, timeless classics introduced by Boris Lissanevitch when he established the restaurant and for which it has been known.

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Ms Yak & Yeti

<img width="915" height="595" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221107171116/636930029c7e80680e03c0d5jpeg.jpg" alt=""/>Many Hotel Yak and Yeti frequenters were saddened when the Chimney Restaurant founded by the legendary <a href="http://archive.nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=10754#.W9F8onszbIU">Boris Lissanevitch</a> was closed last year. They missed Boris’ famous signature dishes like Goulash and Fondue and the <a href="http://archive.nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=1451#.W9F8pHszbIU">extraordinary copper chimney</a> that was the centerpiece f his restaurant. But the wait is over, The Chimney is back with a fresh look and even fresher menu.Yak and Yeti decided to recreate and rebrand The Chimney as a place where the old meets the new: up-scale and high fashion, yet casual and comfortable. “After serving international guests, expats and diplomats for a long time, the management wanted to turn things around and welcome Nepalis as well,” explains the hotel’s Food and Beverage Director Manish Goyal. “To share the celebrated history of the restaurant with young crowd we are introducing an ambience that is familiar to them and a place for friends to hangout.” <img width="640" height="480" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221107171116/636930049c7e80680e03c0d6jpeg.jpg" alt=""><figure><img width="901" height="599" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221107171116/636930079c7e80680e03c0d7jpeg.jpg" alt=""><figcaption> </figcaption></figure>The new outdoor lounge has chic furniture that invites guests to relax, and enjoy lunch and evening snacks in the winter sun. When it gets chillier, they can either ask for a blanket or move inside where the historical copper chimney makes things warm and cosy.Boris’ designer dishes like Smoked Beckti, Chicken a la Kiev, and the flaming Baked Alaskan Sagarmatha are still there, but there is an international menu, prepared by Executive Chef Ameya Deshmukh, main chef Sunil Tamang and their team.  The menu infuses fresh ingredients and herbs from the hotel’s own garden to create fusion dishes like Pork sausage with <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/a-kiwi-takes-to-gundruk/">gundruk ko achar</a>, Methi thepla tacos, and even Chicken chhoila, Makai sandheko and Samayabaji.  The bar has eliminated plastic straws and stirrers with copper ones and done away with bottled syrups and preservatives. The Miracle (beetroot and carrot juice with whisky and honey), Carrot Colada (white rum, coconut water and homemade carrot puree) and other drinks are simple and authentic. “Our goal is to present a modern menu that is also good for the environment. It is inspired by waste reduction and creative thinking,” says manager Ron Sonar. <figure><img width="640" height="960" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221107171116/6369300a9c7e80680e03c0d8jpeg.jpg" alt=""><figcaption> </figcaption></figure>But the bottom line of The Chimney’s transformation is the prices: they have been slashed and are much less than levels at other star hotels. Combining great food with affordable prices and a history makes the new Chimney as good as, if not better than, the old one. Must try: <figure><img width="640" height="359" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221107171116/6369300c9c7e80680e03c0d9jpeg.jpg" alt=""><figcaption> </figcaption></figure><figure><img width="640" height="427" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221107171116/6369300f9c7e80680e03c0dajpeg.jpg" alt=""><figcaption> </figcaption></figure><figure><img width="575" height="1024" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221107171116/636930119c7e80680e03c0dbjpeg.jpg" alt=""><figcaption> </figcaption></figure><figure><img width="640" height="359" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221107171116/636930149c7e80680e03c0dcjpeg.jpg" alt=""><figcaption> </figcaption></figure> 12-10:30pm,  The Chimney Restaurant, Hotel Yak and Yeti, Darbar Marg,     (01) 4248999 <figure><img width="640" height="359" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221107171116/636930179c7e80680e03c0ddjpeg.jpg" alt=""><figcaption> </figcaption></figure>Read also: <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/business/hotel-yak-yeti-celebrates-41st-year/">Hotel Yak &amp; Yeti celebrates 41st year</a><a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/business/indian-fine-dining/">Indian fine dining</a>, Sikuma Rai

A new Chimney

<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221107161124/636923309c7e80680e03a16djpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1180" height="787"/>First opened in 27 September 1977, on the World Tourism Day, <a href="https://www.yakandyeti.com/">Hotel Yak &amp; Yeti</a> celebrated its 41st year anniversary on Thursday.Hotel Yak &amp; Yeti, as it stands today, is inextricably linked to Nepal’s colorful history and culture. The 5-star property with 270 rooms is designed to complement the style of the <a href="http://archive.nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=5475#.W634V3szbIU">Lal Durbar Palace</a>. The Lal Durbar Convention Centre at Hotel Yak &amp; Yeti is Kathmandu’s largest convention centre with artifacts and antiques that have been lovingly preserved, maintaining the splendor of the Rana times. The Lal Durbar has successfully hosted more than 1500 local and international banquet functions since its 40th anniversary.The traditional Nepali features have been preserved to offer and exceptional environment while providing all the modern facilities and comforts required for a 5-star luxury. Over the years the hotel has been upgraded and extended, now boasting a shopping arcade, swimming pool, two tennis courts, a state-of-the- art fitness center and luxury spa.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221107161124/636923339c7e80680e03a16ejpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427">Last year, celebrating its 40th year, the hotel had taken an initiative to engage in various community service activities to bring awareness on important social, cultural and environmental issues of the society. From its anniversary day last year, Hotel Yak &amp; Yeti has conducted programs like dental hygiene camp, entertainment <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/business/hotel-yak-yeti-visits-helping-hands-for-the-deaf/">events for underprivileged children</a>, Darbar Marg cleaning campaign, <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/business/cow-friendly-yak-and-yeti/">awareness programs</a> and many more.The hotel has also successfully executed many F&amp;B promotions throughout the year.  It began with a contemporary and progressive Nepali menu for the Nepali New Year 2075 and celebrated the Chinese Year of the dog with seven lucky foods. Food festivals for French, Sri Lankan, Indian and Jamaican cuisine became hit. Mango mania, beer and wings were loved by the guests, while the two cocktails and conversations events hosted by the hotel were well appreciated.Hotel Yak and Yeti is kick-starting its 41st year anniversary with a <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/nt/about-town/">401 Martinis</a> concept bar promotion with many more to come.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221107161124/636923369c7e80680e03a16fjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="800">

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Hotel Yak & Yeti celebrates 41st year

<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221107121144/6368f0159c7e80680e0359b6jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="895" height="630"/>As part of <a href="https://www.yakandyeti.com/">Hotel Yak &amp; Yeti</a>’s Corporate Social Responsibility, General Manager Monika Scheiblauer and team have taken the initiative to donate basic home and living supplies such as mattresses, pillows, bed sheets and towels to Helping Hands for the Deaf (HHD), a shelter for children with hearing impairment and special needs.On 11 July, the team delivered the materials to the shelter and spent time with the children and teachers while listening to their stories. Sagar Singh Rawat, Executive Chef of Hotel Yak &amp; Yeti, and his team also prepared healthy lunch boxes for all the children and staff.HHD is a national shelter home established in 2014 for children with hearing impairments from all over Nepal. It works on the development, care, love and support of the children while providing interpreting services, job facilities, vocational trainings, counseling facilities, and recreational activities for their parents.The event was a part of Hotel Yak &amp; Yeti’s 40th year celebration. In honor of the anniversary, the hotel has taken the initiative of engaging in various community service activities to bring awareness to important social, cultural and environmental issues that will contribute to the betterment of society.<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221107121144/6368f0189c7e80680e0359b7jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480"><figcaption>All Photos: HOTEL YAK &amp; YETI</figcaption></figure>The Hotel has conducted various community service activities such as Dental Hygiene Camp for Shree Bal Bikash School, Lunch programs and magic show for the underprivileged, A wish tree and lunch program for underprivileged children during Christmas, Durbar Marg Cleaning Campaign, Dance, exercise and lunch program in association with Nepal Parkinson’s Disease Association, <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/business/cow-friendly-yak-and-yeti/">Animal/Cow Shelter Awareness Program in collaboration with Art of Living Nepal,</a> Recycling demonstration program, and art contest and lunch for children from Tangal Secondary School on Earth Day to encourage beating plastic pollution.

Hotel Yak & Yeti visits Helping Hands for the Deaf

In honor of its 40th year of operation, Hotel Yak and Yeti took an initiative to engage in community service activities to bring awareness to important social, cultural and environmental issues that will contribute to the betterment of our society.The hotel in collaboration with Neeva M. Pradhan from the Art of Living Foundation, hosted a talk program to spread awareness and updated information on the situation of stranded cows, buffaloes and calves on the streets and highways of Nepal.The purpose of this program was to raise awareness about the existence of the cow/animal shelter and to encourage individuals and organizations to become more conscious about such issues and to spread the influence, supporting ‘Mathmandir Gai Bachha Bachau Tatha Samaj Bikash Aabhiyan – 2071’, a cow shelter to adopt and raise stranded cows, buffaloes and calves on the street.Starting from the 40th anniversary day on 27 September 2017, Hotel Yak &amp; Yeti has conducted various community service activities such as dental hygiene camp for Shree Bal Bikash School, lunch programs and magic show for the underprivileged, a wish tree and lunch program for underprivileged children during Christmas, Darbar Marg cleaning campaign and dance exercise and lunch program in association with the Nepal Parkinson’s Disease Association (NepDA).<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110710110/6368c9c19c7e80680e02f2cdjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="830"/><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110710110/6368c9c49c7e80680e02f2cejpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480">

Yak and Yeti for cows

Nepal’s only international aviation gateway, at Kathmandu airport, will cut night-time operation hours to allow construction of taxiways, and airlines have been told to curtail flights. This is expected to lead to more than normal chaos during the height of peak autumn and spring tourist seasons at an airport that is congested even at the best of times. The airport will close from 10PM to 8AM from 8 November-31 March 2025. The taxiways will now connect to the thresholds at both ends of the runway, making the airport more efficient in handling higher frequencies of landings and takeoffs. The parallel taxiway extension will allow international flights to land every 4 minutes instead of the current every 7 minutes. At present planes have to wait to land until a plane taking off backtracks along the runway.&nbsp; Kathmandu is Nepal’s only airport with international operations, and it has only one runway that is only one way in from the south over the mountains. With the taxiway improvement, the airport will be able to handle 42 aircraft landings and takeoffs per hour — double the current capacity.&nbsp; The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has been trying to entice international airlines to also start flying to and from the other two international airports at Pokhara and Bhairawa (Lumbini) by slashing landing and handling charges. But so far only Nepal Airlines operates a weekly flight to Bhairawa from Kuala Lumpur.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20241018161016_046569e53d1d66cd445cc66c697c0ef724810aec9f54bdf827481e3cd6b80c32.jpg" data-media-id="editor_0" data-image-id="20241018161016_046569e53d1d66cd445cc66c697c0ef724810aec9f54bdf827481e3cd6b80c32" data-rendition-name="original" width="2356" height="1134" loading="lazy" alt="Kathmandu airport expansion"> <figcaption>Kathmandu Airport Expansion plan with extension of taxiways to the thresholds of runways 02 and 20 that will limit airport operations from 8 November 2024 - 31 March 2025. Areas in blue are existing structures, including the international terminal which in future will be the domestic airport, and the new international terminal near the north end of the runway,</figcaption> </figure>   <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20241018121028_6e17cc2ee87c1b02d78cb54905825b7aa15299b7a00f5eddb01a59579ab85c1a.jpg" data-media-id="editor_1" data-image-id="20241018121028_6e17cc2ee87c1b02d78cb54905825b7aa15299b7a00f5eddb01a59579ab85c1a" data-rendition-name="original" width="1353" height="1328" loading="lazy" alt="Kathmandu airport NT"> </figure>  CAAN has reportedly told international airlines to cut their flight frequency to Kathmandu citing the shorter operation hours and has told budget airlines to shift some of their flights to Pokhara or Bhairawa, or face cuts. Many airlines currently operate regular flights to and from Kathmandu between 10PM and 8AM: Air Arabia to Sharjah, Fly Dubai to Dubai, Jazeera Airways to Kuwait, Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong, Singapore Airlines, several Nepal Airlines flights, and one of four daily flights by Qatar Airways to Doha. Jazeera Airways, FlyDubai, and Thai AirAsia have applied and got permission from CAAN to begin regular flights to Bhairawa’s Gautam Buddha International Airport. Starting 9 November, FlyDubai will start making a stopover in Bhairawa before flying on to Kathmandu. Immigration, customs and security are all fully functional in Bhairawa. In Kathmandu, the next phase of the airport upgrade includes converting the current international terminal for domestic operations, the construction of a new international terminal where the domestic departure area is now, as well as moving the hangars and the Nepal Army Air Wing to the eastern side of the runway. The apron area will also double its parking space for widebody jets. This is part of a Airport Capacity Enhancement Project that was initially funded through a $80 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the entire masterplan is expected to cost $800 million. This project is the latest upgrade to Nepal’s only international airport since it saw its first flight in 1949. The current international and domestic terminals are too small to handle the current annual traffic volume of 8.5 million passengers a year that is growing at 20% a year.

Kathmandu airport to cut flight hours

As Kathmandu becomes more congested and polluted, and with remote online work becoming the norm, many professional Nepalis are planning to retire in Pokhara, or move there.&nbsp; With its stunning mountain panorama, balmy winters and proximity to a profusion of wilderness areas, builders are responding to this demand with new townhouses, housing development and apartments. One such block of flats is the 10-storey <a href="https://sungavaapartment.com/">Sungava Apartment</a> located at Phulbari above the Seti River, near the point where it flows into and under Pokhara. The imposing structure near Manipal Hospital is almost complete, and on a recent visit the site was strewn with huge boulders unearthed while digging the foundation.&nbsp; The Seti brought down these boulders during a gigantic flood that geologists estimate happened 800 years ago when a chunk of Annapurna IV broke off and ploughed into the glacier below. Today, Sungava (means ‘orchid’) sits safely on a high terrace, 100m above the blue-green Seti and commands a view of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Machapuchre, Annapurna III and IV.&nbsp;  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/2024102411104_5f8fc736c86ea3c08d7bef43bb727081d3cc1a2caa55ae2b441717e6044de7e9.jpg" data-media-id="editor_1" data-image-id="2024102411104_5f8fc736c86ea3c08d7bef43bb727081d3cc1a2caa55ae2b441717e6044de7e9" data-rendition-name="original" width="2016" height="1512" loading="lazy" alt="High living below the Himalaya NT"> </figure>  The soil here is conglomerate that has solidified like concrete, and the boulders were extracted by heavy earthmovers. It is intriguing to think that these metamorphic rocks as big as cars, rounded by glacial grinding, were once a part of a much higher Annapurna IV. Even for those with little interest in geology, Sungava is an ideal place to contemplate the tectonic forces that pushed these peaks into the sky to be sculpted into delicate shapes by wind, snow, earthquake and avalanche over millions of years. The view of the Himalayan panorama from Sungava’s many balconies are breathtaking when not obscured by clouds, or the haze that drifts in from across the southern border. On most days, just watching the towering pyramid of Machapuchre (Tamu name: कतासुँ क्लिको) play hide and seek with the clouds is mesmerising. There are rocks aplenty at Phulbari, and it is probably the flowers that grew along the flat terraces e that gave the place its flowery name. The boulders will hopefully be turned into a rock garden while landscaping. An nearby restaurant complex is making the best use of the stones in its design, using flat rocks as outdoor benches and tables. Sungava was designed by the husband-wife architect team of Deepak Sherchan and Jyoti Joshi of <a href="https://thedarkmermaidamarbshrestha.blogspot.com/2013/12/creative-builders-collaborative-cbc.html">Creative Builders Collaborative (CBC)</a>, which also built Heritage Plaza, Indreni Apartment and numerous other projects in Nepal. Sadbhavana retains CBC’s trademark Newari-style masonry and here it borrows from the orange brickwork of the old town of Pokhara, integrating it with modern design elements. A few of those heritage houses are still standing in Ganesh Tole and Ram Krishna Tole in Pokhara’s old quarter.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/2024102411108_5eb64a4885961b6d30781cefeb1e8a313da313ac5227c7a66b60f0c7d48d6fab.jpg" data-media-id="editor_3" data-image-id="2024102411108_5eb64a4885961b6d30781cefeb1e8a313da313ac5227c7a66b60f0c7d48d6fab" data-rendition-name="original" width="1362" height="595" loading="lazy" alt="High living below the Himalaya NT"> </figure>  About 400m from the apartment past a bend on the river, and down below three tiers of terraces in the canyon is a suspension bridge. Below it, the Seti is still swollen with post-monsoon flow as it tumbles away in a hurry to head down south.&nbsp; Back at the apartment, it is quiet, far away from the hubbub of Lakeside a 15 minute drive away, and in the lap of greenery. There are 52 units at Sungava and it already has a close-knit prospective community of professionals, including doctors, publishers, engineers, and businesspeople from the renewable energy and IT sectors.&nbsp; Some residents say they opted for a second home in Pokhara to make it a ‘base camp’ to explore the Annapurnas with its many hiking trails made newly accessible with new roads. With the NRN citizenship law, overseas Nepalis can now also buy the flats. &nbsp; The floor plans include options for north and south-facing 3-bedroom apartments with verandas, and the facility has underground parking has EV charging, heated pool, sauna and gym. There are still some unsold apartments with panoramic views of the mountains and one can imagine oneself at the kitchen with its huge window, humming a ditty while preparing breakfast: “खाना पकाउँ हिमाल हेरेर...”

High living below the Himalaya

When the United Nations held its Summit of the Future at its headquarters in New York in September, many world leaders, including Nepal’s Prime Minister K P Oli, highlighted the effect of climate breakdown in increasing the frequency and intensity of natural disasters. What did not get as much attention was the long term impact of the climate crisis on food production. In fact, heat stress, weather extremes and the consequences on rain-fed agriculture is already being felt worldwide, undermining the chances of the <a href="https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/">UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)</a> being met by 2030.&nbsp; The SDG’s 17 targets commit countries like Nepal to reduce poverty and inequality, end malnutrition, protect the natural environment, and ensure that citizens all enjoy health, justice and prosperity without leaving anyone behind.&nbsp; However, besides the impact of climate breakdown on agricultural production, in Nepal the area under cultivation is impacted by urban expansion, falling productivity and the need for expensive inputs like fertiliser and pesticides.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20241019041052_626413c5baf4dae407ac9579231b41daeb51510aa636b75aeb7489d94cca6a62.jpg" data-media-id="editor_1" data-image-id="20241019041052_626413c5baf4dae407ac9579231b41daeb51510aa636b75aeb7489d94cca6a62" data-rendition-name="original" width="999" height="1500" loading="lazy" alt="urban agriculture in Kathmandu"> <figcaption>Kathmandu's urban sprawl is eating into its fertile cultivable lands. Photo: TAYLOR MASON</figcaption> </figure>  Now, a new study led by Nepali researcher Prajal Pradhan at the University of Groningen in The Netherlands looks at how urban agriculture may offer a solution to falling food production and meeting SDG targets. The researchers evaluated 1,450 publications exploring the contributions of urban agriculture with both positive and negative effects, and published their findings in the journal Cells Report Sustainability. Urban agriculture can help achieve 17 SDGs, positively influencing 81 targets. However, it could also undermine 51 goals.&nbsp; Read also: <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/here-now/the-vanishing-land">The vanishing land</a>, Taylor Mason “Urban agriculture offers immense potential for sustainable development, but realising this potential depends crucially on adopting practices that minimise its adverse effects while maximising its benefits,” Pradhan explains. Urban agriculture can substantially enhance urban food security, provide employment to the urban poor, serve as ground water recharge in built-up areas, and preserve open spaces that can serve as safe havens during disasters like earthquakes. However, it also presents problems like the potential health risks from contamination and the need for expensive inputs. &nbsp; “Urban agriculture plays a definitive role in advancing the SDGs, but achieving this requires tailored, context-specific solutions that address the unique challenges of different regions,” says Yuanchao Hu of Wuhan University in China and who is a researcher at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. “But it needs equitable access and rigorous management of environmental risks.”&nbsp; Rapid urbanisation is eating into Nepal’s most fertile agricultural land, which means farming in remaining open spaces inside cities can be a viable alternative, especially as food prices rise.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20241019041052_7b7c9413086226fbdc630d45acf772cfa1ced77a8970b9056ec5ec7e5226fdf8.jpg" data-media-id="editor_3" data-image-id="20241019041052_7b7c9413086226fbdc630d45acf772cfa1ced77a8970b9056ec5ec7e5226fdf8" data-rendition-name="original" width="1500" height="999" loading="lazy" alt="urban agriculture in Kathmandu"> <figcaption>A vegetable patch in between new houses in Thimi. Photo: TAYLOR MASON</figcaption> </figure>  “The conversion of Nepal’s most fertile land into cities is a severe problem,” Pradhan told Nepali Times. “Crop cultivation, horticulture, agroforestry, beekeeping, livestock rearing, or aquaculture can all be farming activities within and around cities.”&nbsp; The study makes recommendations for sustainable practices that build on the positive aspects of urban agriculture while mitigating the downsides, thereby promoting more resilient cities in future. Research shows that urban agriculture has been helping many countries attain SDG targets by enhancing food security and biodiversity while helping education and preservation of open spaces.&nbsp; Indeed, many farmers from the hinterland who have settled in Kathmandu Valley or other urban areas of the country have been practicing urban agriculture, leasing neighbourhood patches or cultivating roof gardens both out of necessity because of inflation and falling income to grow their own food, and also as a fulfilling hobby. Saurav Dhakal, a sustainability advocate with Story Cycle and now research fellow at the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand, says there are socio-economic and environmental benefits of urban agriculture. “It provides benefits to all urban dwellers, regardless of their income status,” says Dhakal, “families get fresh food, and there are many other benefits like water retention, heat regulation and biodiversity. These are all public goods, so special government incentives may be needed.” It is not unusual to see vegetable patches and even paddy fields within inner city Kathmandu where an older generation of farmers are using available fertile land and <a href="https://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/Nepali-Times-Buzz/rooftop-gardens-kathmandu,1415">roof gardens to produce fresh, nutritious food </a>to reduce their dependence on food items that have to be bought after being trucked in from large distances.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/2024101905100_1291ce98dbbb8caed8702ac4b1d469b3e13016d7ecaaf3bfd5f91c974d3c0c77.jpg" data-media-id="editor_5" data-image-id="2024101905100_1291ce98dbbb8caed8702ac4b1d469b3e13016d7ecaaf3bfd5f91c974d3c0c77" data-rendition-name="original" width="1500" height="999" loading="lazy" alt="urban agriculture in Kathmandu"> <figcaption>An older generation of farmers are using any available fertile land to continue farming but it is getting more and more difficult. Photo: TAYLOR MASON </figcaption> </figure>  Nepal’s urban population grew rapidly from only 3.6% in 1991 to 25% today. There is large outmigration from the mountains to peri-urban areas of the Tarai, to Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara, with many young men then moving abroad for work. Kathmandu Valley’s population has swelled to nearly 3 million, and is growing at 6.5% a year. Dilip Shrestha, 71, used to work for Nepal Food Corporation, so he knew firsthand about inflation, shortages and vegetables with pesticide residue. So, when he designed his new house in Kathmandu, he built a spacious roof where he grows cucumber, ginger, garlic, coriander, onions, tomatoes, chili, beans, okra, pumpkin and lettuce. His family eats healthier, and he has reduced dependence on the market.&nbsp; The co-author of the Cell Reports Sustainability journal article, Daya Raj Subedi who is a PhD candidate at Beijing Forestry University, says urban agriculture also promotes inclusion and psycho-social wellbeing.&nbsp; He says, “A crucial finding of the study is the identification of opportunities and challenges associated with urban agriculture, it can promote sustainable transformation of society.” In Banepa, 55-year-old Bijaya Manandhar in her lifetime has watched the fertile farms of her neighbourhood that used to supply vegetables to Kathmandu, now completely built up with no open space left. The pandemic lockdown prompted her to turn to the family’s <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/banner/rooftop-agriculture-on-the-roof-of-the-world">ancestral livelihood by growing food</a> not on terrace farms, but on the roof terrace. Manandhar is now a part of <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/banner/rooftop-agriculture-on-the-roof-of-the-world%5C%5C">कौसी खेती र करेसाबारी क्रान्ती</a> (Rooftop Farming and Garden Revolution) which has an online membership of 52,000, and awards annual prizes to women who excel in urban agriculture.&nbsp;  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20241019041052_7257f5def8f823f35a799fa6f6825e153f2ffa406ac11325d4fe74049b79e96d.jpg" data-media-id="editor_8" data-image-id="20241019041052_7257f5def8f823f35a799fa6f6825e153f2ffa406ac11325d4fe74049b79e96d" data-rendition-name="original" width="1600" height="736" loading="lazy" alt="urban agriculture in Kathmandu"> <figcaption>Rooftop farming is gaining popularity as a form of urban agriculture. </figcaption> </figure>   <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20241019041052_beff1a4494ce896dd8fd383ee1f518e5448bcf7ea8bb138255391c7bcb9769ed.jpg" data-media-id="editor_9" data-image-id="20241019041052_beff1a4494ce896dd8fd383ee1f518e5448bcf7ea8bb138255391c7bcb9769ed" data-rendition-name="original" width="4000" height="3000" loading="lazy" alt="urban agriculture in Kathmandu"> </figure>  Pradhan says the challenge now is to upscale such examples of successful urban agricultural practices so they support Neal’s efforts to meet SDG targets. He adds, “Crop cultivation around cities can be protected by land use plans and regulations. Promoting community-based agriculture, including rooftop gardens, requires community engagement and public-private partnerships across the food value chain.”&nbsp; Such support would accelerate the popularity of existing rooftop farming and community gardens in Kathmandu Valley, or kitchen garden initiatives in Pokhara, and building on traditional farming practices that are preserved and integrated into urban settings like in Bhaktapur and Banepa. In Lalitpur, the Women Entrepreneurship Facilitation Center promotes urban farming enhancing both sustainability and empowerment.&nbsp; Another co-author of the report, Yuanchao Hu from China says followup research of the team will aim to identify good practices in local urban agriculture practices. He adds, “There are examples of urban agriculture that optimise sustainability, ensuring that it remains a viable solution for cities globally while countries try to meet SDG targets.” Prajal Pradhan, Daya Raj Subedi, Kshitij Dahal, Yuanchao Hu, Prakriti Gurung, Sijal Pokharel, Sagar Kafle, Biplav Khatri, Sudeeksha Basyal, Monika Gurung, and Aruna Joshi. Urban Agriculture matters for sustainable development. Cell Reports Sustainability, 1:100217, 2024. [DOI: 10.1016/j.crsus.2024.100217] Prajal Pradhan (<a href="mailto:p.pradhan@rug.nl">p.pradhan@rug.nl</a>) This article is brought to you by <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/" target="_blank">Nepali Times</a>, in collaboration with <a href="https://inpsjapan.com/en/" target="_blank">INPS Japan</a> and <a href="https://sgi-peace.org/" target="_blank">Soka Gakkai International</a>, in consultative status with UN ECOSOC.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20240630110640_30c3782f9c09219bf1c249b51483a3cfb7a53a06d117d2aebd23ca7080d12758.jpg" data-media-id="editor_14" data-image-id="20240630110640_30c3782f9c09219bf1c249b51483a3cfb7a53a06d117d2aebd23ca7080d12758" data-rendition-name="original" width="680" height="103" loading="lazy" alt="SDG logo"> </figure>

Back to the land in the cities

The 700-year-old Lakshmi Narasingha temple in Bhaktapur houses a rare half-lion and half-human incarnation of Lord Vishnu carrying the Goddess Lakshmi. The temple was destroyed in the 1934 mega earthquake that killed 10,000 people and destroyed many monuments in Kathmandu Valley. It was rebuilt by a German project in the 1980s, but as a single-storey structure instead of its original two-tier pagoda design.&nbsp; With new findings from in-depth research, Bhaktapur municipality began re-restoring the temple in 2021, preserving its original architecture.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20241017131016_2fae38cce543ad7b1f6de632feb3e212e08ed1acedd747830e949d7b8e878f18.jpg" data-media-id="editor_0" data-image-id="20241017131016_2fae38cce543ad7b1f6de632feb3e212e08ed1acedd747830e949d7b8e878f18" data-rendition-name="original" width="2048" height="1365" loading="lazy" alt="In with the old in Nepal NT"> </figure>  “Our temples and heritage sites hold deep meaning. It is disheartening to witness how often they lose their original elements, whether by design or accident,” explains Kumar Chawal of the Consumer Committee of Bhaktapur. “There is a need to preserve our architecture and protect its historical value for future generations. Otherwise, we risk losing a vital part of our identity.” The Laksmi Narsingha restoration is similar to the Bhai Dega temple in Patan Darbar Square which also collapsed in 1934, but was rebuilt with a Moghul-style dome by the Rana government at the time. Only two months before the 2015 earthquake, heritage conservationists had started to rebuild Bhai Dega as the original three-tier based on early photographs. But priorities shifted when four other temples in the square were brought down by the 7.8M earthquake on 25 April 2015.&nbsp;  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20241017131016_697ea707d9ad163be5de5f2efbf5b70d3cab771adcc22f0fae6bf937c6cb0130.jpg" data-media-id="editor_1" data-image-id="20241017131016_697ea707d9ad163be5de5f2efbf5b70d3cab771adcc22f0fae6bf937c6cb0130" data-rendition-name="original" width="2048" height="1365" loading="lazy" alt="In with the old in Nepal NT"> </figure>  This showed how damage to monuments in Kathmandu Valley spanned from one earthquake to the next. Bhai Dega restoration remains half-complete to this day because money for its restoration ran out.&nbsp; Whereas Bhai Dega restoration was done by the Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust with grants from western embassies and international foundations, in Bhaktapur it is the municipality itself that allocated the Rs30.7 million needed to restore the Lakshmi Narasingha temple. The expected date of completion is early 2025. The municipality and local communities are focusing on two main aspects: preserving the past and promoting localisation. The restoration team has designed a blueprint for the temple by using historical photographs and insights from older generations.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20241017131016_182882fdc393c99e70d1d0490319e415229563666c4934e3a582426ebf00ca30.jpg" data-media-id="editor_2" data-image-id="20241017131016_182882fdc393c99e70d1d0490319e415229563666c4934e3a582426ebf00ca30" data-rendition-name="original" width="1200" height="560" loading="lazy" alt="In with the old in Nepal NT"> </figure>  “At first, the Lakshmi Narasingha temple had only one entrance, but during the demolition process, we uncovered the foundations of four doors. Now, we are restoring all of them. This is an example of how our ancient structures have changed over time, often without our knowledge,” says Chawal. “Constructing temples is not like building houses. They carry historical and spiritual values, which is why they hold a special place in our hearts,” he adds. By replicating ancient design elements and rebuilding the temple as accurately as possible to its original form, the team has stayed true to Bhaktapur’s soul. But the restoration also revived ancient techniques that were in danger of being forgotten, generating employment for woodcarvers, masons, and contractors. The community of Bhaktapur’s Gahiti neighbourhood near the famous Nyatapola Temple has also set aside specific days for locals to volunteer in the reconstruction work. This has encouraged young people to take pride in ownership of their heritage. Families have also supported the effort by donating funds for bells, the temple pinnacle, and other structural features to the temple.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20241017131016_db850ec0c084cdbe54f65bee92dad2ad8122d20fd60ec87ec086fbb9d2f72bd6.jpg" data-media-id="editor_3" data-image-id="20241017131016_db850ec0c084cdbe54f65bee92dad2ad8122d20fd60ec87ec086fbb9d2f72bd6" data-rendition-name="original" width="2048" height="1365" loading="lazy" alt="In with the old in Nepal NT"> </figure>  “I feel at peace knowing I have contributed my sweat to restoring this temple,” said one volunteer. “It is our duty to preserve our temples and heritage. The Nyatapola area will look magical once this temple is completed.” Community mobilisation is a long-standing tradition in Bhaktapur. In the past, locals have actively participated in the restoration of other temples in the city, such as Bhairav and Nyatapola fostering a strong sense of ownership. This collective engagement has not only been crucial in preserving the city's historical monuments but also in strengthening the bond between local communities and their heritage, says officials at the municipality. While securing funding is essential, and the municipality showed it values heritage conservation, the Lakshmi Narasingha restoration is proof that active involvement and sense of responsibility of the local community is as important, if not more. Local involvement also means that the monuments will be cared for into the future, When locals take ownership of these efforts, the restored monuments are not only protected in the present but are also cared for in the future.

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