Boptang in Udayapur Emerging as Nepal’s New Paragliding Hub, Attracting Foreign Trainees

As the morning fog slowly clears above the Saptakoshi River, colorful paragliders begin preparing for takeoff from Boptang Hill in Belaka Municipality-8 of Udayapur district. Under the guidance of instructors, young trainees get ready for flight before soaring into the open sky above forests, hills, settlements, and the flowing Saptakoshi River below.

Once known only as an ordinary rural hill, Boptang has now started gaining attention as one of eastern Nepal’s promising paragliding training destinations. The establishment of “Flying Under Paragliding School Udayapur Pvt. Ltd.” has brought both domestic and international trainees to the area.

With global interest in adventure tourism continuing to rise, local tourism entrepreneurs believe Boptang has the potential to create new opportunities in both tourism and employment, especially for young people seeking alternative careers.

One of Boptang’s main attractions is its natural scenery. During flights, paragliders can witness panoramic views of the Saptakoshi River, green Chure hills, farmlands, and nearby settlements. Religious and tourist destinations such as Barahakshetra and Chatara Dham can also be viewed from the sky, making the experience unique for visitors.

According to Suren Gurung, operator and instructor at Flying Under Paragliding School, trainees are arriving not only from various districts of Nepal but also from countries including India, China, Spain, France, Germany, Poland, and Portugal.

“The geography, weather, and wind conditions here are highly suitable for paragliding training,” Gurung said.

Established three years ago, the school has already provided training to more than 150 people, including around 60 foreign nationals. The school currently offers a 15-day basic paragliding course for five trainees at a time.

The training includes lessons on flight fundamentals, identifying wind direction, takeoff and landing techniques, emergency safety procedures, and equipment handling.

“Paragliding is not just a recreational activity,” Gurung said. “It requires discipline, patience, and technical knowledge.”

Although interest in the sport is growing, learning paragliding remains expensive. Nepali trainees must pay around Rs 1.80 lakh, which includes food, accommodation, insurance, and equipment. Foreign trainees are charged around USD 1,500.

Despite the high cost, Gurung says interest among youths is increasing rapidly.

“Even local youths from Udayapur are showing strong interest,” he said. “There is now a waiting list for enrollment.”

At present, the school is limited to pilot training only. Commercial tandem flights, where tourists fly together with professional instructors, have not yet started because government approval is still pending.

“If the government provides permission for commercial flights and supports infrastructure development, Boptang could become eastern Nepal’s leading paragliding destination,” Gurung added.

According to him, successful test flights have also been conducted in areas including Chaudandigadhi Durbar, Gadhikot, Rautapokhari Hill, and Udayapurgadhi.

Tourism entrepreneurs say local governments have shown interest in the sector since the 2017 local elections, when several municipal leaders participated in test flights. However, they argue that sufficient efforts for long-term commercial development have not yet been made.

Ishworman Rai, President of Nepal Paragliding and Hang Gliding Udayapur and General Secretary of the District Hotel and Tourism Entrepreneurs Association Udayapur, said the private sector has continued its efforts but stronger support from local governments is still necessary.

He said trial flights were also conducted in the Gaighat area, but dense forests and tall trees created operational difficulties.

“If local governments help manage forest areas and simplify approval processes, many more opportunities could open up,” Rai said.

Paragliding experts say infrastructure remains one of the biggest challenges. Safe takeoff and landing zones are essential for commercial operation, but such facilities are still limited in Udayapur. Although the terrain stretching from the Mahabharat range toward the Chure and Inner Madhesh regions is considered suitable for flights, many areas fall under forest zones or private land, making development procedures complicated.

Solo pilot Jitendra Roila said Udayapur has excellent natural conditions for paragliding but lacks clear government policies.

“The geography, weather, and landscapes here are ideal,” he said. “But investors remain uncertain due to unclear policies and limited infrastructure.”

According to paragliding expert Mahendra Rai, different municipalities in Udayapur have already invested in the sector. Katari Municipality invested Rs 2 lakh, Triyuga Municipality Rs 5 lakh, Chaudandigadhi Municipality Rs 1 lakh, and Belaka Municipality Rs 18 lakh. However, he said long-term and systematic planning is still required.

Currently, Udayapur has 18 active solo pilots, including two women and 16 men.

Local businesses believe that commercial paragliding could significantly boost tourism and create jobs in hotels, transportation, guiding services, food businesses, and photography and videography sectors.

While Pokhara remains Nepal’s main paragliding hub, eastern Nepal has recently started exploring new destinations for adventure tourism. Among them, Boptang is increasingly being viewed as one of the most promising locations.

Experts say that with proper infrastructure, clear government policies, and approval for commercial flights, Boptang could develop beyond a training center and emerge as a major national and international adventure tourism destination.