Jumla Airport, Airport Guide, Travel

If you are thinking of traveling to Jumla the next time you visit Nepal, you should definitely investigate the option of flying to Jumla Airport. Flying is a quick, safe and convenient form of alternative transport in Nepal. In fact, air transport is probably the only way to gain access to Jumla since the area is still not connected to the national road network. Flying also gives travelers the opportunity to enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Nepali landscape as they fly overhead.

The Jumla district in Nepal is part of the Karnali Zone. The city of Jumla is the main city in the Jumla district. The population of this relatively small city is just less than 90 000 and many of the people living here are supported by activities conducted by the Jumla Airport. The city of Jumla is situated on the banks of the Tila River which enables both the city and the rest of the district to grow large quantities of rice. In fact, Jumla is one of the biggest rice producers in the world. The entire Tila Valley and the nearby Sinja Khola Valley are brimming with paddy fields where the local ‘Kala Marci’ rice is grown in abundance. This rice is red in color and delivers much more taste than the more common white rice that is so popular in other countries. It is said that the Nepali language has its origins in the Sinja language of Jumla. Therefore a lot of people still speak the traditional Nepali dialects in this region.

The Jumla Airport in Nepal is situated at an elevation of approximately 8 500 ft above sea level. The runway is average in length, measuring about 1 631 ft in total. This enables it to cater adequately to the small DHT aircraft which are so commonly used for transport in Nepal. Airport officials generally make use of the airport code “JUM” when referring to this airport and there is only one airline currently operating from Jumla Airport – Yeti Airlines. This airline provides one flight aboard a 19-seater DHT to Surkhet and back each week. This makes access to Jumla difficult during peak seasons and traffic at the airport stays low. Nevertheless, the airport is fully functional and provides a much needed service to the area. So why not explore Jumla the next time you visit Nepal? You may discover that there is more to this remote part of the country than meets the eye.

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