Chitwan/kaski, May 30 -- A growing culture of travelling with friends during public holidays has provided a huge boost to the country's tourism business.

Major tourist hubs across the country are witnessing an unprecedented surge in visitor numbers. A heavy influx of domestic tourists, combined with regional Indian tourists looking to escape the blistering summer heat, has filled hotels to capacity in Chitwan, Palpa, Pokhara, Lumbini and Bardiya.

Currently, cooler hill stations are seeing a much higher concentration of visitors compared to the plains of the Tarai. In Pokhara, the arrival of Indian visitors has completely revitalised the city during what is traditionally considered the off-season.

While the plains continue to swelter un...