Panchthar, April 15 -- One moment, there is sunshine; the next, a blanket of ground mist. In this high-altitude wilderness, far from human settlements, hundreds of chauris-a hybrid of yak and cow-graze across open pastures. The steady clanking of the bells around their necks fills the air.

Amid shifting weather-sunshine giving way to mist, fog and rain-hundreds of tourists arrived in Charrate of Phalelung Rural Municipality-4 on April 13 to welcome the New Year 2083 the following day. Despite the adverse conditions, the Chauri Tourism Festival in this mountainous region drew a turnout beyond expectations.

Nimesh Baidya from Damak, Jhapa, and Sudhan Rai from Dharan, Sunsari, arrived at the festival to ring in the New Year alongside 65 mo...