The story of how Russian Odessa's citizen opened the world Nepal

Odessa Boris Lisanevich Nepal called "the second attraction after Everest". Indeed, this man has done for the little, lost in the Himalayas country perhaps as much as Columbus did for America. He opened the unique world of Nepal the rest of the world managed to convince the local rulers to open the border of the Kingdom and founded in the capital Kathmandu, the first tourist hotel.

Admired in Europe and Asia and legends about his exploits. He was considered a friend of Queen Elizabeth II and the writer Agatha Christie, and Jean-Paul Belmondo took the famous Odessa film. He dedicated the book of the famous French traveler Michel Pessel. Unfortunately, its inhabitants are rarely remembered about his famous compatriot, dared once to go to the heart of South Asia and become a true legend.

Boris Lisanevich was born in Odessa in 1905, in the family estate, located in Charlottenstr lane on the Great Fountain – almost opposite the Racecourse. Now this is the street of pioneer. The estate was once presented to his great-grandfather, Lieutenant General Dmitri Lisanevich, the mayor Iosif Deribas in gratitude for the capture of the fortress hadzhibey.

In an old mansion, in a large and happy family grew up with three older brothers and little Boris. His father was a famous horse breeder, and every morning the family met the princes and generals who came to watch the dressage of their Pets. In love with his father's craft, the boy spent all the time on training grounds, watching the dressage horses, and when he grew up – his parents sent him to a cadet school.

But the revolution changed the course of usual family life, ruined plans, and scattered ones. After the death of the brothers musically gifted young man was accepted into the ballet troupe of the Odessa Opera theatre choreographer and a distant relative of the family, Mrs. Gamsakhurdia. It literally saved the boy's life, and later he managed to travel to Paris where he signed a contract with the Alhambra theatre and received the identity card issued to refugees.

In Paris, the 24-year-old Lisanevich took in his famous ballet troupe of Sergei Diaghilev. Odessa and the young immigrant became quite famous ballet dancer, performing at the best stages of the world.

But the adventurous nature of the boys still pulled it out art and adventure. And then one day, he went on tour in Indochina, he stayed here almost all my life.

He was fascinated by the Ceylon and Bali, motley East with picturesque religious ceremonies, burning incense and exotic music. All this created an atmosphere that seemed to Boris fabulous and fantastic.
"I was fascinated by the East, he wrote. — Could not believe that a sense of harmony and beauty that I had experienced only on the stage, could exist in the real world."
Besides, in India (at the time colonies of Britain), the very real was the prospect of obtaining a British passport.

Being here, Boris has visited almost every country of the East, lived a long time in Kolkata, a major centre of education and culture of British India.

"Here he hunted tigers, struck up a friendship with kings and Maharajas, the greatest people in the world. He organized and led the famous aristocratic "Club 300" and five years later received British citizenship. He has become a legend in Asia," says one of the researchers of the life of Lisanevich, journalist, historian and archeologist Victor Maples, who for many years devoted to the study of the life of his countryman.
Boris Lisanevich loved extreme and popular at the time in India hunting tigers was his real passion. His trophies were almost 70 tigers, and even, according to rumors, the white leopard.

"Club 300", created by Lisanevich in Kolkata was very similar to other elite clubs. He had a mixed Euro-Asian composition and worked around the clock, which was at that time a novelty. The club is located in a rented Palace, unique in both appearance and on the history of its founding. Later this place became a favorite place of rest of the Indian elite: there was going to diplomats, the Maharaja and big businessmen.

But Boris often dreamed about Nepal – fully gated from the outside world, the Himalayan Kingdom. Friendship with the king of Nepal that started in "Club 300" contributed to the move.

In a small mountainous country, it was unusual: a way of life, people, traditions of isolation and the stunning beauty of nature. From the first journey to the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu, Boris love this country and realized that this place would become his home.

"There is nothing striking rhododendron forests of Nepal, which during the month is framed by a pink-red halo terrain of the foothills, above which rise the cold white castellated tower the highest peaks of the world – describes the nature of this country the French writer Michel Pessel, – When leaving the Kathmandu valley the traveler discovers Asia Kipling and pearl Tank at the same time on the background of this primeval landscape that the Swiss looks too cultivated".

Fascinated by the beauty of nature and the unusual climate of Nepal, Lisanevich immediately assessed the tourist potential of this beautiful country. To attract tourists it opens in a rented old Palace hotel, and he settled here.

"But in Kathmandu there was no kerosene, gas and electricity. Was under curfew, and even food had to be imported from abroad. Had on site here is unknown to grow vegetables and fruits – carrots, spinach and strawberries, to open a bakery and bake bread. Still had to train the staff to literally wear shoes and wash hands. And in August, 1954 "Royal Hotel" only in a radius of 450 miles from Kathmandu, was opened

Due to extensive connections, Lisanevich was able to convince the king not for the first time more than 200 years to issue a permit for the entry of the first tourists, he also persuaded his Highness to take in the Royal Palace first guests! The guests were delighted with the country, and the king Mahendra saw how interested tourists exploring Nepal and to buy Souvenirs, decided to continue to issue visas to all comers. So thanks to the Odessa Boris Lisanevich Nepal opened to international tourism. Came here journalists, top officials of leading researchers and climbers who dream to conquer the Himalayas.

Hotel Boris Lisanevich gained worldwide fame and popularity. Equally popular was also his restaurant "Rumdoodle" where Lisanevich made a rule – free feed and water everyone who ever climbed the Everest.

The hotel "Royal Hotel" subsequently, at different times visited the king of Spain Juan Carlos, françoise Sagan, Valentina Tereshkova, Kliment Voroshilov and Jean-Paul Belmondo. A frequent visitor here and was British writer Agatha Christie. She loved this country and visited 6-7 times in Nepal. And Odessa Lisanevich, which the English considered her a good friend, gave her 10 subjects for stories. Herself Agatha Christie was called Boris the great adventurer of the twentieth century.

One of the biggest events of this period of the life of Boris Lisanevich was the state visit to Nepal of Queen Elizabeth II. In early 1961, king Mahendra has written to Elizabeth II the invitation. A small Himalayan Kingdom, more than a century maintaining friendly relations with the British and previously took at George V, wanted again to show the British monarch their Royal parades and the legendary tiger hunts. Preparation of visit instructed the Lisanevich. It is worth saying that the guest was greeted with great luxury. For example, fresh caviar at the Banquet in honor of the Queen was brought to Nepal by planes from the Caspian sea, which was organized by a kind of "relay" aircraft of international airlines.

Life in Nepal for Boris Lisanevich was full of twists and turns. As a result of Palace intrigues, he was in prison. And coming out of it – has again become one of the most influential in Nepal people. He was even appointed to be responsible for the coronation of the new king, and also for the invitation and accommodation of distinguished guests and more than a hundred foreign journalists.

Suddenly Boris was one of the key figures of Nepal. A small Himalayan Kingdom had a lot to learn from the West, and Boris has advised that we need and cannot do, based on Western standards.

Many of the projects associated with that person's name. His name is associated with the establishment of the "Himalayan airlines", he came up with the idea to shoot in Nepal film, trying to organize cruises on the RV on the route England-Lisanevich Nepal... helped the mountaineering expeditions going to climb the mount Everest, shared their knowledge of the country, assisted in obtaining permits to climb, and even placed climbers from their hotel almost free.

Unfortunately, not all projects are destined to become successful. One of them is the last project for the construction of the hotel "Yak and Yeti", for which world Bank President Robert McNamara gives a solid credit Lisanevich. Unfortunately, as a result of the scheming business partner, and may be because of their own generosity Lisanevich was completely ruined. Odessa, which has become a legend in Nepal, died in a hospital for the poor in 1985. He is buried in the cemetery of the British Embassy in the capital of Nepal.