The year-long campaign seeks to assure the world that Nepal is a safe destination, following the end of the Maoist insurgency, and boost tourism by promoting new destinations within the country and the newly launched concept of home-stay at village homes.

India and China, Nepal's immediate neighbours, have a key role in ensuring the success of the initiative, with the Nepal Tourism Board seeking 400,000 visitors - a whopping 32 percent - from the two countries.

The rampaging visitors concluded their triumph Friday in Sydney, winning the fifth and final Test of the series by an innings and 83 runs after amassing 644 runs. It's the highest score an English team has ever amassed in a Test match Down Under.

England overwhelmed their arch rivals in three Tests, winning each by an innings, the most decisive manner of victory in cricket.

Hygiene and good health were important, along with physical stature.

But the pageant held Monday and Tuesday in a Nepal wildlife resort town was not for young women -- it was for elephants.

In the competition, the first such in the nation, a svelte 28-year-old walked away with the prize after defeating two other finalists.

The mahouts -- the elephants' keepers -- worked hard on their charges' looks. The pachyderms were bathed, their hard skins scrubbed and their foreheads oiled. The mahouts also drew patterns on the elephants' faces and ears.