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Nepal is a land of amazing extremes. Altitude ranges from near sea level to the highest point on
the planet- the summit of Mt. Everest at 8848 meters - all within a north-south distance of around
200 kilometers. This extraordinary topographical variation allows Nepal to be home to an equally
diverse flora and fauna. In addition to the superb natural beauty, Nepal is also home to a
remarkable number of ethnic groups, cultures, traditions and languages. It is undoubtedly one of
the finest places in the world to enjoy a relaxing vacation - be it simple sightseeing tours or the
more challenging adventure activities.
Nepal at a Glance:
Area: 147,181 sq. KM.
Geography: Situated between China in the north and India in the south.
Capital: Kathmandu
Religion: Nepal enjoyed the distinction of being the only Hindu Kingdom in the world. However,
there is harmonious blending of Hinduism and Buddhism with other religion.
People: Nepal has more than 61 ethnic groups and 70 spoken languages.
Climate: Nepal has four major seasons, i.e. Winter; Spring; Summer and Autumn. Nepal can be
visited the whole year round.
Sights of Nepal
The beauty of Nepal can be found everywhere - be it the domineering mountainous terrain or the
mustard fields of the southern plains - in the lakes, river and gorges; in the arts, crafts and architecture;
or in the warm smiles and hospitable nature of the people. Nepal birth place of Lord Buddha, boasts a
large number of world heritage sites, numerous pilgrimage sites to jungle teeming with exotic wildlife, for
adventurous there is rafting to treks in the mountains.
Kathmandu, the capital and the gateway to most of the visitors, is a wonder in itself. Kathmandu Valley,
surrounded by green hills, consists of Kathmandu and two other cities- Patan and Bhaktapur- and
boasts of seven landmarks designated by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.
Places of Interest
Kathmandu Valley
Kathmandu Valley comprises the three ancient cities of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, which were
once independent states ruled by the Malla kings from the 12th to the 18th centuries. The three cities house
seven UNESCO World Heritage shrines which are together listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
(Culture). The valley is also home to hundreds of other exquisite monuments, sculptures, artistic temples
and magnificent art reminders of the golden era in Nepals architecture.
Legend has it that the valley was was once a primordial lake ringed by verdant mountains. In this pristine
lake lived giant serpents until one fine day, saint Manjushree, the Bodhisatva, raised a mighty sword and in
one fell swoop, cut open the side of a mountain at a place now known as Chobhar. The voluminous waters
of the lake gushed out, leaving behind a fertile valley capable of supporting large urban settlements over
the millennia. The Gopala and Kirati dynasties were the earliest rulers here followed by the Licchavi (300-
879 A.D.), under whom flourished trade and crafts.
But the valleys remarkable cities with their ornate palaces, the superbly crafted pagodas and the
monumental stupas are testimony of the artistic genius of the Newar craftsmen, the original inhabitants of
the valley, whose skills were championed by the Malla kings and appreciated even by the Mongol rulers of
18th century China.
KATHMANDU DURBAR SQUARE
Kathmandu Durbar square, also known as Hanuman Dhoka Durbar, used to be the
residence of the Nepali royal family and administrators. This ancient palace lies in the
heart of the city. It consists of huge Royal Palace with different temples, inside as well
as outside the temple, dating from the 15th to the 18th century.
This palace is named after Hanuman, the monkey god, as a stone statue of Hanuman is
placed right next to the main entrance protecting the whole palace.
The Taleju temple is the tallest of all structures built by King Mahendra Malla in 1549
A.D.
The Jagannath temple, built in the 16th century, is known for the fascinating erotic
figures carved in the wooden struts.
The Kala Bhairav, one of the largest 17th century stone statue in Kathmandu ,
represents the terrifying aspect of Shiva.
The statue of King Pratap Malla is placed atop a stone pillar right across the temple of
Digu Taleju , the royal family deity.
The 17th century Kumari temple (the temple of the living goddess is an example of the
highly developed Nepali craftsmanship.
Kastamandap, from which Kathmandu derives its name, is said to have been built
from the timber of a single tree.
Besides these, other fascinating parts of this palace complex is the towering Nautale
Durbar overlooking the beautiful city and the vast Basantapur square. It is famous for its
many intricately carved doors, windows, etc.
Patan Durbar Square
Patan the second largest city in the valley, lies just across the Bagmati
River from Kathmandu, but its a much quieter and less frenetic place to
visit. The city is justly proud of its temples and artisans and it is their
handwork that provides the focus of the stunning Durbar Square choice
a-block with the largest display of Newari architecture in Nepal. It includes
the Royal Palace, which contains a richly decorated bathtub and the two-
tiered brick Jagannarayan Temple. Look up to the roof struts to see
carvings of figures engaged in quite athletic acts of sacred tortoises that
potter around the courtyard, and the Kumbeshawar, reputedly the oldest
(1392) temple in Patan. South of the square is an area of charming streets
lined with metal-miths and brassware shop.
NYATAPOLA TEMPLE:
The unique temple of Bhaktapur, the Nyatapola literally means five storied and rises above the
citys landscape as a remarkable landmark. It also has the distinction of having withstood the
devastating earthquake of 1933. Dedicated to a tantric goddess, the steps leading up to the
temple are flanked by stone sculptures of deities and mythical beasts, each 10 times more
powerful than the one immediately below.
BHAIRAVNATH TEMPLE:
Dedicated to Bhairav, the God of Terror, the three-storied temple of Bhairavnath has only the
head of Bhairav in the inner sanctum.
DATTATREYA SQUARE :
It takes its name from the Dattatreya Temple dedicated to a three-headed combination of the
Hindu deities Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
Mountain Views:
Pokhara is blessed with stunning panoramic views of the Annapurna range which forms its
backdrop. The mesmerizing Machhapuchhre also called Mt. Fishtail dominates the scenery
because of its proximity to the valley and can be seen from anywhere in Pokhara. Stretching
from east to west, the Annapurna massif includes Annapurna 1 to IV and Annapurna South.
Further away are seen the giants, Dhaulagiri (8,167m) and Manaslu (8,163m).
Phewa Lake:
Pokhara owes its popularity to the enchanting Phewa Lake, and along its eastern shore has
grown the Lakeside or Baidam, a thriving resort town of hotels, restaurants, bars and
souvenir shops that allow travelers to relax and enjoy.
Seti:
An amazing aspect of Pokhara is the vanishing river, Seti, which goes underground and
disappears in many places along its route through the city. At various points Seti is barely 2 m
wide but its depth reaches an astonishing 20 m! A good spot for watching the river is
Mahendra Pul at Bhimsen Chowk, a bridge near the old Mission Hospital.
Devis Fall:
Locally known as the Patale Chhango, Devis Fall is a fascinating waterfall located about 2
km south-west of Pokhara Airport on the Siddhartha Highway.
Chitwan literally means heart of the jungle. In recent years Chitwan tops the list of things to
do in Asia. It is a truly wildlife adventure of a different kind jungle safaris on elephant backs or
jeeps, birdwatching, canoe rides and jungle walks.
The Chitwan National Park is Asias best preserved conservation area, where wildlife thrives
and their habitats remain intact. Only half-hour flight from Kathmandu, the park lies in the Inner
Terai lowlands and consists of Sal forests, tall elephant grasslands, hills, ox-box lakes and
flood plains of the Narayani, Rapti and Reu rivers. Enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
(Natural) in 1984, the park spreads over an area of 932 sq. km.
EXPERIENCING WILDLIFE:
The park is home to 56 species of mammals, 49 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 525
species of birds. Wildlife found here include endangered species like the one-horned
rhinoceros and the Royal Bengal tiger, gaur, wild elephant, four-horned antelope, leopard,
sloth bear, wild boar, rhesus monkey, grey langur monkey, wild dog, small wild cats, and many
other smaller animals. Also found here are cobras, kraits and pythons. The swampy areas and
numerous oxbow lakes of Chitwan provide a home for the marsh mugger crocodiles. In a
stretch of the Narayani River are found one of the few remaining populations of the rare and
endangered fish-only eating gharial, or Gangetic crocodile. Also found here is one of the
worlds four species of freshwater dolphins.
BIRDWATCHING :
The park is a great place to watch colorful birds like woodpecker, hornbill, Bengal florican and
red-headed trogon. Winter birds such as waterfowls, Brahminy duck, pintails and bareheaded
geese are drawn by the sanctuary of the parks rivers. In summers, the forest is alive with
nesting migrants such as the fabulous paradise flycatcher, the Indian pitta and parakeets.
Winter birds include migratory birds from Siberia.
JUNGLE SAFARI :
A typical jungle safari includes wildlife safari on elephants, canoe ride to watch the crocodiles
and water birds, rural tour to view the lifestyle of the indigenous Tharu people, and nature
walks to see the exotic flora and fauna. Apart from the jungle safari, the Elephant Breeding
Center and Gharial Crocodile Farm, where these animals and reptiles have been successfully
bred in captivity, are worth a visit.
Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, in the Terai plains of Nepal is one of the
greatest pilgrimage sites for Buddhists. More than 400,000 Buddhists and non
Buddhists visit Lumbini every year. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Culture)
and holds immense archeological and religious importance.
Sacred Garden: It was here in the gardens of Lumbini that Prince Siddhartha
Gautam, who later became the Buddha, was born in 623 BC. The nativity site is
marked by a commemorative pillar erected by Mauryan Emperor Ashoka of India
during his pilgrimage to the holy site in 249 BC.
The inscription on the Ashoka Pillar indentifies the Sacred Garden - spread over 9
sq. km as the spot where the Enlightened One was born. A large number of
Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world visit Lumbini to pray at the Mayadevi
Temple where excavations have revealed the marker stone showing the exact
spot where Siddhartha Gautam Buddha was born. The sacred Puskarni Pond
where Queen Mayadevi had taken a bath before the birth of Buddha lies to the
south of the pillar. It was also in this pond that the infant Buddha was given his first
bath.
Monuments: To the north of the Sacred Garden are monastic zones where
different countries have built temples and monasteries depicting different sects of
Buddhism. The Myanmar Temple (Lokamani Cula Pagoda) is a shiny gold and white
structure that resembles the Shwe-dagon Pagoda of Yangon while the
International Gautami Nuns Temple is a replica of the Swayambhu Stupa of
Kathmandu.
The Everest region is located in the northeast of Nepal. The 10-day walk
through the middle hills of Solu to the higher altitudes of Khumbu to the base of
Sagarmatha, or Mt. Everest, the worlds highest peak, is an opportunity to
observe and participate in the daily life of the legendary Sherpa people. The
prime attraction the 8,848 m peak of Mt. Everest lies in Sagarmatha
National Park, which is also home to two other eight thousanders Lhotse and
Cho Oyu besides several other prominent peaks above 6,000 m.
Designated as a World Heritage Site in 1979, much of the 1,148 sq. km park
lies above 3,000 m. The park is composed of rugged terrain with deep gorges,
glaciers and huge rocks. The vegetation in the park changes from pine,
hemlock, fir, juniper, birch, rhododendron and shrubs to alpine plants and then
to bare rock and snow. It is home to the ghoral, tahr, serow and musk deer as
well as the impeyan pheasant, blood pheasant, red-billed chough and the
yellow-billed chough.
The trail to Everest also begins at Lukla, the airport at 2,850 m. The trail climbs
up the Dudhkoshi River Valley, and the following day brings you to the
legendary Sherpa village of Namche Bazaar in the Khumbu (3,500 m), which is
the staging point for expeditions to Everest and other peaks in the area. Above
Namche lie the traditional villages of Khunde and Khumjung. Khumjung which
is the largest village in the Khumbu lies at the foot of the sacred peak Khumbila.
The Khunde Hospital, maintained by Himalayan Trust, and Khumjung School,
the original Hillary School set up in 1960, lie here.
Across the canyon from Khunde, perched on a high ridge, is the Tengboche
Monastery, the leading Buddhist center in the Khumbu. The monastery rests
amid stunning views of Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam. Pines, azaleas and
colorful mountain rhododendrons ring the attractive monastery. There are rest
houses, lodges and camping sites here.
From Tengboche you can continue on to Pheriche, Kala Pattar and the hamlet
of Gorakshep. From here, the site of Everest Base Camp is easily accessible,
as is the summit of Kala Pattar (5,545 m), from which much of Mt. Everest is
clearly visible.
Annapurna Region
The Annapurna Region in north western Nepal has been
touted as having the worlds best trekking routes. From the
lake city of Pokhara, popular treks lead to Jomsom,
Annapurna Base Camp, Mustang, Manang and around the
Annapurna mountain. Short treks to Sikles and Ghandruk are
just as popular. The Annapurna region is an area of
contrasts comprising the wettest, driest and windiest places
in Nepal.
Dhulikhel
Dhulikhel (1,550m) is a scenic and ancient town situated 30 kilometers east of
Kathmandu on the Arniko Rajmarg (Kathmandu Kodari Highway). From here
one has a panoramic view of the Himalayan range. From the main town, a short
visit to Namobuddha, with the stupa and Buddhist Monastery, is highly
recommended. Panauti, a village noted for its numerous temples with
magnificent woodcarvings, is a short distance from Dhulikhel.
Namo Buddha
It is situated on a hill above Panauti at an elevation of 1,750m. It requires an
easy drive or good walk to get here. There is an amazing story concerned with
the Buddha which is commemorated by an ancient stone slab and a Stupa with
the all- seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. According to the legend, one of the earlier
Buddha offered his own flesh to a hungry tiger unable to feed her hungry cubs.
It is also a three hour trekking from Dhulikhel through a number of small
villages.