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Nepal - introduction
Nepal is a land of unparalleled scenic beauty located within one of the most diverse geographical areas on earth. Nestled high in the Himalayas between China and India, it has retained its essentially agrarian and medieval character. Its wondrous history and geography are still the defining aspects of everyday life.
Since Nepal first opened its frontiers to foreign visitors in the fifties, it has been the epicenter of Himalayan adventure activities. Climbing and trekking holidays in Nepal Himalaya has become highly sought after adventure sports throughout the world soon after the advent of tourism culture. Trekking in Nepal is often referred to as walking through the paradise on earth. Nepal has an unsurpassed range of environments, ranging from the lowland of Terai to the snowy summit of the highest mountain range on Earth.
Traveling in Nepal not only offers an opportunity to submerge in Himalayan bliss but also a chance to step back in time. Standing before the entire world as a vivid kaleidoscope of picturesque landscapes, exotic wildlife, arid high-altitude meadows, magnificent mountains, incredible travel destinations, unique culture, festivals, ancient heritage, pristine backwaters, and exotic cuisine, Nepal is undoubtedly a traveler’s delight.
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History
With the passing of every new century, Nepal witnessed many rulers and dynasties. Kirantis ruled Nepal from 9th century B.C. to 1st century A.D. Later Licchavis took over Kirantis from 3rd to 13th century and then were followed by Thakuris belonging to Malla dynasty. By the 18th century there were small principalities and fiefdoms dotted all over Nepal - 24 in the far west alone. One of these Gorkha was ruled by the Shah dynasty, and in 1768 Prithvi Narayan Shah defeated the Malla kings and succeeded in unifying Nepal for the first time. In 1846, the Kot massacre led by Jung Bahadur Rana back seated the power of monarchy and made Rana regime more powerful. In 1950 King Tribhuvan with the support from India, restored monarchy.
A coalition government comprising the Nepali congress party and the Ranas was thereafter installed with the promise of free elections in 1952. In1960, King Mahendra, son of King Tribhuvan tactically established Panchayat system, meaning ‘five councils system’, by engineering a coup, declaring a new constitution, imprisoning all the leaders of the then government and enforcing a ban on all political activities. People’s movement of 1990 opened up a new chapter for a decade of democracy in Nepal which led to multiparty democracy with constitutional monarchy.
Democracy came with heavy price leading to incompetent political leaders, political conflicts, Maoist insurgency, corruptions and downfall in national economy. Royal family massacre in 2001 left whole world in complete shock. King Gyanendra was crowned Nepal’s king after his brother, King Birendra’s assassination. With the advent of 2006 all major political parties committed to reform their past mistakes and Maoist rebels came together with the support from Nepali people and jointly went on several days strikes to restore democracy. |
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Climate
Nepal’s climate varies according to its season. Autumn and spring are the two most favorable seasons for visiting Nepal. Autumn starts from early September to early December and brings in clear weather with sunny days and warm nights. Whereas spring starts from the beginning of March to the end of May with occasional rain falls. From June to September, is the monsoon season.
Trekking is generally difficult and uncomfortable as the climate of Nepal at this time of year brings about hot weather and rain falls almost every day. In the Terai, the hottest part of the country, summer temperatures may rise as high as 40°C. The climate is hot and humid. In the midmountain region, the summer climate is mild with temperatures around 25°C - 27°C.
The winter temperatures range from 7°C to 23°C in the Terai and subzero to 12°C in the mountain regions and valleys. The northern Himalayan region has an alpine climate. The valley of Kathmandu has a pleasant equable climate with average summer and winter temperatures of 19°C - 27°C and 2°C - 12°C respectively. |
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People & custom
Ethnic diversity and custom of Nepal make Nepal the most fascinating tourist destination in the world. Official statistics indicates that Nepali population of around 23 million includes more than 60 ethnic groups speaking 70 different languages and dialects. The Nepalese population is divided according to the region: Northern Himalayan, Middle Hills and Valley and Terai . Nepali society is culturally influenced by caste hierarchy. Nepali is the official language. Though the country is secular, the two main religions are Hinduism and Buddhism. Regardless of ethnic background or religion, Nepali people are the most hospitable and friendly. |
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Activities
Nepal is renowned for its natural beauty, rich cultural heritage and natural diversity. The Himalayan peaks and the mountainous trails have lured mountaineers and trekkers since the country opened its door to tourists since the early 1950s.It has been the haven for adventure sports like rafting, trekking, mountaineering, paragliding, mountain biking and more recently skydiving. Visits to medieval palaces and ancient temples and stupas make for an enriching cultural tour. The country has some of the oldest and most revered Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage sites. The lush and verdant jungles of the Terai lowlands are ideal for wildlife safari and bird watching tours. Visits to the remote villages peopled by ethnic communities make up for an interesting cultural experience.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Cultural)
Kathmandu Durbar Square
Centered in Kathmandu, Kathmandu Durbar Square has Hanuman Dhoka, Degutale Temple, Taleju Mandir, Nasal Chowk, Nine storey Basantapur Tower, Panch Mukhi Hanuman Temple, Mul Chowk, Mohan Chowk, Sundari Chowk, Tribhuvan Museum, King Mahendra Memorial Museum and Kal Bhairab temple in its vicinity.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Bhaktapur lies on the Eastern part of Kathmandu valley. Also known as Bhadgaon or Khwopa, Bhaktapur is regarded as the abode of ancient Nepali culture, custom and alluring arts pieces of excellent craftsmanship. Each historical monument represents medieval culture, religious and custom of Nepal.
Patan Durbar Square
Patan presents a potpourri of finest traditional crafts and rich artistic heritage. Patan Durbar Square, Mahaboudha Temple, Kumbeshwor temple, Krishna Temple, Golden Temple or Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, Mulchowk, Jagat Narayan Temple, Big Bell, Pillar of Yognarendra Malla, Hari Shanker temple, Vishwanath temple, Bhimsen temple, Marga Hiti, Mani Mandap, Café Pagoda, Rato Machhendra Temple, Minnath, Rudra Varna Mahavihar etc are the major attractions of Patan.
Swayambhunath
It is 3kms away from the West of Kathmandu. Ancient tale has it that thousands of years ago Swayambhunath was an island. Later a stupa was built. King Manadeva contributed in the making of the stupa in 460AD. At present, the stupa is a solid hemisphere of brick and clay, supporting a lofty conical spire capped by a pinnacle of copper gilt and has Lord Buddha’s eyes adorned on all the four sides of the spire base.
Pashupatinath
As the name indicates, Pashupatinath temple is a temple of Lord Shiva and is the holiest place for Hindus. The sacred temple lies on the banks of sacred Bagmati River 5 kms east of Kathmandu city.
Boudhanath
Boudhanath epitomizes Tibetan Buddhism. It lies 8 kms East of Kathmandu and was built by Licchavis King Man Dev in the 5th century A. D. Its colossal and ancient stupa is regarded as one of the world’s biggest stupa and has been built on a stepped octagonal base .The stupa is surrounded by various temples or 'gompas'.
Changunarayan
Two-tiered Changunarayan temple lies 15 kilometers away from Kathmandu city. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, also called Narayan . Stone inscription of 464 A.D and other architectural master piece featured in the temple showcase ancient history of Nepal.
Lumbini
Lumbini lies in the southern Terai plains of Nepal and is about 300 kilometers Southwest of Kathmandu. It is the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautam Buddha and is therefore regarded as a sacred pilgrimage site for Buddhists. Lumbini Garden, Maya Devi Temple, Tara Foundation, World Peace Pagoda, China Temple, Thai Monastery, Burmese (Myanmar) Temple, Nepal Buddha Temple and Dharmaswami Buddhist monastery are the major attractions of Lumbini.
World Heritage Sites (Natural)
Chitwan National Park : Chitwan National Park stretches across an area of 932 sq. kilometers and lies in the inner Terai belt of Chitwan. The park was established in 1973 and is the oldest National Park in Nepal. It became a World Heritage Site in 1984. It covers a total area of 932 sq. kms. With its lush forests and exotic fauna which include the rare one horned rhino, the Royal Bengal tiger, crocodiles, elephants, deer and over four-hundred species of birds, Chitwan National Park offers one of the finest wildlife experiences in Asia
Sagarmatha National Park :
Sagarmatha National Park situated at the foothills of Himalayas occupies an area of 1,148 sq. kilometers. It offers the most magnificent views of rugged mountains, glaciers, valleys and river. The park houses an amazing array of plant species, birdlife and exotic animals. Plant species like blue pine, silver fir, rhododendrons, birch etc have glorified the beauty of the park. On venturing into the park, one may encounter rare species like snow leopard, pandas, lynx etc. Birdwatchers can have the best sightseeing experience while viewing rare species of birds like snow cock, pheasant, snow pigeon etc.
Trekking Areas
The popular trekking :
regions in Nepal are : Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, Helambu, Manaslu, Kanchenjunga, Dhaulagiri, Dolpo (Upper & Lower), Mustang, Makalu , Humla & Jumla. |
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Map
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Photo gallery
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