Located between China and India, Nepal is home to many unique destinations. Known as "the rooftop of the world," eight of the world’s tallest mountain peaks are here, including Mt. Everest, and mountaineers from all over the world come to Nepal to climb. A number of excursion companies regularly organize multi-day treks for climbers of all skill levels. Two possible trekking styles are teahouse treks and camping treks. While teahouse treks provide overnight accommodations in lodges along the way, camping treks are often conducted in more remote areas and use tents as your overnight lodging.
The United Nations has designated several areas of Nepal as World Heritage Sites. These sites are recognized for their outstanding value to humanity. The first World Heritage Site is Sagarmatha National Park. Located in the region around Mt. Everest, the park is home to lesser pandas and rare snow leopards. A second site, the Royal Chitwan National Park, is one of the last refuges of both the Bengal tiger and the single-horned Asiatic rhinoceros.
Another World Heritage Site is Lumbini, the birthplace of the Lord Buddha. Following the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, the Lord Buddha, in 623 B.C., the Lumbini gardens became a place of pilgrimage and are recognized today as one of Buddhism’s holiest places. In addition to housing a pilgrimage center, Lumbini also has a number of archaeological and historical remains.
The Kathmandu Valley, also a World Heritage Site, has seven internationally recognized cultural heritage sites including four historic temples and three ancient residential palaces. Nepal’s capital city is also home to the Patan Museum, a repository of sacred art and cultural artifacts, and the Nepal National Ethnographic Museum, a museum showcasing eleven of Nepal’s ethnic communities. Visitors to Kathmandu may also enjoy the Thamel district with its shopping, restaurants, and entertainment. Be sure to sample an authentic Nepali meal consisting of dal (lentil soup), tarkari (curried vegetables), bhat (boiled rice) and usually an achar (pickle). While only one theater in the city shows English movies, there are many other theaters which showing Nepali and Hindi movies.
Nepal is a deeply religious country, well rooted in Buddhist and Hindu customs. As a result, most of the country’s festivals have their foundations in religious traditions. Two of the most popular festivals, Dashain in October and Tihar in November, are celebrated with colorful processions, dances, and music. Visitors may also visit some of Nepal’s monasteries and temples. Near Kathmandu, at the temple of Dakshinkali, Nepalese faithful bring animal sacrifices to honor the goddess Kali. Twice each week, the gifts are sacrificed to satisfy the bloodlust of the goddess.
Near Khatmandu is the city of Bhaktapur. With a great deal of its architecture dating from the seventeenth century, the city’s squares, statues and columns are rich with history. Bhaktapur also features Potters’ Square, where thousands of clay pots and bowls are sold. Also nearby is Swayambhunath, a Buddhist temple known for its large tribe of monkeys and the tricks they play on visitors.
Just a few miles from Kathmandu is the city of Patan. Besides having Nepal’s only zoo with its collection of leopards, tigers and rhinos, the city is also home to the sacred tortoises which guard the courtyard around the Golden Temple. Shoppers will be delighted by the brassware shops and Tibetan carpets on sale in and around the city.
Nepal is a country known for its stunning mountains, its rich variety of wildlife and its diverse culture. Travelers looking for adventure will certainly find what they are looking for in Nepal.
